By Ron F. Hale Paul Harvey Aurandt was born on September 4, 1918 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Twenty-five years later, the surname was dropped for professional reasons as his star rose in the world of radio. Tragedy struck early as three-year-old Paul lost his father while he was in the line of duty as a Tulsa policeman. The burglar’s bullet put the family in desperate financial straits. To keep debt collectors at bay, Paul’s mother had small apartments built into their house to make money from renters. Paul built his own radio set as a kid and the magic and medium of radio remained a lifelong passion. In high school Paul worked at KVOO, a local station in Tulsa, and eventually worked in Salina (KS), Oklahoma City, Honolulu, and St. Louis. To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2016
‘The need is great’: Unprecedented flooding leaves thousands homeless, desperately seeking help
By Will Hall, Philip Timothy and Brian Blackwell, Message Staff ALEXANDRIA -- “The need is great,” according to John Hebert, responding about the massive flooding which struck the southern part of the state after record rainfall began August 12. Hebert, state mission director who also oversees Louisiana Baptists’ combined disaster relief efforts, said the flooding has been historic, citing statistics from emergency management officials that 40,000 homes have been impacted, so far, and in some places 75 percent of them destroyed. “Some folks on the ground are suggesting upwards of 60,000 homes may be affected,” he told the Baptist Message. “Importantly, this disaster comes just a little over four months after the record spring floods which devastated the northern part of the state,” Hebert said. “This is significant because about 70 percent of Louisiana Baptist volunteers are in that part of the state, and they dealt with losses while simultaneously helping others for weeks. Now, they just got their homes in order and we are asking them to step up, again, for this recovery effort. “We need more volunteers, we need donations to purchase supplies and we need more prayers,” Hebert emphasized. RAINS FELL, WATERS … [Read more...]
Gevan Spinney: Hold on, the cavalry is on its way
By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA - On his way to Denham Springs to minister to people devastated by the historic floods, Gevan Spinney, president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, told the Baptist Message he wanted folks to know help is coming. HOPE Spinney said he wanted “our friends” and “brothers and sisters” to rest assured Louisiana Baptists “are praying for you, and, we are coming.” “I know from experience being where you are it seems like it takes a while. But we want you to know the cavalry is on its way,” he emphasized. “I’ve been up here at the convention building and I’ve seen the command center,” Spinney shared. “It’s getting organized. They are putting things in place. “I looked on a board showing where shower trailer units and mud-out teams from all around are coming. Feeding trailers are coming from all over the states,” he continued. “Southern Baptists are on the way to get boots on the ground to help you through this.” HELP Spinney also made an appeal to “our churches north of Opelousas.” “Now is the time to help,” he said. “We’ve been through this. We know what it’s like. We don’t just have sympathy for our fellow Louisiana brothers and sisters in the south who have been … [Read more...]
Pray for these pastors whose homes were flooded
Please pray for these pastors, whose homes were damaged by recent flooding. Jay Avance, First Baptist Church, Baker Thomas and Bethany Fletcher, Faith Baptist Church, Baker Jeff Ginn, Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge Lonnie Tucker, Still Water Baptist Church, Hammond Josh Powell, Woodland Baptist, Springfield David Collins, Blood River Baptist Church, Albany Darryl Woolery, Tammany Hills Baptist Church, Covington, Chris Fuselier, First Baptist Church, Youngsville Pat Deshotel, First Baptist Church, Welsh Jered Thomas, First Baptist Church, Lake Arthur Carolyn Conerly, widow of Roderick Conerly former LBC employee and Pastor Tommy Hicks, Antioch Baptist Church, Tickfaw Lee Rogers, First Baptist Church, Kaplan Larry and Elizabeth Langley, The Garden Baptist Church, Lafayette Kyle Sullivan, Woodlawn Baptist Church, Baton Rouge Deleece Nichols, First Baptist Church, Lafayette Bruce Worrell, Sherwood Baptist, Baton Rouge … [Read more...]
Pray for these flood-damaged churches
Please pray for these churches damaged by flooding in south Louisiana. Amite Baptist Church, Denham Springs Bethel Baptist Church, Franklinton Bethel Baptist Church, Jennings Blood River Baptist Church, Albany Carroll Baptist Church, Walker Church of Life, Baton Rouge Comite Baptist Church, Baton Rouge Cross Creek Cowboy Church, Zachary Crossroads Baptist Church, Amite Don Avenue Baptist Church, Denham Springs Eastside Baptist Church, Zachary Ebenezer Baptist Church, Hammond Emmanuel Baptist Church, Denham Springs Faith Baptist Church, Baker Fellowship Baptist Church, Central First Baptist Church, Baker First Baptist Church, Broussard First Baptist Church, Crossgate First Baptist Church, Denham Springs First Baptist Church, French Settlement First Baptist Church, Eunice First Baptist Church, Greensburg First Baptist Church, Head of Island First Baptist Church, Kaplan/parsonage First Baptist Church, Lake Arthur First Baptist Church, Lydia French Corner Baptist Church, Ponchatoula Friendship Baptist Church, Central Glen Oaks Baptist Church, Baton Rouge Gracepoint Church, Simmesport Grays Creek Baptist Church, Denham Springs Greenwell Springs … [Read more...]
