By Message Staff As the floodwaters from what was once Hurricane Harvey recede in the coming days and weeks, Louisiana Baptists State Disaster Relief Director Gibbie McMillan is urging as many people as possible to complete training now. Those who have yet to be trained to serve on a disaster relief team can do so by visiting the disaster relief website. A brief online training session can also be completed there. Several training sessions are scheduled in the state. These include: Chaplaincy training Sept. 5, 8 a.m. to noon Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge office, 10560 Airline Hwy., Baton Rouge. RSVP by email to domstan@basela.org Mud-out training Sept. 6, 9:30 a.m. to noon The New Orleans Baptist Association office, 2222 Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans Chaplaincy training Sept. 6, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The New Orleans Baptist Association office, 2222 Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans … [Read more...]

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA – A group of pastors brought the hope of Christ inside the LSU AgCenter mega-shelter to more than 1,000 Hurricane Harvey evacuees Friday, Sept. 1. Five pastors offered words of encouragement inside the mega-shelter on the campus of LSU-Alexandria while lay people set up booths in the parking lot outside to pray with anyone interested. Held in the lobby of the building, participants also sang and heard from Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy, Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields and Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton. Nathan Martin, pastor of Christian Challenge Worship Center in Pineville, received a call from the Rapides Parish Sheriff's around 4 p.m. Thursday requesting they hold the multi-denominational prayer service. While media and the public were not allowed inside, Martin shared with the Baptist Message that the presence of the Holy Spirit was powerful during the prayer service. “Things began a bit chaotically at the beginning,” Martin said to pastors who participated after the service concluded. “It seemed like we were voices speaking into a waterfall. But as our time went on, more and more people were engaged in what was being shared, and by the end of the service ... well, you … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – Noah’s Ark Flood Relief, a coalition of 10 central Louisiana churches, is seeking donations to fill up at least an 18-wheeler by Monday for delivery to neighborhoods in Kingwood, Texas. Formed out of a response to help those impacted by last year's historic flooding in Denham Springs, Noah’s Ark Flood Relief is collecting items people may have lost when Hurricane Harvey came through their area. Sheryl Craig, spokesperson for the organization, said they hope the effort is an encouragement to those suffering. “Christ’s commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves,” Craig said. “Today is someone else’s turn to experience difficulties but tomorrow may be my turn. It’s about people coming together to help people in need.” Donations, with the exception of clothing, will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sept. 15 at Trinity Baptist Church, 3905 Trinity Church Road in Pineville. The organization hopes to fill up a second truck by mid-September. For more information on donating items or volunteering with Noah’s Ark Flood Relief, call 201.8218.     … [Read more...]

By Message Staff A Louisiana College football player has established a campaign to benefit those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Since Wednesday, Zac Barrient, a senior wide receiver from Mandeville, has worked tirelessly to raise money and promote the Wildcat Football Relief Handoff that will benefit families in Katy, Texas. Barrient and four other teammates plan to drive a U-Haul truck filled with donated food and water to Katy Sept. 8, which is during the only bye week of the season for the Wildcats. Donations for food and water will be collected at LC's Sept. 1 and Sept. 4 soccer matches at 3 p.m. and 11 a.m. respectively, as well as during the football game Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. Barrient also is accepting donations at other times of the week until Thursday, Sept. 7. Impacted by last year's rainfall event in south Louisiana, Barrient said he can relate to what residents of Texas are experiencing. "I didn't want to do something that was all talk and no action," Barrient said. "When this situation came up, I was talking with a teammate from Katy who knew many of the people affected. I said if somebody is going to do something, why couldn't I be that someone." For more information about donating to Wildcat Football Relief … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in DeRidder and HIS Church in Pineville are collecting purses packed with toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, baby wipes, insect repellant, feminine hygiene products, brush, comb, shampoo, conditioner, hand sanitizer, lotion, lip balm or lipstick, $5, a personal note from the sender for women impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Since posting the announcement on its Facebook page Wednesday night, Pleasant Hill Baptist has received inquiries from throughout the U.S. Organizer Susan Wilson said the post has reached more than 216,000 by this morning and expects that number to grow. "A woman's purse is where she keeps evidence of her life, similar to a man's wallet but so much more," Wilson said. "A purse not only holds ID and monetary cards but items used to care for herself and others like Kleenex, peppermint, clippers and toys, as well as precious things of life like pictures, tokens of love from others. We are trying to give them a small piece of normalcy back in their life and praying it gives them hope. " The church begins accepting the purses and contents this Sunday and will continue to do so until Sept. 10. They will soon determine exact locations for delivery. Meanwhile, … [Read more...]

