By Staff, Baptist Message Louisiana Baptists have announced an initiative to partner healthy churches with churches impacted by the mid-August flooding in southern Louisiana. In some cases, multiple congregations will be connected with the same church due to the size of the recovery and rebuilding projects, said Wayne Jenkins, director of evangelism for Louisiana Baptists. Already, 34 churches have stepped up, he said. But 50-60 more partners are needed to care for up to another 40 or so churches still seeking financial and manpower assistance. Jenkins used as an example Amite Baptist Church in Denham Springs – home to 625 worshipers on a typical Sunday – which was flooded with up to 4 feet of water Aug. 13 and experienced about $1.3 million in damages. Unfortunately, the congregation did not have flood insurance to deal with the devastation caused by the 1000-year rainfall, he explained. “I just believe there are plenty of churches that are willing and are able to do something to assist flood-impacted churches like Amite,” Jenkins said. For information on how to partner with a flood-impacted church, call 318.446.3242. … [Read more...]
Archives for September 2016
Pastors Conference to stress urgency to reach culture with Gospel
By Message Staff BALL - Understanding the urgency to reach the culture with the Gospel, organizers of this year’s Pastor's Conference are hoping to equip participants with tools needed to assist in this spiritual battle. Scheduled Nov. 13-14 at Kingsville Baptist Church, the annual gathering’s theme is “Urgency,” based on Romans 13:11. “With the state of affairs in our nation, now more than ever, we need a sense of urgency as it relates to personal evangelism, the preaching of the gospel, and equipping the saints,” said Pastors Conference President Nathan Davis. “We are really looking forward to what God is going to do this year. “I believe we have an all-star lineup with great preaching and singing,” said Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church in Coushatta. “Be praying for the conference and encourage people to come with a sense of ‘urgency.’ Please make plans to attend because this is your Pastors Conference. We are expecting God to do amazing things this year. Don’t miss out.” The conference will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Nov. 13 with music led by Todd DuBose, Minister of Music at First Baptist Church in Minden, with area choirs participating. Among those scheduled to preach are David Allen, Dean of the School of … [Read more...]
It’s time to step up: More recovery workers needed, as damaged homes top 155,000
By Philip Timothy, Message Managing Editor ALEXANDRIA – With a revised estimate of 155,000 damaged homes now being reported by the governor’s office, Louisiana Baptist leaders are asking for more volunteers to meet the overwhelming demand for assistance in mud-out and related services caused by historic floods across the southern part of the state in August. The new number, issued by Mike Steele, communications director for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, more than doubles the previously reported figure of about 61,000 flooded houses. But, Steele stressed the numbers may continue to fluctuate because calculations include direct reports from parishes combined with information gleaned from imaging technology. Meanwhile, Louisiana Baptist leaders are calling for an even greater mobilization of volunteers. Gevan Spinney, pastor of First Baptist Church, Haughton, and president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, thanked Southern Baptists for their response so far and lauded the North American Mission Board for the great work it does with disaster relief. “Those yellow shirts are a reminder throughout our state that we are not alone in this,” he said. But he also urged more … [Read more...]
Blood River pastor calls for more Sheetrock donations
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALBANY – The water was rising to the door of the church parsonage and Pastor David Collins knew he had to make a difficult decision – placing his trust in complete strangers in an airboat to rescue his family. With the water waste deep and Blood River Baptist Church just a few hundred yards away, Collins reassured his two young boys they would be okay. Moments later, Collins joined his children as the three breathed a sigh of relief, for they had found refuge inside the church building. And in the midst of the situation, the Lord reminded Collins of a sermon he preached a few Sundays before on trusting in the Lord wholeheartedly for everything. Collins had to apply the message at that very moment. “It’s crazy how some folks think that it’s easy to put our trust in someone with an airboat, that we’ve never met, and put our little boys and belongings, on the boat,” Collins said. “I’ve never seen these people in my life. They came to rescue us without asking for anything in return. They came into my house to help me pack, grabbed my boys, dogs, and some essential belongings up and unselfishly placed them on their airboat. They asked me what else I needed and I had to say just … [Read more...]
Students give up Labor Day holiday to help with flood recovery
By Message Staff BATON ROUGE – The college spirit is coming to Baton Rouge this weekend, but not for a tailgate party near a football stadium. Four hundred college students from five southern states and 18 different Baptist Collegiate Ministry and church collegiate groups are coming together in the city, for one purpose – to help rebuild homes impacted by mid-August flooding. The groups will begin arriving on Friday and the last ones remaining will return to their campuses Monday. They will stay are area churches and come together on Saturday evening for a worship service at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. Steve Masters, Baptist Collegiate Ministry director at Louisiana State University, is one of the organizers of the event. He expects the student groups will complete between 70 and 100 homes. “I’m proud of these college students for being to help other people,” said Steve Master’s, BCM minister at LSU. “It’s so timely these college students would come. The sooner we can get Sheetock out of the homes, the better.” If a BCM is interested in assisting with recovery efforts, call Masters at 225.964.0830 or e-mail lsubcm@eatel.net. … [Read more...]
Theft of equipment adds insult to injury for Crossgate
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ROBERT – Talk about adding insult to injury. First, their worship center flooded with 12 inches of water Aug. 12. Now, Crossgate Church of Robert is dealing with another problem – theft of a fork attachment used to load items for those affected by the flooding. Pastor Louis Husser noticed the equipment was stolen Aug. 18, when some members and volunteers were preparing to load the supplies for delivery. The green 521 Loader was worth $2,500. “We have 10,000 houses that flooded in Tangipahoa Parish and this piece of equipment was needed to help them,” Husser said. “But we will roll on.” When word got out during a pastor’s meeting Crossgate Church was in need of a new loader, a fellow Northshore Baptist Association church responded. After hearing of the situation, Carl Richardson, chairman of the deacons at Lee Valley Baptist Church in Loranger who also works for a company that sells tractor supplies and equipment, contacted his pastor to see if they could provide funding for a new loader. The congregation obliged, agreeing to turn what could have been a trying situation into a good ending. Richardson sees the gesture as a way to pay forward what others have done for … [Read more...]
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