By Message Staff RUSTON, La. (LBM) – Rolling Hills Ministries has reopened its thrift stores for the first time since Gov. John Bel Edwards ordered non-essential businesses to close in the state. On Monday morning the ministry’s locations in Arcadia, Bossier City, Monroe and Ruston welcomed customers who had been unable to shop at any of the shops since March 15. No more than 10 customers at one time were allowed in the store, and each person could shop for up to 30 minutes while adhering to the social distance guideline of six feet of separation as they moved along the aisles and waited in line to check out. Everyone was encouraged to wear a mask. “We are giving people confidence they can buy low cost clothing and household items in a safe environment by following state guidelines,” Rolling Hills Director of Ministries John Cowling told the Baptist Message. “We are all blessed to be working at Rolling Hills again.” … [Read more...]
Camps take COVID-19 threat, seriously, and are ready to host
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist camps are facing an uncertain summer season but their ministry leaders are confident God will provide. Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth has not hosted any groups since Governor John Bel Edwards issued a stay at home order March 22 that limited gatherings to no more than 10 people. Camp Director Josh Bumgardner told the Baptist Message the only summer camp that has been affected so far is the Champion’s Camp. Because many of the special needs campers have compromised immune systems, Louisiana Baptist Convention children’s ministry strategist David Anderson made the decision to move that camp date from June to Sept. 18-20. “All of us want to have summer camps if conditions are safe to do so,” Bumgardner said. “Summer camps have a huge impact on the spiritual lives of children and youth. We see new Christians born each summer and so many more whose faith matures here. The decision to go ahead or cancel a camp will be made three weeks prior. "If it is safe enough to have a week of camp at that point, we absolutely want to host it,"he said. But he emphasized his commitment to set a good example on behalf of Louisiana … [Read more...]
State guidance: Conducting memorial services during COVID-19 crisis
By the Office of the Louisiana Department of Justice BATON ROUGE, La. (LDOJ)--This guidance is designed to assist those handling memorial services during the COVID-19 emergency in light of Proclamation 38 JBE 2020 issued on March 31, 2020. If possible, conduct direct burial or cremation, with a memorial service for the deceased to follow after the COVID-19 risks have abated. It is crucial for interments or cremations to continue during this emergency because the remains cannot continue to take up much-needed storage space while families wait for the ability to conduct a full commemoration service. Under Louisiana law (la. R.S. 8:651), burials or cremations must occur “within a reasonable time” after death. A reasonable time during this emergency, pursuant to CDC guidance, is three (3) days. If this short delay is impractical, final disposition may occur later, but must occur within 10 days if the remains have been properly embalmed or refrigerated. If embalming or refrigeration has not occurred, Louisiana law mandates burial or cremation within 30 hours (La. R.S. 37:848(D)). If some memorial must be held during the stay-at-home and social distancing periods, then: Funeral services (at the place of worship or … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist churches look to adapt, again
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer FOREST HILL, La. (LBM)--Louisiana Baptist churches soon will reopen their doors, and Elwood Baptist Church in Forest Hill is among the congregations considering how to adapt, yet again. Pastor Michael Evans told the Baptist Message that drive-in services have been so well received by his members and guests that these might continue, even when Sunday morning services resume in the worship center. Elwood Baptist has averaged 50 vehicles at drive-in services, and has drawn an average of 100 views for the Facebook Live broadcast of worship services. The congregation averaged 125 in the pews on Sunday mornings in early March. “Some can’t come in for various reasons, and may be reluctant to come inside a building with others at first,” Evans said. “Jesus said to go to highways and byways and compel them to come in. This alternative has been a great way to reach others in a new way.” The church also has used other methods to maintain connection with its members and prospects. Elwood posts on its Facebook page a devotional every Tuesday and Friday evening, and utilizes a phone bank to send 60-second messages. The congregation also has formed caravans of 15-20 vehicles to pass by the … [Read more...]
Webinars set to equip churches for ‘re-gathering’
By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - Churches seeking information about how to prepare for “re-gathering” are invited to participate in size-specific webinars with Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Steve Horn and strategists from the evangelism and church growth team on May 5 or 6. The webinars are targeted towards congregations of similar sizes, offering three options: weekly worship attendance of 75 or less, May 5, 2 p.m.; 75-200, May 6th, 11 a.m.; and, 200 or more, May 6, 2 p.m. Church leaders are requested to register: https://louisianabaptists.org/re-gathering-ready-registration/. "We're regularly receiving questions relating to re-opening the church buildings," Horn said. "We know the church has never stopped meeting, we've simply found creative ways to do so while honoring the governor's guidelines. “Since it appears churches may possibly be able to return to their facilities in mid-May, we want to provide the best information we've collected regarding how to do safely so, while adhering to the guidelines that are likely to accompany such a return." … [Read more...]
