DOM Lines

Counselors Corner
Mary Langford, Counselor Several months ago my husband was working outside and got into a bed of fire ants. Before he could rid himself of the little varmints, they had really made their marks on his lower legs. All this time later, some of those ant bites have not completely healed. The worst of it is, however, that one of those small bites became infected. The infection showed itself with redness, swelling and pain. Finally, Don (the doctor) went to a doctor. Ill spare you the graphic details, but lab work revealed the problem to be resistant staph. Don was sent straight to hospital, where he had to have surgery and where he was bombarded with powerful IV antibiotics for a week. Hes home now, and I (not a nurse) am learning to be one as I help him to continue to deal with this ordeal which began with an insect bite. I cant help thinking about the comparison between this and some of the situations I see in the counseling office. Usually people come to see me when the problem has become painful, but often, it began with something small. A casual conversation with a co-worker developed into an affair. A critical remark to a child became a life-altering wound. A husband or wife assumed a wrong motive and a huge misunderstanding occurred. Someone tried a drug or a drink and having that became more important than anything else. Another person sent a text and caused a wreck that affected the lives of others. Every action has a result, and even small acts or words can have tremendous consequences. Our Lord taught often about little things: a coin, a mustard seed, yeast. The apostle James and the writer of Proverbs had much to say about the power of that small part of our bodies, the tongue. Im not suggesting that we should be overly self-conscious, but I am saying we need to be more aware of our words and actions and of the possible effect they might have on our relationships. Scripture tells us that our words are to encourage and edify. Even the little things we say and do can bring harm or blessing to others or ourselves. Let us all resolve to speak and act in ways that will promote safety, strength and encouragement. Redeemer City Church is a new Southern Baptist church plant in Lafayette. We are supported by the Louisiana Baptist Convention and Northside Baptist Church in Lafayette. We also have several cosponsors such as Jenkins Memorial in St. Martinville, Erath Baptist Church and Wagon Wheel Cowboy Church in Opelousas, a church plant of Louis Charrier. One may ask why we are planting a new church. On the surface, Lafayette seems to be a religious town in the Bible Belt. However, this is not a correct understanding of the culture of Lafayette. According to my research, 60% of the Lafayette population has little to no involvement in a church despite all of the churches in the city. Once we consider, and exclude, how many of these churches are not proclaiming a Biblical gospel message, that percentage will go even higher. There is a mission field that is in the tens of thousands in Lafayette, and only a handful of Biblically faithful churches to reach them. This trend will only get worse. As recent reports show, the population is expected to grow by close to one-hundred thousand over the next couple of decades. We need more churches. Why are we starting a new church? C. Peter Wagner famously said, Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven. We are starting Redeemer City to join in the mission of the EBA in building the kingdom of God in Lafayette. Our heart is specifically aimed towards the skeptics and seekers. We hope to engage those who have serious doubts and questions about the Christian faith with a message that is both intellectually stimulating and heart moving. Please visit redeemercity.com to stay updated with our mission, and email info@redeemercity.com if you are interested in how you can support us.

Bert Langley, Director of Missions

and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7) As we near this special time of the year when we remember the great sacrifice Jesus made for our sins and as we celebrate HIS resurrection, let us unashamedly proclaim Gods forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. It is alarming to hear that some preachers have abandoned speaking about the blood of Jesus because its not popular with the world. There is an Old Church Slavonic word for such beliefs - hogwash! Gods Word refers to the blood over 400 times and specifically to the blood of Jesus more than 40 times in the New Testament, testifying to its great power in our salvation and daily fellowship with God. The Apostles boldly declared the power of the blood. Peter writes that God did not pay our sin debt with silver or gold but by the precious blood of Christ. (1 Peter 1:19). It is precious to God the Father and it is precious to the receiver sinners saved by grace. Paul reminds the overseers of the church that the church was bought by the blood of Jesus (Acts 20:28). The Books of Ephesians and Colossians use the term redeeming with reference to our Lords blood God has bought us back. In his letter to the church at Colossae, Paul refers to the blood as a peace making blood we now have peace with God (Col 1:20). In the First Epistle of John, John tells us that the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin it washes away our sins. In Psalm 103 the Psalmist declared that God would remove our sins from us as far as the East is from the West. And even Judas, after his act of betrayal, declared our Lords blood to be innocent blood (Matthew 27:4). Jesus referred to HIS blood as an everlasting covenant during the Passover meal with HIS disciples, as did the writer of the Book of Hebrews it will never lose its power! No longer would Gods children need to offer the blood of animals for their sins. The Lamb of God will remove the sins of all who would believe for all nationalities and all generations. Now thats power! The Book of Hebrews tells us that If that animal blood and the other rituals of purification were effective in cleaning up certain matters of our religion and behavior, think how much more the blood of Christ cleans up our whole lives, inside and out (Hebrews 9:13,14 The Message). Oh! precious is the flow That makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Chorus Nothing but the Blood. Written by Robert Lowry, 1826-1899)

