By Philip Timothy, Message Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The storm has passed and now the cleanup begins. And Louisiana Baptists are ready and willing to help. “We were in Pitkin yesterday (Dec. 17) helping Gravel Hill Baptist Church and Marlow Baptist Church but today (Dec. 18) we are in Pineville going door to door seeing if there is anything we can do to help the homeowners,” Gibbie McMillan, Louisiana Baptists Disaster Relief strategist told the Baptist Message. “If they are not home, we are leaving a note with our phone number. “We’ve got a few jobs … enough for today … but there are a lot of people who have sustained damage,” he continued. “Some have insurance and may want to wait for their adjustor or use a tree company, and that’s fine. But if they don’t have anyone, we can help.” McMillan asks that anyone needing assistance with downed trees or needing a tarp to cover roof damage can call 318.321.9738. An incident command center has been set up at Philadelphia Baptist Church at Horseshoe Drive and David Cheatwood is the incident commander. “I literally just got here today so I missed the crews before they left for their jobs,” said Cheatwood. “We’ve got two crews here and a third is due … [Read more...]
Tornadoes, storms cause one death, widespread destruction
By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – A monstrous cold front spawned a number of tornados that wreaked death and destruction across South and Central Louisiana Monday, Dec. 16. According to the National Weather Service, one of those tornados traveled 63 miles – from DeRidder to Alexandria – causing widespread damage in its path, and one confirmed fatality. The fatality took place as the tornado passed through Rosepine, located in the eastern portion of Vernon Parish. Two Southern Baptist Churches, along with numerous homes, and businesses sustained moderate to significant damage in the tornado’s wake. “We have called all of our churches from Pitkin to Boyce checking on them. As of right now, Gravel Hill Baptist Church in Cravins, and Marlow Baptist Church, Leesville, are the only two that sustained any damage,” said John Hebert, Louisiana Baptists’ Director of Missions and Ministry. “Gravel Hill appears to be a total loss as the fellowship hall and the parsonage wasere both destroyed. The sanctuary sustained heavy damage but we won’t know how much until an engineer can get in there in the morning. “I have spoken with Anthony (Pastor Anthony Eaves) and he is just now getting to the church … [Read more...]
Good financial reports heard by LBF board … again!
By Jerry Love, Director of Planned Giving ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Foundation Board of Trustees received good financial news all the way around at its October meeting. In reviewing operations and investment performances for the third quarter of the year, trustees learned the Foundation’s portfolio continues to see positive returns for the year with each component performing well year to date. Fixed income portfolios are performing as should be expected based on interest rate movements. With rates low the fixed income managers are being more “defensive,” meaning the portfolios have a shorter duration than their stated benchmarks in anticipation of rates eventually moving upward. The alternative investment portion of the LBF portfolio (preferred stocks, convertible securities, MLP’s, covered calls and infrastructure) continued to add value. All the individual segments had strong returns with the majority showing returns in the teens. The alternative mix is designed to enhance the overall portfolio while adding diversity and reducing volatility. Equities continue their positive performance for the year with the domestic and international components meeting or exceeding their benchmarks. Morgan … [Read more...]
Louisiana College’s 20 years of TEACH certification distinguished by innovations and effective teachers
By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) --The 2018 Board of Regents Fact Book reports that Louisiana College in Pineville leads the state with the largest number of teachers alternatively prepared who earned highly effective ratings in both professional practice and student growth outcomes during 2014–2017. Amy Craig, Dean of Louisiana College’s School of Education, notes several reasons for the TEACH program’s success in a highly competitive market that include fast-track hybrid instruction, intentional mentorships, targeted instruction, and affordability. “We leverage the best of classroom and online instruction for a hybrid, fast-track approach second to none,” Craig said. “Unlike an entirely online program, we offer personal attention and an intense two weeks of face-to-face classroom interaction in the summer to help develop individual relationships and effective mentorships between student and professor that the cold sterility of a solely online program simply cannot deliver.” While all programs provide a mentor for support, LC’s TEACH provides 2 for every student – one who focuses on professional practice with the second specializing in the content of the student’s certification area. The fast-track … [Read more...]
