Check it out!  Potpourri LAFAYETTE – First church:  “South Louisiana Sunday School Connection” conference; Sept. 16, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Bill Taylor, guest speaker; for information, call David Jeffreys at 337-365-5471; Steve Horn, pastor. PLEASANT HILL – Clara Springs camp:  Associational sponsored Ladies’ Fall Fellowship; Sept. 9, 9 a.m. – 12 noon; Tonya Hancock and Lea Ann Hawkins, guest speakers; Betty Ford and Brenda James, musical guests; $10 per person; for information, call Barbara Dickson at 318-352-4090; Lee Dickson, director of missions; Benny Alford, camp manager. HAUGHTON – Eastwood church:  Gloryland Quartet Patriotic Celebration; Sept. 10, 6 p.m.; free admission; Scott Teutsch, pastor. BATON ROUGE – Jefferson church:  “America, We Must Not Forget” musical; Sept. 10, 10:30 a.m.; Alan Shoumaker, minister of music; T. C. French, Jr., pastor. HOMER – First church:  “9/11 Appreciation Banquet” honoring law enforcement, firefighters and emergency responders; Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m.; Jack Daniels, guest speaker; Brad Mount, musical guest; James Simeon, pastor. DEVILLE – Longview church:  “Women’s Celebration” event; Sept. 16, 7 p.m.; nursery provided; Robby Poole, pastor. ZACHARY – First church:  Outdoorsman Banquet; … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – As Hurricane Katrina made its way through New Orleans, the storm destroyed most homes and businesses in the area, including the five churches in Plaquemines Baptist Association. While four of the congregations will probably never reopen, Port Sulphur Baptist Church has survived in this desolate wasteland, when it is still difficult to find businesses open one year after the hurricane. NEW ORLEANS – As Hurricane Katrina made its way through New Orleans, the storm destroyed most homes and businesses in the area, including the five churches in Plaquemines Baptist Association. While four of the congregations will probably never reopen, Port Sulphur Baptist Church has survived in this desolate wasteland, when it is still difficult to find businesses open one year after the hurricane. Though the church building was destroyed, the South Louisiana congregation has refused to die. Recently, the congregation joined Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. They continue to hold worship services under a tent until their original structure is rebuilt. Ninety-percent of its members have relocated to other parishes and cities in the United States; fifteen members have returned to the area. Since April, the church has … [Read more...]

GULFPORT, Miss. (BP) – One year after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma devastated the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast region, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders are looking back at the remarkable ministry already accomplished – and settling in for the daunting task still ahead. GULFPORT, Miss. (BP) – One year after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma devastated the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast region, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders are looking back at the remarkable ministry already accomplished – and settling in for the daunting task still ahead. More than 60,000 homes and 160 churches were damaged or destroyed along the Mississippi coast. Countless people were left homeless in New Orleans. Southern Baptists rolled in just hours after Hurricane Katrina hit bringing with them a convoy of relief – and an eternal hope rising above earthly circumstances. In all, Southern Baptist volunteers from 41 state conventions prepared more than 14 million hot meals, completed 16,973 cleanup and recovery jobs, provided 103,556 hot showers, cleaned 25,826 loads of laundry, cared for 7,817 children and purified 21,595 gallons of water. Through the efforts of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and other agencies, God … [Read more...]

First Baptist Church of Lacombe was without electricity for three weeks after Hurricane Katrina. But they didn’t allow that to get in their way. LACOMBE – First Baptist Church of Lacombe was without electricity for three weeks after Hurricane Katrina. But they didn’t allow that to get in their way. Despite the lack of electricity they still held services – only missing one day of worship, the day of the storm. The first Sunday back, the church had about 15 people in worship. The second Sunday, 50 people and by the third Sunday there was standing room only. Attendance went from 120 before the storm to 130 after the storm with losing a few families along the way. The pastor of FBC Lacombe, Byron Brown, was back in town within the week after Katrina hit and quickly began to help with disaster relief in the area. One of the first things Brown did was to introduce himself to two policemen and a sheriff he saw at the grocery store. “I told them if FEMA or Red Cross or if anyone needs to use our property or our building they are more than welcome to do so,” Brown said. “At that time I didn’t realize the impact that conversation was going to have.” One day later Brown was cleaning his own property when a church member … [Read more...]

Seminary professors and students have said as much with their actions. They have returned to campus to continue to train and be trained for ministry. They have returned to be witnesses in the city of New Orleans. NEW ORLEANS – Seminary professors and students have said as much with their actions. They have returned to campus to continue to train and be trained for ministry. They have returned to be witnesses in the city of New Orleans. “All throughout our seminary family there has been a confidence in God and commitment to the future and a real attitude of love and grace and mutual support,” NOBTS President Chuck Kelley said. “We are going to mark the anniversary of Katrina by having a worship and ministry day.” Classes are cancelled Aug. 29. Beginning that morning, the Louisiana Baptist Convention will provide disaster relief training in Leavell Chapel. The seminary family will then gather for worship and remembrance followed by a meal together. After lunch, students and faculty members will be sent out into the community to clean, cut grass, gut homes and prayerwalk. “This will be more than a one-day effort; it will formally launch our seminary’s [post-Katrina] ministry in the community,” Kelley said. On Aug. 16, … [Read more...]