By Message Staff LAFAYETTE - Three-year-old Carter Hornsby spent an unscheduled day off from school Aug. 30 in a special way - delivering bags of pillows to First Baptist Church in Lafayette for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. He was beaming with excitement as he handed the pillows and other items to Pastor Steve Horn. For the youngster, the pillows held a special memory. In late August 2016 the family's Lafayette home was flooded. It was during their first night inside a temporary apartment the family realized they did not have any pillows on hand. His mom, Monica, said the gesture of helping those impacted by Harvey was a great opportunity for Carter and his brother to experience what others did for them in their time of need. "As we were buying supplies to help others, loading pillows into our basket was especially memorable," she said. "To think that many don't have the option of going to the store to get basic needs due to the flooding is heart wrenching. "My boys do not understand the impact of this tragedy, but they do understand the generosity of people and the church meeting needs because of what others did for us and what we are now having the opportunity to do," she continued. "We prayed over … [Read more...]

By Message Staff HUMBLE, Texas – As Joshua Drummond watched in horror last weekend floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey engulf entire communities in Texas, he couldn’t sit idle. By Sunday, Aug. 27, Drummond and others from Christ’s Community Church in Denham Springs organized a trip to join hundreds of members of the Cajun Navy in rescuing Texans trapped by the raging waters of Harvey. Over the course of their three-day mission, they helped rescue nearly 200 people from a neighborhood in Humble, Texas, including residents of a nursing home. Though they worked long days, Drummond said the effort allowed him to show the love of Christ to those needing hope. “With all of the devastation around, just take a second to watch and you will see the true nature of people,” Drummond said shortly after returning from Texas. “It truly brings out the best in everyone. “The nursing home rescue was amazing,” he continued. “People answered the call in force. When we showed up to the area there was a few boats and by the time we left there were over 100. People were lined up waiting to help transport patients and supplies. With all the chaos it actually went pretty smooth.” The rescues came a year after many volunteers from Texas … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Two Louisiana Baptist associations are preparing to host evangelistic rallies next month with the expectation of reaping a harvest of souls. Temple Baptist Church in Jena will host the LaSalle Baptist Association Family Evangelistic Event Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. Casey Johnson, pastor of Bonita Road Baptist Church in Bastrop, will be the guest preacher and Broken Vessels, a Christian band from DeRidder, will provide the special music. Meanwhile, First Baptist Church in Ferriday will serve as the location for the Delta Baptist Association’s evangelism rally Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. Wayne Jenkins, evangelism and growth church director for Louisiana Baptists, will be the guest preacher and Glenn Roberts, pastor of First Baptist Church in Newellton, will provide the special music. The evangelism rallies come at a time when Louisiana Baptist churches – including those in both associations – are preparing to participate next year in the Harvest, a statewide Harvest initiative to “pray for every home and share Christ with every person.” If the goal of at least 700 churches is reached, it would be the most churches who have participated together at one time in a combined evangelism effort across the state. “We want … [Read more...]

By Message Staff LAKE CHARLES - Carey Baptist Association Director of Missions Bruce Baker has issued an urgent call for volunteers to work at the shelter at the Lake Charles Civic Center, 900 Lakeshore Drive in Lake Charles, and help sort through items donated for those impacted by the storm. Due to a large response from the community who dropped off food, clothing and other materials, no additional donations are needed at this time. However, beginning Sept. 4, donations once again will be accepted at either the association office, 1701 W. Prien Lake Road in Lake Charles, or Trinity Baptist Church, 1800 Country Club Road in Lake Charles, between 8 a.m. and noon Monday through Friday. A complete list of items can be found by visiting the association website. Also, next week volunteers will be needed to begin cleanup of homes flooded during the recent rainfall. Walk-up volunteers will be accepted. Those wanting to complete training online before coming can do so by going to the Louisiana Baptist Convention website.   … [Read more...]