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By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DRY CREEK, La. (LBM) - The winds still were howling as Hurricane Laura blew through Dry Creek Baptist Camp Thursday morning, Aug. 27,  when Camp Director Todd Burnaman fielded a welcomed phone call from Horeb Baptist Church in Gretna asking how they could lend assistance. Horeb Baptist, a Hispanic congregation that stayed at the camp 33 days when they evacuated during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, was excited about the chance to repay them for their kindness. The group of more than 30, along with staff from a camp operated by Florida College in Tampa, Florida, helped clear trees and other debris on the property during Labor Day weekend. “We’ve remained good friends with Horeb Baptist 15 years later and they have been a part of the Dry Creek family since,” Burnaman told the Baptist Message. “When Pastor David Rodriguez was on the line the Thursday of the storm asking if they could come I didn’t hesitate to tell him to come on.” Emilio Lora, pastor of Horeb’s Chalmette campus, said the members were honored to return. “It was such a blessing to have the opportunity to serve the Lord and the Dry Creek people,” he said. “What a great time we had being with them again.” More than … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer KOLIN, La. (LBM) – Evan Amsden of Anna, Ohio, originally hoped to raise enough money to purchase 128 cases of much-needed bottled water for delivery to Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams, but by the end of the weekend God had nearly tripled his goal, providing enough funds to buy 383 cases, and a donation of 10,000 Gospel tracts. Seventy-six of these cases were the result of another unexpected donation during a weekend stay in Magnolia, Miss. Amsden, who left Anna Saturday morning, Aug. 30, and arrived in Kolin the following afternoon after staying the night with a family in Mississippi, told the Baptist Message he prays the Gospel tracts that will accompany distribution of the water will lead to someone trusting Jesus Christ as their Savior. “I want all these people who are hurting from this disaster to not only get physical water, but 'The Living Water,'” he said. “Ultimately, if they don’t hear about Jesus Christ then giving them a bottled water doesn’t do a lot in the long run. Physical relief is temporary, but if they don’t receive eternal relief, they have gained the world but lost their soul.” Amsden, a member of the non-denominational church In Christ Alone of West … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) - A loss of electricity may have prevented Esler Baptist Church in Pineville from holding services Sunday, Aug. 30, but the setback did not hamper their efforts to bless neighbors with a community meal. Twenty of Esler’s 90 members prepared a burger lunch, using gas grills, to 320 people who came from as far as 20 miles away. Additionally, a representative from the Salvation Army picked up 45 of the meals for individuals staying at a shelter. Pastor Joshua Timothy said his members were able to be the hands and feet of Jesus to people looking for encouragement. “We have a lot of people in our area who are struggling,” Timothy told the Baptist Message. “Right now, more than ever, we need to trust in the Lord and not lean on our own understanding. My church once again stepped up and saw an opportunity to serve those in need.” This Saturday, the members plan to cook lunch again, this time a spaghetti meal at Comrade Baptist Church in Simpson, which sustained damage to the roof and inside the facilities. Jennifer Quebodeaux, a member of Esler and co-organizer, expects her church to be just as enthusiastic at Comrade as they were during Sunday’s outreach. “It was really nice to see … [Read more...]

FOREST, La. – Isidro Hernandez-Reanas, pastor of Spanish Mission Baptist Church in Forest, died Monday, Aug. 31 at the age of 66. Born May 5, 1954, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Hernandez-Reanas, served as a pastor of Spanish Mission Baptist since Oct. 6, 2001. Funeral services for Hernandez-Reanas are Saturday, Sept. 5, 2 p.m. at Forest Baptist Church. Visitation is Friday, Sept. 4, 3 to 8 p.m. at Cox Funderal Home in Oak Grove, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Forest Baptist. He is survived by his wife, Bertilia, of 45 years, daughter, Maria Del Carmen Hernandez of Forest; daughter, Elda Karina Hernandez of Forest; brother, Demetrio Hernandez of San Pedro Sula, Honduras; sister, Dolores Hernandez of Villa Nueza, Honduras; and brother, Teodoro Hernandez of San Pedro Sula, Honduras; and multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren. … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff LEESVILLE, La. (LBM) - Sen. John Kennedy made a brief stop Tuesday at East Leesville Baptist Church, where he encouraged Southern Baptist Disaster Relief workers and pledged to get President Donald Trump to expand the list of parishes eligible for federal assistance from damage caused by Hurricane Laura. In an interview with the Baptist Message, Kennedy said the storm had impacted a more than 400-mile area and the impacted parishes deserve to receive federal FEMA assistance. Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Ouachita, Vermilion and Vernon parishes have already qualified for assistance that can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans for uninsured property loss, and other programs to assist businesses and individuals as they get to bounce back from Laura. “We are going to get Rapides, we are going to get Grant, we are going to get LaSalle,” Kennedy said. “And I’ve already told them that the president’s promised. “We are waiting paperwork from the state,” he continued. “But I’ve already told Pete Gaynor, the head of FEMA, I said Pete don’t take this the wrong way but I’m going to chase you like a hog from Hades until you declare all of the … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff CALCASIEU PARISH, La. (LBM) -- Louisiana Baptist churches damaged by Hurricane Laura may not have been able to gather in their worship centers on Sunday, but the powerful storm did not prevent them from meeting in other ways. In an emotional Facebook Live message, from inside French Corner Baptist Church in Ponchatoula, Pastor Bobby Daniels told his members of the First Baptist Church, Vinton, that God is in control. The church's facilities sustained significant roof damage and took in some water as Laura passed through Vinton Thursday. Citing 1 Kings 19, Daniels said the prophet Elijah was afraid and ran, only to find that God was with him in a still, small voice. He encouraged his congregation to listen to God and act upon His leading in the weeks and months ahead. “As a church we are going to be better,” he said. “As a community we are going to be better. As a people of faith we are going to be better. “Our faith is going to be pushed to the edge,” he continued. “But we are going to get through this.” Around 40 members of the East Leesville Baptist Church gathered for an outdoor worship service on the front lawn. The congregation was unable to meet indoors because of some water damage. The … [Read more...]