By Philip Timothy, Message Managing Editor BATON ROUGE -- An impromptu visit by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Aug.19 has succeeded in getting south Louisiana -- stricken by catastrophic flooding -- some national attention. Trump and Pence came to Baton Rouge to survey damage, visit with flood victims and relief crews and offer encouragement. The two men stopped at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church where they met with Tony Perkins, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Christian public policy ministry, Family Research Council, and Franklin Graham, president of the Christian international relief agency, Samaritan’s Purse. “Yesterday’s visit by Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and Franklin Graham has generated a lot of interest across the country from people who want to help our church and community,” wrote Perkins, who also is serving as interim pastor of the Greenwell Springs congregation. “Today 90 volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse were sent to clean out houses in the area. “As of last night we have had over 600 applications for assistance in removing debris and cleaning out homes,” Perkins said. Trump and Pence were joined by other local and state officials. … [Read more...]

Below are churches across south Louisiana where you or your family members may find assistance. The assistance available depends upon the location. Ascension Baptist, Gonzales 13432 Airline Hwy., Gonzales, LA 70737 — Distributing Goods, Feeding, Mudout (receiving forms) The Bayou, Lafayette 2234 Kaliste Saloom Road, Lafayette, LA 70508 — Shower, Laundy, Feeding, Mudout (receiving forms), Distributing Goods Bethel, Livingston 20149 Circle Drive, Livingston, LA 70754 — Feeding, Shower Bethlehem, Albany 29350 S Montipelier, Albany, LA 70711 — Feeding, Distributing Goods Christ Community, Denham Springs 26574 Juban Road, Denham Springs, LA 70726 — Distributing Goods Church of Life Fellowship, Baton Rouge 6066 Evangeline St, Baton Rouge, LA 70805 — Water, Feeding, Mudout (receiving forms) Community Bible, Baton Rouge 1729 Monte Sano Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70807 — Feeding, Mudout (receiving forms) Colyell, Livingston 19524 LA Highway 42, Livingston, LA 70754 — Distributing Goods, Feeding, Mudout (receiving forms) Fellowship, Prairieville 14363 Highway 73, Prairieville, LA 70769 — Distributing Goods, Feeding, Mudout (receiving forms) First, Addis 6781 Hwy 1 South, Addis, LA … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Philip Timothy and Brian Blackwell, Message Staff ALEXANDRIA -- “The need is great,” according to John Hebert, responding about the massive flooding which struck the southern part of the state after record rainfall began August 12. Hebert, state mission director who also oversees Louisiana Baptists’ combined disaster relief efforts, said the flooding has been historic, citing statistics from emergency management officials that 40,000 homes have been impacted, so far, and in some places 75 percent of them destroyed. “Some folks on the ground are suggesting upwards of 60,000 homes may be affected,” he told the Baptist Message. “Importantly, this disaster comes just a little over four months after the record spring floods which devastated the northern part of the state,” Hebert said. “This is significant because about 70 percent of Louisiana Baptist volunteers are in that part of the state, and they dealt with losses while simultaneously helping others for weeks. Now, they just got their homes in order and we are asking them to step up, again, for this recovery effort. “We need more volunteers, we need donations to purchase supplies and we need more prayers,” Hebert emphasized. RAINS FELL, WATERS … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA - On his way to Denham Springs to minister to people devastated by the historic floods, Gevan Spinney, president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, told the Baptist Message he wanted folks to know help is coming. HOPE Spinney said he wanted “our friends” and “brothers and sisters” to rest assured Louisiana Baptists “are praying for you, and, we are coming.” “I know from experience being where you are it seems like it takes a while. But we want you to know the cavalry is on its way,” he emphasized. “I’ve been up here at the convention building and I’ve seen the command center,” Spinney shared. “It’s getting organized. They are putting things in place. “I looked on a board showing where shower trailer units and mud-out teams from all around are coming. Feeding trailers are coming from all over the states,” he continued. “Southern Baptists are on the way to get boots on the ground to help you through this.” HELP Spinney also made an appeal to “our churches north of Opelousas.” “Now is the time to help,” he said. “We’ve been through this. We know what it’s like. We don’t just have sympathy for our fellow Louisiana brothers and sisters in the south who have been … [Read more...]

Please pray for these pastors, whose homes were damaged by recent flooding. Jay Avance, First Baptist Church, Baker Thomas and Bethany Fletcher, Faith Baptist Church, Baker Jeff Ginn, Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge Lonnie Tucker, Still Water Baptist Church, Hammond Josh Powell, Woodland Baptist, Springfield David Collins, Blood River Baptist Church, Albany Darryl Woolery, Tammany Hills Baptist Church, Covington, Chris Fuselier, First Baptist Church, Youngsville Pat Deshotel, First Baptist Church, Welsh Jered Thomas, First Baptist Church, Lake Arthur Carolyn Conerly, widow of Roderick Conerly former LBC employee and Pastor Tommy Hicks, Antioch Baptist Church, Tickfaw Lee Rogers, First Baptist Church, Kaplan Larry  and Elizabeth Langley, The Garden Baptist Church, Lafayette Kyle Sullivan, Woodlawn Baptist Church, Baton Rouge Deleece Nichols, First Baptist Church, Lafayette Bruce Worrell, Sherwood Baptist, Baton Rouge   … [Read more...]