State guidance: In-person, outdoor worship services
By Message Staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Chief H. “Butch” Browning, the state fire marshal, has issued specific guidance for churches regarding how to conduct outdoor, in-person worship services in accordance with state safety directives intended to protect against transmission of the novel coronavirus: In accordance with Governor John Bel Edwards’ COVID-19 proclamation to be released May 1, 2020, any outdoor religious and places of worship venue must adhere to strict mitigation standards in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The general operating matrix will require spacing of groups, limiting concentration of people, strict use of Personal Protective Equipment and frequent sanitizing. The specific requirements are provided below: Life safety and egress Open areas with or without temporary tents, subject to local or parish rules and ordinances, must meet NFPA 101 Life Safety Code and must be open on all sides (no barriers). The tent must not be enclosed. The following conditions are required: The capacity is subject to social distancing requirements and spacing of seated attendees with strict supervision provided by crowd managers Limit group seating to persons who are members of the same household Modify … [Read more...]
Afrikaner farmer finds ‘promised land’ in Louisiana
By Holly Jo Linzay, Regional Reporter THERIOT, La. (LBM) - God’s protection and provision enabled Gerhard Liebenberg and his family to start a new life in America after facing racial conflicts because of land reform in Namibia (a Marxist country in Africa with deep ties to China), where millions of acres farmed by whites (a relatively wealthy minority in the country) are being confiscated to benefit disadvantaged blacks (who were displaced from their ancestral lands 125 years ago). “God took us out of Africa and put us in the swamps of Louisiana. God is blessing us day by day and I hope to tell as many people as possible our story,” Liebenberg, who now lives in Houma, said. Liebenberg said the Lord has blessed him with a job running a sawmill and his wife, Anja, with an office position. They, along with their two daughters, Zita, age 4, and Jana, age 2, have found a church family in the Bayou Dularge Baptist Church. “I had never heard of a Baptist church before we moved here,” Liebenberg revealed. “But they have welcomed us, and they are like a family we’ve had our whole life. We prayed for God to send us to a place where we can do His work, not for us, but for His glory.” Twice Liebenberg has been able to preach at … [Read more...]
Louisiana College to open for fall semester
By Norm Miller PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews)—Louisiana College will open the fall semester with in-person classes August 17. Even though research shows some tension between students’ desires to return to campus and the economic downturn from the pandemic, Louisiana College President Rick Brewer said, “We are beyond ready to see our students again, and we know they are ready to return.” In response to health and financial concerns, the college will offer all general education courses online, as well as free tuition through the new Governor Jimmie Davis Scholarship. “In all my 33 years in Christian higher education leadership, I never have endured a pandemic and all the taxing challenges it has presented us. However, we are doing what we can to allay apprehensions about COVID-19 with these measures,” Brewer said. The Jimmie Davis Scholarship is for incoming freshmen and transfer students who are TOPS recipients and PELL eligible. Applicants must have less than $1,000 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined from the FAFSA for PELL, and the state determines whether a student is TOPS eligible. “We are doing what we can to help close the affordability gap families are facing,” said Brewer, noting that the college … [Read more...]
Churches given more leeway for in-person worship assemblies
By Message Staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) - Churches may now hold outdoor worship services but still must adhere to proper social distancing guidelines, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Thursday. During his daily news conference, Edwards said tent services also are an option, but warned that flaps must not be released to form an enclosed space. He also emphasized that families should maintain a distance of six feet from others and that masks should be worn at all times; and, he urged anyone with a chronic medical condition and those 65 years or older not to attend. “We again believe that those individuals per the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidance and the department of health guidelines here in Louisiana wear a mask,” Edwards said. “And then we would ask that those churches take special precautions about communing service and other parts of the services that would typically bring people within close proximity with one another and to make alternative arrangements for that.” Edwards said the Louisiana Department of Health and the state Fire Marshal’s Office will provide more guidance on Friday. The announcement came hours after state Attorney General Jeff Landry said he sent a letter asking the … [Read more...]
Lawmakers send letter to Gov. Edwards to allow small groups in churches
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