The joy of sharing the Good News
By Steve Horn, Louisiana Baptists Executive Director ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - As my alarm radio sounded on the morning of December 13, 2003, the first thing I heard was, “Though no official word has been given, Prime Minister Tony Blair is now giving his own confirmation that Saddam Hussein has been captured.” Simultaneously my wife and I sat up in bed as if to say without words, “Did you hear that?” No snooze this morning—indeed we had heard correctly what everyone would soon know. “Have you heard the good news,” I asked the lady who sold me coffee. “Praise Jesus,” she said, “That is good news.” I walked outside the store to see the newspaperman filling his machines. He knew. In fact he was lamenting that Sadaam’s capture did not happen early enough to be in the paper. “You will sell all of your papers tomorrow,” I assured him. My next stop was an early morning prayer group. None of those men knew yet. I had the great pleasure of telling them the good news. Later that day I thought of the good news the shepherds heard that glorious night in Bethlehem. “Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the … [Read more...]
Operation Christmas
By Jeff Ginn, Pastor, Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) -- Colombia is a South American country that is near and dear to my wife and me because we served there as missionaries with the International Mission Board. It has endured a bloody civil war for many decades. Across the years more than 200,000 people have lost their lives and millions more have been displaced by the violence of that conflict. For years their government tried to defeat and disarm the rebels, all to no avail. In a desperate and creative step, they turned, of all places, to a marketing executive named Jose Miguel Sokoloff and his communication company. Perhaps words could do what weapons could not. He and his team created a campaign called “Operation Christmas.” Through research they had discovered that the rebel forces were more likely to defect and lay down their weapons at Christmas than at any other time of the year, and they decided to capitalize on that fact. As Christmas approached, elite units of the Colombian armed forces flew Black Hawk helicopters deep into the jungles where the rebel forces ruled. They selected 10 enormous trees along well-traveled paths. Camouflaged soldiers decorated each of these trees … [Read more...]
Follow the righteous example of Mary and Joseph
By Waylon Bailey, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The Bible is filled with people--all kinds of people. You find the truly evil in the Bible. Herod the Great ruled Israel with an iron hand. He bought his kingdom and did everything in his power to keep it. He killed his favorite wife and several of his sons because he thought they threatened his kingdom. Near the end of his life, he even slaughtered the infants of Bethlehem in hopes of killing the child who was “the born king of the Jews.” In the Bible you find lost people, people who lived for themselves and left God out of their lives. Jesus told us of the life of the “Rich Fool” whose love of money and things kept him from seeing God. These are the people who live tragic lives. Nothing is more tragic than living apart from God. You also find good, godly people in the Bible who failed. David comes immediately to mind. Though a man after God’s own heart, he failed and tragically harmed his family and his nation because of his failure. His failure--like ours--harmed the work of God in the world. But there’s another group of people in the Bible. These are the people who humbly bow before God in their weakness and ask Him to … [Read more...]
A gift for the Magi
By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) –The Christmas story is so special to me because it declares the Savior has come; and, I find it remarkable in its message because of the multiple perspectives it shares to extend that message to every person in the world: -- Mary and Joseph are humble parents with royal blood. -- Zacharias and Elizabeth are faithful ministry servants whose obedience to God is rewarded beyond their wildest imaginations (She was the first person recorded to have called Jesus “Lord”; and, their unborn son was the first to worship Him, leaping for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of the Christ in Mary’s womb). -- The shepherds are the unlikeliest of invitees to the birth of the King of kings, and yet are the special guests of Heaven. -- Simeon and Anna are honored for their dedication, being present in the temple to proclaim to Israel that the Messiah has arrived. But, perhaps no other individual or group speaks to me as much as the Magi who came from Babylon to celebrate the birth of the Christ child. All the others have bloodlines to Israel, but not the Magi, and for me their special part in the Christmas story has implications for the salvation message. … [Read more...]
Student newspaper’s Christian-themed front page replaced because of lawsuit settlement
Saints, Pelicans owner Gayle Benson gifts Disney World trip to 40 LBCH children
By Staff, Louisiana Baptist Message MONROE - New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson surprised residents of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe December 6 with 40 all-expenses paid trips to Disney World in Orlando Florida. “I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, and I just want to let you know you are going to Disney World,” Benson said during a special assembly at the Children’s Home. Benson greeted each child in residential care between the ages of five and 17 with an envelope that contained their all-expense-paid trip to Disney World. Twenty-one children were on hand to receive the early Christmas gift from Benson while another 19, who were unable to attend the special assembly, will also being going in the spring. The 40 children are expected to go to Disney World during spring break in March. “Mrs. Benson has given our children a gift that they will remember for a lifetime,” said Perry Hancock, LBCH President and CEO. “We are so thankful for her love and care.” … [Read more...]
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