By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor FRENCH SETTLEMENT -- The crew of the UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter was assigned search and rescue duties Aug. 15, flying along the Amite River when a small group of people flagged them down. The chopper, part of F Co 2-135th AVN, an Army National Guard aviation support unit based in Pineville, hovered as team members tried to assess the needs of those stranded on the ground. NOT A TYPICAL MONDAY “We could see a walker sitting in the small boat and an elderly lady sitting in the boat,” said Staff Sergeant Chad McCann, a member of Union Baptist Church, Deville. “We realized we couldn’t do a hoist rescue so the pilots [Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jesse Curtis and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Walt Clement] inched the chopper down to a small sand island between two houses. As the medic, Staff Sergeant Scott Hamilton, went over to assess the needs, McCann borrowed a small boat and followed after him. What they found was much more than they anticipated. “Not only was there an elderly woman, but she had just recently had brain surgery,” McCann said. “There also was a young mother (the woman’s daughter) and two small children. We quickly got the grandmother secured in the helicopter and I went … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Directors of missions from the southern areas of the state are asking for donations that will be distributed to thousands of people affected by last weekend’s massive flooding in south Louisiana. “The greatest needs we have right now are prayer for the pastors who have personally experienced loss and for their financial issues,” said David Carlton, director of missions for Evangeline Baptist Association. “Some have no flood insurance.” The Bayou Church, which is a member of the Evangeline Baptist Association of churches, is collecting bleach, rags, mops, deodorant, soap, toothbrushes and school supplies from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. though Thursday, Aug. 18. The church is located at 2234 Kaliste Saloom Road in Lafayette. In Baton Rouge, one church opening its door for donations is Istrouma Baptist Church, 10500 Sam Rushing Drive. These items may be dropping off from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Thursday: First aid kits 50-ft. heavy duty water hoses Crow and pry bars Square shovels Squeegees Brooms Rubber gloves Hard hats Five-gallon buckets bleach Mosquito repellent Gatorade Bottled water Hammers Dust masks One-gallon spray bottle Box fans Extension cords … [Read more...]

By Message Staff LAKE ARTHUR – The sandbags are stacked high around First Baptist Church in Lake Arthur, most of the congregation has evacuated and now all they and the rest of the southwest Louisiana town can hope for is a miracle from God. Threatening to flood the community is the Mermentau River, whose crest occurred earlier Thursday, Aug. 18, at 10.73 feet. The river previously was expected to crest at 11.5 feet on Friday. So far, they are holding up as the community and local churches have banded together to help one another during this time. “We are holding each other’s hand during this time,” said Pastor Jered. “The Lord has shown up and showed off his greatness during this time.” The Lake Arthur Police Department has issued a dusk-til-dawn curfew until further notice for the town of 2,700 residents. Thomas said water was not in the town yet, though he expects to know if water will come into Lake Arthur between later tonight and sometime Friday. Lake Arthur Mayor Robbie Bertrand said in a Facebook post Thursday morning that overnight all levees held, with some amount of leakage due to pressure from the buildup of water against them. Bertrand said the east part of town does not have a levee or pump and … [Read more...]

By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Public Relations NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana has been no stranger to disaster during the past decade. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill ravished the state in recent years. Once again the state is in the epicenter of a historic disaster. During the past week, unprecedented flooding near Baton Rouge has displaced thousands of residents and ruined more than 40,000 homes. While the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary main campus is well outside the affected area, many seminary students and their families are among the victims of this tragedy. The needs are overwhelming and NOBTS is readying for a response as the event moves from crisis to recovery. “The flooding rains and rising rivers that hit South Louisiana during the last several days have created a monumental catastrophe causing severe damages in homes, churches and businesses far too numerous to list.  It will affect our area for a long time to come,” said New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley. “Thousands need food, clothing, and shelter.  There will be an enormous need for workers to help rebuild entire communities.” Kelley said that those who wish to help seminary students affected by … [Read more...]

B By Craig Franklin JENA, - For Louisiana College Head Men's Basketball Coach Reni Mason, basketball is nothing more than a platform to build the kingdom of God. Mason and his assistant coach, Jonathan Brooks, and two other student-athletes -- Raheem Regis and Travis Schutlz -- represented Louisiana College and Jesus Christ August 11 and 12 when they conducted a free basketball clinic at First Baptist Church Jena for aspiring players from kindergarten through 12th grade. "We teach the fundamentals of basketball, but the most important reason we conduct these camps is to share the Gospel," Mason said. "We start each day with a devotion, get into our drills, and end with a devotion. Everything we do starts and ends with God." "I'd like to thank Pastor Dominick DiCarlo and the Jena First Baptist Church family for allowing us to come and conduct this clinic," Mason said. Louisiana College sponsors basketball camps for three weeks each summer, but this year expanded with free clinics to areas outside of the campus after. "This year we conducted two of these clinics, the first was at Alpine Baptist Church in Tioga and the second was here at First Baptist in Jena," Mason said. "We've averaged about 65 youths between … [Read more...]