1 - Rose (Mrs. Frank) Pellissier, FBC Amelia 3 - Misti (Mrs. Adam) Whitney, FBC Broussard 8 - Hannah (Mrs. Youn) Shim, Lafayette Korean 11 - Tony Ronsonet, Coteau Holmes - Carol Mills, The Bayou 17 - Frank Ducharme, FBC Scott 18 - Marianne (Mrs. Gary) Ruffin, FBC Lafayette 23 - Joe Sauce, Myette Point - Becky Primeaux, EBA office 26 - Loretta (Mrs. Frank) Ducharme, FBC Scott - Nathan Rush, FBC Morgan City 28 - Olivia (Mrs. Toby) Ryder, Duson

If you have not already done so, please contact the EBA office at 237-6956 or melaney@ebalaf.com with your VBS dates, times & ages. We will be printing a list of all VBS dates in the next issue of the Entre Nous.

Pastors/Staff/Council/Families

Saturday, April 26 at 10 am at ABC Camp

Were hoping for crawfish, but whatever it is will be tasty! Bring your lawn chairs & join us for some great fellowship under the trees!

Thank you Heavenly Father for the blood of Jesus.

ENTRE-NOUS
Evangeline & Gulf Coast Baptist Associations
P. O. Box 81244 Lafayette, LA 70598-1244 (337) 237-6956 Fax: (337) 237-4319

Non-Profit

Evangeline Baptist Association

3000 W Pinhook PO Box 81244 Lafayette, LA 70598-1244
Phone: 337-237-6956 Fax: 337-237-4319

ORGANIZATION
U. S. POSTAGE

PAID
Lafayette, LA

www.ebalaf. com RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

PERMIT No. 201

Website: www.ebalaf.com
Bert Langley
Director of Missions

James Craft & Nathan Rush

Moderators

Elizabeth Langley
Office Administrator

Melaney Dudley
Administrative Assistant

Mary Langford
Counselor

April 2014
Volume 42, No. 3

Reservations for the Block Party Trailer

Reservations are already coming in for 2014. If you want to reserve the trailer (especially close to VBS dates) please be sure and contact us: Melaney at 237-6956 or melaney@ebalaf.com The forms needed to reserve the trailer can now be found on our website: ebalaf.com (The left side of the home page in the Menu section under Block Party Trailer. The four forms are under the picture/article about the trailer.)

Evangeline Association
April 2014
4-5 10 14 14 18 20 23 26 WMU Missions Celebration/Annual Meeting - FBC Lafayette EBA Missions Development Committee - EBA Office; 10:30 AM EBA Executive Committee Meeting - EBA Office; 11:30 AM District Bible Drill - FBC Youngsville; meal at 5:45 PME Good Friday - Office Closed Easter Administrative Professionals Day EBA Pastors/Staff Crawfish Boil - ABC Camp; 10:00 AM

Sharing the Good News through word and deed is the very basis of mission education through WMU. We will celebrate 125 years of WMU and 100 years of GA at the 2014 WMU Mission's Celebration/Annual Meeting. More importantly, we will be challenged to move strongly forward as we "Teach. Listen. Tell. Live." missions for life. Make plans today for you and your groups to join us at First Baptist Church, Lafayette. There is a special gift for the first 175 who purchase tickets for the celebration tea on Friday afternoon, April 4.

Gulf Coast Association

April 2014
4-5 18 19 20 23 WMU Missions Celebration/Annual Meeting - FBC Lafayette Good Friday - EBA Office Closed GCA Brotherhood Breakfast - Calumet; 8 AM Easter Administrative Professionals Day

Interested in Prison Ministry?

Apply now to serve at Angola on April 4-5th. Join us as we pray for change and hope for these men. To learn more about this ministry go to:

Louisiana Baptist Convention

April 2014
5 11 18 20 26 Everlasting Praise Ensemble Auditions - Baptist Building Friday Forum - Baptist Building Good Friday Easter State Youth/High School Bible Drill - FBC Pineville

http://louisianabaptists.org/angolarevival