In list form ... Highlights from timeline of campus recovery Aug. 29 – Hurricane Katrina hits; levee failures leave NOBTS and the city underwater. Sept. 1 – NOBTS officials meet in Decatur, Ga., to work on a plan to provide relief toseminary families and continue the fall semester. Sept. 12 – Campus cleanup and restoration begins. Sept. 27 – NOBTS trustees unanimously vote to keep the seminary in New Orleans. Oct. 3 – Fall main campus courses continue via reformulated online study. Oct. 5-9 – Seminary residents return to campus to salvage personal items. Oct. 31 – SBC volunteers began helping with NOBTS campus restoration. Dec. 17 – 137 graduates receive NOBTS degrees in first post-Katrina graduation Jan. 11 – A limited number of NOBTS offices return to the main campus. Jan. 23 – Commuter courses begin on the main campus; more than 200 students take    classes in New Orleans. Online courses continue for displaced students. April 24 – All main campus offices return to NOBTS. May 13 – Seminary celebrates 241 spring graduates on the main campus June 6 – Students begin moving back to campus. Aug. 1 – NOBTS resumes normal campus operations; campus restoration more than 80 percent complete; SBC volunteers have saved … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – With a lifetime of service under his carpenter’s belt, Freddie Arnold knew what was needed when Katrina slammed the region last Aug. 29. NEW ORLEANS – With a lifetime of service under his carpenter’s belt, Freddie Arnold knew what was needed when Katrina slammed the region last Aug. 29. Despite the corrosive salt water that sloshed five feet deep in his house for more than two weeks, the church planting missionary for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans (BAGNO) focused on the needs of others. Nothing could be done for his home furnishings, his clothing, his tools, but there were a lot of other people who could benefit from his presence. “Freddie’s our hero,” said BAGNO DOM Joe McKeever. “He lost everything but put that aside to help everyone else. “Freddie is one of these people who can do everything,” McKeever continued. “He can preach, sing, grow a church through the Sunday school, start churches, lead conferences, fix your car and build your house.” Arnold’s walk with the Lord started when two deacons took him aside one Sunday night and shared the gospel with him. After that, “Every time I heard a religious song or a preacher I faced the fact I had a decision to make,” Arnold said. He … [Read more...]

It’s been a tough year. Even those who put their faith and trust in Jesus have had it hard. It’s been a tough year. Even those who put their faith and trust in Jesus have had it hard. The diffference between them and those who thought they had to do everything themselves is that the people called “Christians” know they aren’t all alone in this. They have Jesus to reach out to, cry with, yell at, lean on, be comforted by, be loved by and reach out to, with love. Who is this Jesus? He is God. That’s why the warmth of God’s love shines through Him, and the strength of God’s power emanates from Him. The Bible says Jesus went through everything mankind does, and yet, he never sinned, he never fell short of God’s expectation. You know you can’t say that. God knows that too. That’s why He sent Jesus – to pay the price for your sins, because that’s the only way you one day can be with Him in heaven. He had to send Jesus, because Jesus was the only one powerful enough to conquer death. That’s how much God loves you: He loves you so much that he allowed Jesus to be whipped, beaten, ridiculed and hung on a cross to die a very public, excruciatingly painful death so that you one day can be with Him in heaven. It’s time for you to … [Read more...]

A prayer and praise rally at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at First Baptist New Orleans is expected to feature a host of luminaries and a short video illustrating recovery efforts. NEW ORLEANS – A prayer and praise rally at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at First Baptist New Orleans is expected to feature a host of luminaries and a short video illustrating recovery efforts. Everyone is invited, says Host Pastor David Crosby. Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, is keynote speaker. Southern Baptists Dennis Watson of Celebration Church and Joe McKeever of BAGNO are among several prayer leaders, and praise team leaders from three SBC churches – Williams Boulevard, Franklin Avenue and First New Orleans will be presenting praise and worship with George Huff, a popular local singer who recently earned a ‘runner-up’ slot on American Idol. First New Orleans is located at 5290 Canal Blvd. Also on Aug. 29, NOBTS is planning to send out hundreds of students across Metro New Orleans to minister in as many as 10 ways. … [Read more...]

CHICAGO (BP) – On Nov. 6, 1998, in a three-page article in the journal Science, professor James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin reported that he had developed the first colony of human embryonic stem cells. And the controversy over that discovery continues unabated. Thomson, who holds doctorates in veterinary science and molecular biology, obtained so-called “spare” human embryos from a local IVF (in vitro fertilization) clinic. The embryos were donated for research by couples being treated for infertility and who no longer wanted the embryos. Doubtless, some of this same family of embryos developed in the uteruses of their mothers and are being reared today by those parents. Nevertheless, Thomson placed these tiny, eight-celled embryos into Petri dishes and began to grow them in his lab. When the cells reached the blastocyst stage of about 100 cells, using a very thin glass needle known as a micro-pipette, Thomson removed some of the cells from the inner cell mass. Placing them in a medium rich in nutrients, Thomson and his team were able to grow the colonies of cells for many months. Every human body is composed a number of cell types -- more than 200 different cell types, in … [Read more...]