By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA – “We are in this together and we are going to come through this together.” That’s the phrase that has come to the mind of Jeff Ginn, pastor of Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, following the historic flooding that has left him and many others in his church flooded out of their homes. Citing Isaiah 43:2, Ginn said that God is with his congregation and others who have been affected by the flooding, which dumped nearly three feet of rain in some areas since Thursday. “I know we all deeply feel a sense of loss and the challenges before us,” Ginn said during a Facebook live message taped from Istrouma Baptist Church. “When I say we are in this together, it’s not just that you and I are in this together, but the Lord is in this with us.” Dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, Ginn addressed the congregation via his own Facebook page since the church was unable to hold services on Sunday morning. He was one of many Louisiana Baptist pastors who took to social media to broadcast a message, either from their church building or a living room. Brian Crain, pastor of Progression Church in Baton Rouge, took to Facebook to deliver his message. Broadcasting from the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell and Philip Timothy, Louisiana Baptist Message For the people of South Louisiana, when it rains, it pours. For the second time in five months, historic flooding has left widespread devastation and suffering through south Louisiana. As of Sunday afternoon, four people have been killed in the flooding, thousands have been displaced and thousands of homes, businesses and churches have been affected by the flooding. According to the National Weather Service, more than 15-18 inches of rain fell in southeast Louisiana beginning Friday. Some areas, though, received even more. Tangipahoa Parish to Baton Rouge got 15 to 20 inches or more, with some recording up to 27 inches of rain. In a 24-hour period, Baton Rouge had as much as 11 inches while one weather observer reported more than 17 inches in Livingston Parish. Over a two-day period more than 20 inches of rain fell in the Acadiana area according to the National Weather Service. Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness estimates more than 5,000 people have had to stay in shelters Saturday evening. Over 1,000 vehicles – with people inside -- were stranded on Interstate 12 between Baton Rouge and Covington. Traffic … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALBANY -- Nearly 300 people staying at a shelter at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Albany are temporarily stranded. Lonnie Wascom, director of missions for Northshore Baptist Association, told the Baptist Message the church is serving as an American Red Cross shelter. He said it has plenty of supplies for evacuees but accessibility into and out of the church by roadway is next to impossible. “The people there are tired but considering the situation, the volunteers at the church are handling things the best they can,” Wascom said. The historic flooding has shut down many roadways in Livingston Parish, forcing many residents out of their homes and countless rescues of those trapped in vehicles and houses. The Louisiana State Police and Louisiana National Guard are attempting to rescue motorists who have been stranded on Interstate 12 for more than 24 hours. Helicopters are dropping food and water to those trapped on the roadway. Wascom said to call the situation bad is an understatement. “I just completed a recon of part of the western portion of our association and it’s bad,” Wascom said. “And it is worse the further west you go. And there are also those on the east side of … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – Steve Parr said he is concerned about a growing problem in the church today – a smaller percentage of young adults getting and staying actively involved. Once active in church as teens, the number of young adults no longer plugged in after permanently leaving the confines of home is just 1 in 3. But despite the alarming news, Parr believes he has found a solution to help turn around the statistic in a positive way. Parr shared during Saturday’s Louisiana Baptist Convention ReGroup conference the findings from a survey he conducted in 2015 with fellow Georgia Baptist Convention staff member Tom Crites that identifies why some still remain active in the church into adulthood. Among those reasons are the mother and father of children demonstrate priorities by serving in the church, love the pastor and have a high view of scripture. Parr encouraged those in attendance to become active in an area of service at the church, even if it means losing a member of one’s own Bible study to another ministry. “I believe one of the greatest marks of your effectiveness is not how many are attending your Bible study group but how many you have released to serve in other areas,” … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Five months after historic flash flooding sent nearly three feet of water inside the sanctuary and parsonage of Mt. Nebo Baptist Church in Roseland, the facility has once again been hit by rising floodwaters. At least two feet of water has reached inside the building, according to Cindy Camardelle, the wife of Pastor Randel Camardelle. And the National Weather Service says southeast Louisiana will continue to be pounded by a low pressure system causing additional flooding. Until the latest round of flooding, repairs to the church from the March flooding had progressed and were nearly 75 percent complete. The congregation was two to three weeks away from worshiping in its sanctuary once again. Now, the congregation will have to wait for an undetermined amount of time for their long anticipated return, their spirit will not be broken by more floodwaters. "Pray for God's mercy, for our congregation to not be discouraged and for the Church as a whole to be revived," Camardelle said. Meanwhile, the system had brought flooding to Iberia Parish were two inches of water had gotten into fellowship hall of Highland Baptist Church, New Iberia. Pastor David Denton said they are waiting until the waters … [Read more...]

