By Baptist Message staff SLIDELL, La. (LBM) – A week after powerful storms knocked out power to thousands and produced significant damage to homes and businesses, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams have been extremely busy with cleanup to those impacted. Disaster relief teams from four Louisiana Baptist and one Mississippi Baptist association have worked in Slidell since April 10. Additionally, a team from Beauregard and Carey Baptist associations spent a day cleaning out a home that flooded in Merryville. Through April 15, a feeding team from First Baptist Church, Slidell, has provided 10,000 meals that have been distributed to area residents. The American Red Cross provided the majority of the funds for the food from April 10 until lunchtime on April 13, and FBC Slidell, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief through the Georgia Barnette Louisiana Missions Offering and Louisiana Baptist Hunger Relief Fund have been used to purchase food and drinks from supper time on April 13 through April 16. Additionally, teams from CENLA, Eastern Louisiana, Northshore and Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana associations and a DR team from Mississippi, have completed 42 of 68 chainsaw jobs that have been requested by … [Read more...]
Three ways we can respond to situation in Israel
By Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. - On Sept. 29, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan speaking at an event said, “The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades.” Without debating the accuracy of his assessment, his statement shows us how quickly things can change. David Jeremiah used the phrase, “a bend in the road,” to describe his diagnosis of cancer. I have used the phrase the “curveballs of life.” My own experience teaches me that life can radically change every time the phone rings. Certainly, we are experiencing historical change. To what extent, time will tell. My question for us today is “How are we going to respond? Let me suggest three ways we must respond. We must trust God. We must be people of peace, not panic. Others will be watching us. If we, people who describe ourselves as having peace because we know the Prince of Peace, panic in this moment, what happens to our testimony that we trust God? My favorite verse, as I have shared many times before is Revelations 19:6, “Hallelujah, the Lord, our God, reigns.” This is the exclamation point of Revelation and the exclamation point of history. I do not know what the next day holds, but I know this—whatever happens, the Lord … [Read more...]