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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Archives for 2021

Letlow, Scalise, Graves, Higgins and Carter ask the Corps to speed up Operation Blue Roof

By Office of Congresswoman Julia Letlow WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05) has joined Minority Whip Steve Scalise (LA-01), Congressman Garret Graves (LA-06), Congressman Clay Higgins (LA-03) and Congressman Troy Carter (LA-02) in sending a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, asking them to speed up the completion of Operation Blue Roof. In the wake of Hurricane Ida, more than 62,000 Louisiana households have applied for assistance under the program, but only 3,743 installations have been completed to date. The bipartisan group noted that while the Corps is dedicating additional resources to the program, even the advanced completion rate will not meet the pressing need in Southeast Louisiana. “While we appreciate the accelerated speed under this ramp up, at that rate it would take approximately 98 days to complete installation for every applicant under the Blue Roof program,” the letter states. “This timeframe is unacceptable and will lead to additional damage to homes while people’s roofs remain exposed to the elements.” The letter also included a request for the Corps to provide regular updates on the status of the program to Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation, including regular reports of … [Read more...]

Print edition archives

2015 June 4 June 18 July 2 July 16 July 30 Aug. 13 Aug. 27 Sept. 10 Sept. 24 Oct. 8 Oct. 22 Nov. 5 Dec. 3 2016 Jan. 14 Jan. 28 Feb. 11 March 10 March 24 April 7 April 21 May 5 May 26 June 9 June 30 July 14 July 28 Aug. 11 Aug. 25 Sept. 22 Oct. 6 Nov. 3 Nov. 17 Dec. 1 Dec. 15 2017 Jan. 12 Jan. 26 Feb. 9 Feb. 23 March 9 March 23 April 6 April 20 May 4 May 18 June 22 July 6 July 20 Aug. 3 Aug. 17 Aug. 31 Sept. 14 Sept. 28 Oct. 12 Oct. 26 Nov. 9 Nov. 23 Dec. 14 2018 Jan. 11 Jan. 25 Feb. 8 Feb. 22 March 8 March 22 April 5 April 19 May 3 May 17 May 31 June 14 June 28 July 12 July 26 Aug. 9 Aug. 23 Sept. 13 Sept. 27 Oct. 11 Oct. 25 Nov. 8 Nov. 22 Dec. 13 2019 Jan. 10 Jan. 24 Feb. 14 Feb. 28 March 14 March 28 April 11 May 9 May 23 June 9 June 20 July 4 July 18 Aug. 1 Aug. 15 Aug. 29 Sept. 12 Sept. 26 Oct. 10 Oct. 24 Nov. 7 Nov. 28 Dec. 12 2020 Jan. 16 Jan. 30 Feb. 13 Feb. 27 March 12 March … [Read more...]

Georgia Barnette Offering helps rescue women and children from sex trafficking

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – Lindsey Crawford had not realized how prevalent sex trafficking was in her community until she met a young mother who was a former victim. For several weeks, Crawford could not forget the incident and asked God how she could be a part of the fight to end human trafficking in her hometown and beyond. What resulted was the creation of “Freedom13,” a jail ministry that focuses on outreach to formerly trafficked people in northeast Louisiana with the intentions of rebuilding their dignity. The ministry’s name is based on Galatians 5:13: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” “At ‘Freedom13’ we want to provide opportunities for women to start over,” Crawford said. “But more than that, we want women to know how important they are to the Lord, to us, and to the Body of Christ. We hope they will find or be reminded of their Gospel-centered, God-given purpose and walk it out, every day.” Since its founding, “Freedom13” has helped rescue more than 20 women and children from the sex trafficking industry and offers them resources to gain a new life through a … [Read more...]

Missionary, minister residential care programs resume

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – After COVID-19 temporarily halted a program that assists ministers and missionaries, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries has restarted the Ministerial Care Residential Program. The program that began in 2018 will host its first approved applicants as soon as Sept. 1. Louisiana Baptist terminated ministers, and International Mission Board missionaries on stateside assignment, transitioning to a new ministry or recently retired will be eligible to receive a free apartment on the LBCHFM’s campus in Monroe for up to one year. LBCHFM President and CEO Perry Hancock told the Baptist Message he is excited to offer the opportunity for ministers and missionaries to rest while they seek God’s direction for their future plans. “Ministers have benefitted greatly from the program,” Hancock said. “They have been able to rest from the challenging demands of ministry. That may sound ‘elementary’ but burnout is an ever-present possibility in ministry. “I believe that the program has also helped some to refocus or clarify God’s call for their ministry,” he continued. “Some have discovered that, rather than being a senior pastor, they need to … [Read more...]