By Brad Welborn, Louisiana College Sports Information PINEVILLE – Reni Mason and Patrece Carter have been named associate athletics directors according to a news release by the Louisiana College Athletic Department. Louisiana College President Rick Brewer and Athletics Director Dennis Dunn made the announcement Aug. 4 and their new positions become effective immediately. Mason has been named the Associate Athletic Director for External Relations and Carter will serve as the Associate Athletic Director for Operations. Both also will continue to lead their respective basketball programs. "Coach Carter and Coach Mason bring to these expanded assignments a deep commitment to the college's mission and vision, accompanied by their unique gifts and experiences, which they will use to advance LC's athletic program,” said Brewer. “Expanding LC's NCAA Division III programs from 13 to 18 sports this year amplifies the need for these additional administrative/coaching positions at the college." Mason will be the primary contact for the athletic department in the community. He will assist Brewer and Dunn in the planning and overseeing of marketing strategies for the individual programs and the department as a whole, as well … [Read more...]

The ladies from my home church made these aprons for our cooking team to give away to the women we worked with during our ministry in Brazil. Each is embroidered with Psalm 34:8a in Portuguese: “Taste and know that the Lord is good.” We served gumbo meals to reach influential members of each of the communities – people who were lost and resisted going to church but who were enticed by a dinner invitation to enjoy “a Louisiana specialty cooked by Americans.” June Charrier Washington Baptist Church Opelousas, Louisiana … [Read more...]

Sunday, July 17, our street evangelism team worked with a local homeless ministry in Belo Horizonte. During our ministry outreach, we shared the Gospel with a homeless couple and they accepted Christ. Later, we found out the pastor in charge of this ministry was able to find a home for them in another city so their baby no longer had to sleep on the streets. I’ll never forget this particular Sunday morning – worshiping untraditionally among homeless people while we shared the love of Christ! Glory to God!! Debbie Planchard New Zion Baptist Church Folsom, Louisiana … [Read more...]

A man with severely bowed legs had suffered his whole life from the extreme curvature of his bones. Painfully making his way to a local store, he passed through a plaza where the street evangelism team had set up speakers to share the Gospel with shoppers. Just listening with mild curiosity as he walked by, he suddenly felt complete relief from the constant aching he had always experienced. So he stopped to pay serious attention as the group repeated their message. Afterward, he came forward to share with the Americans through an interpreter how he had been healed, and how he wanted to know more about this Jesus they had been describing, and subsequently he gave his heart to Christ. Trying to explain through the interpreter what Jesus meant to him, he said “Jesus is a drugstore” who healed his body and his soul. Eddie Spry Jerusalem Baptist Church Mocksville, North Carolina … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists returning from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, are sharing testimonies of widespread revival in churches, communities, prisons and schools, following an 8-day schedule of crusades, medical ministries and other outreach efforts in this South American country. Wayne Jenkins, director of evangelism and church growth for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, said there were a recorded 3,202 salvation decisions resulting from events conducted July 10-17, bookended by overnight flights between the two continents, July 8-9 and 18-19. “God did exceedingly above all that we could think or ask,” Jenkins said. “Even working for the first time with this Brazilian association, the way was smooth in constructing three church buildings in five business days and reaching the number of people who came to know Christ, especially in some difficult areas. “Moreover, the Gospel was received by every age group and social class,” he added. “On top of that,” Jenkins offered, “it is remarkable to think that Burl Cain was given favor, in such a short amount of time, in lining up the three entities in the country needed to get permission to replicate in a Brazilian federal … [Read more...]