‘Not again’
I think it was New York Yankee great Yogi Berra who said, “It’s like déjà vu all over again!” This is how I felt when I saw the low pressure system basically park itself over southeastern Louisiana. As I saw the videos being posted on social media and via various news outlets, I couldn’t help pray, “Lord, please, not again. Not so soon.” As you well know, we dealt with historic flooding in March across northern and western parts of our state. Volunteers from across Louisiana, as well as our Baptist brethren from a dozen or more state conventions, responded to the need. All told, volunteers spent 80 days assisting victims during the spring floods – and here we go – again. There is no answer to the “why” question on this side of heaven, but there is a promise found in Isaiah that can encourage us as we face the aftermath of another storm. “I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you.” Isaiah 43:2, HCSB God promises that He’ll be with us when we pass through the waters. Even in the midst of a chaotic scene, God is there. Sometimes we sense His presence during the storm, but most often we do not. Either way, the promise is the same “I will be with … [Read more...]
Celebrating through service
Steve Masters celebrated a milestone Aug. 15 as director of the LSU Baptist Collegiate Ministry. “Having my 25th anniversary during a major disaster reminds me the most important things in life are God, family, church, friends and serving others,” Masters said. “Material goods that get flooded can be replaced. You cannot replace God!” He was joined by 20 LSU BCM students, who later helped clean out six homes in the area. Associate Director Sarah Farley challenged believers to react positively to “one of the worst disasters to hit our state. This is a great time to be the Global Church,” she proclaimed.” To be the tangible hands and feet of Jesus! Join us!” The BCM is hosting volunteer groups Aug. 26-28, Sept. 2-5 and Sept. 9-11, with housing provided at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. For information about partnering with them, contact sfarley@bcmlsu.net or lsubcm@eatel.net. … [Read more...]
On Wings of Eagles: Helping hands, both large and small
By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor FRENCH SETTLEMENT -- The crew of the UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter was assigned search and rescue duties Aug. 15, flying along the Amite River when a small group of people flagged them down. The chopper, part of F Co 2-135th AVN, an Army National Guard aviation support unit based in Pineville, hovered as team members tried to assess the needs of those stranded on the ground. NOT A TYPICAL MONDAY “We could see a walker sitting in the small boat and an elderly lady sitting in the boat,” said Staff Sergeant Chad McCann, a member of Union Baptist Church, Deville. “We realized we couldn’t do a hoist rescue so the pilots [Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jesse Curtis and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Walt Clement] inched the chopper down to a small sand island between two houses. As the medic, Staff Sergeant Scott Hamilton, went over to assess the needs, McCann borrowed a small boat and followed after him. What they found was much more than they anticipated. “Not only was there an elderly woman, but she had just recently had brain surgery,” McCann said. “There also was a young mother (the woman’s daughter) and two small children. We quickly got the grandmother secured in the helicopter and I went … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist associations announce needs for affected churches, residents
By Message Staff Directors of missions from the southern areas of the state are asking for donations that will be distributed to thousands of people affected by last weekend’s massive flooding in south Louisiana. “The greatest needs we have right now are prayer for the pastors who have personally experienced loss and for their financial issues,” said David Carlton, director of missions for Evangeline Baptist Association. “Some have no flood insurance.” The Bayou Church, which is a member of the Evangeline Baptist Association of churches, is collecting bleach, rags, mops, deodorant, soap, toothbrushes and school supplies from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. though Thursday, Aug. 18. The church is located at 2234 Kaliste Saloom Road in Lafayette. In Baton Rouge, one church opening its door for donations is Istrouma Baptist Church, 10500 Sam Rushing Drive. These items may be dropping off from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Thursday: First aid kits 50-ft. heavy duty water hoses Crow and pry bars Square shovels Squeegees Brooms Rubber gloves Hard hats Five-gallon buckets bleach Mosquito repellent Gatorade Bottled water Hammers Dust masks One-gallon spray bottle Box fans Extension cords … [Read more...]
As water rises, First Baptist Lake Arthur, community prays and waits
By Message Staff LAKE ARTHUR – The sandbags are stacked high around First Baptist Church in Lake Arthur, most of the congregation has evacuated and now all they and the rest of the southwest Louisiana town can hope for is a miracle from God. Threatening to flood the community is the Mermentau River, whose crest occurred earlier Thursday, Aug. 18, at 10.73 feet. The river previously was expected to crest at 11.5 feet on Friday. So far, they are holding up as the community and local churches have banded together to help one another during this time. “We are holding each other’s hand during this time,” said Pastor Jered. “The Lord has shown up and showed off his greatness during this time.” The Lake Arthur Police Department has issued a dusk-til-dawn curfew until further notice for the town of 2,700 residents. Thomas said water was not in the town yet, though he expects to know if water will come into Lake Arthur between later tonight and sometime Friday. Lake Arthur Mayor Robbie Bertrand said in a Facebook post Thursday morning that overnight all levees held, with some amount of leakage due to pressure from the buildup of water against them. Bertrand said the east part of town does not have a levee or pump and … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- …
- 12
- Next Page »