By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor It has been a long two weeks for Louisiana and its residents. Perhaps some of the toughest encountered in more than 25 years. First there was the rain. More than two feet fell in three days in the north central and northeast corner of Louisiana followed by historic flash flooding. After the rain, came the flooding. Rapidly rising floodwaters made roadways impassable, trapping people who had to be rescued, flooded numerous homes, businesses and vehicles and washed away roads and highways. Now begins the cleanup and recovery efforts. With the rain gone temporarily -- severe storms are forecasted for Wednesday and Thursday -- and with some rivers having crested and actually beginning to fall slowly, people’s attention have turned to cleanup and recovery. For the people in the affected areas, they are well aware of what has taken place. But outside the state there has been little or no mention of the severity of the disaster. “There really has been little mentioned about what is going on here,” said Ron Earley, a member of Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia Disaster Relief and a veteran of disaster relief work. “People don’t know or don’t realize the amount of … [Read more...]

Late nights and long days have been the norm lately for Lisa Muth. A member of East Leesville Baptist Church in Leesville, Muth has been helping at the incident command center at her church since last week. On Monday evening, she did not leave the church until 9 pm. The prior week, Muth left at 6 pm. Muth said despite the long days, all of the disaster relief volunteers are thankful for the opportunity to serve the people of Louisiana. “That’s our mission first, (to put) Christ first,” Muth said. “These people’s lives and homes may be in ruins now, but without Christ they will go to hell. That’s a blessing to share that. Teams are doing that now.” https://youtu.be/nWFyuy6rx8E … [Read more...]

Ron Earley, who is from Virginia and drove 22 hours over two days to get to Louisiana, has been a part of numerous responses to disaster since he began serving as a Southern Baptist Disaster Relief team member in 2005. From the flooding disasters from Katrina to Maine to Colorado, Earley, who just starting his five day shift, said he has noticed something that’s unusual compared to most disasters in which he has responded. “A lot of times in disaster, neighbors won’t pull together,” said Earley, a member of the Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia Disaster Relief team. “They will wait for help to come in. It hasn’t been the case here. Neighbors are helping neighbors and I am amazed how people are pulling together here.” Early has been joined by other SBC volunteers of Virginia as well as volunteers from Louisiana, Tennessee and Illinois helping victims in the surrounding area. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBNf_HdNZRg … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Help is rolling into Louisiana. Almost two weeks after storms dumped more than two feet of rain in areas of the state and caused the worst flooding seen in Louisiana in more than 25 years, units from 12 states have arrived to lend a helping hand. One such Southern Baptist Disaster Relief team from Arkansas along with a couple of disaster relief team members from First Baptist Church in Pineville spent Tuesday morning preparing 850 meals for those affected by the flooding in central Louisiana. Stationed at Horseshoe Drive Baptist Church in Alexandria, the team is working through March 28 there. Ed Whitson, a member of the Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief team from Arkadelphia, Ark., told the Baptist Message this is their passion and mission to those hurting after the flooding. "As Baptists, this is part of our mission," Whitson said, "to serve in any place in need and get the word out about our Savior." Jamie Stansell, a member at First Pineville, was helping the team from Arkansas prepare a meal of salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls. He enjoyed meeting the team from Arkansas and serving those in his own area who had been affected by the flooding. "I've been trained before … [Read more...]

IN REMEMBERANCE Bill Hines of Coushatta passed away March 3 at the age of 90. Memorial services were held at First Baptist Church of Coushatta with Lee Dickson and Billy Burkett officiating. Interment was at Springville Cemetery in Coushatta. He was a graduate of William Jewel University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Reared in a Christian home, he began his ministry in youth-led revivals at the age of 19 and actively served the Lord for over 70 years until his passing 9 days after his 90th birthday. He was a great minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for over 70 years, with 38 of those years being served among the churches of the District Eight Baptist Convention. He was president of District Eight for four terms, and was still a faithful pastor at the time of his home-going. Preceding him in death were his parents and one brother, Bobby Hines. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jeanette; five children, Ginny Hines; Gene Hines and wife, Diane; Gerry Camp and husband, Richard; Joy Dowden and husband, Chris; Jennifer Moore and husband, Mark; and 10 grandchildren. Ernest Julius [E.J.] Bradshaw of Leesville passed away March 6 at the age of 89. Services were held at East Leesville Baptist Church with his … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Nearly two weeks after historic flooding has ravaged many parts of the state, both Southern Baptist and Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief units and a growing number of volunteers continue tireless working to help rebuild lives and give hope found through Jesus. Since the flooding began, churches at 12 locations --  First Baptist Church in Haughton, North Monroe Baptist Church, First Baptist Church in Farmerville, East Leesville Baptist Church, Pinehill Baptist Church in Leesville, Cross Roads Baptist Church in Vinton, Westside Baptist Church in Natchitoches, Horseshoe Drive Baptist Church in Alexandria, Trinity Baptist Church in Franklinton, Woodland Park Baptist Church in Hammond, First Baptist Church in Bogalusa and Rolling Hills Ministries in Ruston -- have served as staging areas for Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief operations. Volunteers from 13 states so far have responded. John Cowling with Rolling Hills Ministries said multiple opportunities for service are available and volunteers needed. "Those who are wanting to serve can visit one of these locations and they will plug them into serving beside a trained Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer," he said. With … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LC communications PINEVILLE (LCNews) - In one of the best attended preview days in the history of Louisiana College, more than 100 prospective students visited the Pineville campus March 19, tripling the event’s attendance from a year previous. Representing private, public and home schools, the multi-ethnic group came from four states: Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana. “Preview Day was a success not just because we had a record number of attendees, but because we are expanding the scope of Christian Liberal Arts education,” said Brandon Bannon, vice president for enrollment management. “Today’s parents and students seek a college, where the education is relational, relevant and rigorous, and they are discovering Louisiana College to be that school,” LC President Rick Brewer said. “Indeed, we are preparing students not just for a degree, job or career, but for life.” About 30 who registered for the event did not attend, but LC is reaching out to them with an invitation to the college’s annual Cochon de Lait, April 23. … [Read more...]

By Jamie Stephens, Regional reporter WEST MONROE – As Mount Vernon Baptist Church Youth Pastor Bobby Blasingame lowered 15-year-old Rileigh Norred into a horse trough in front of the church, he believed the significance of her baptism was a very honorable, unique, and special experience. “Over the years and at Mount Vernon I have baptized several people, but I have never had the special privilege of baptizing anyone in a horse trough,” explained Blasingame, “Although it doesn’t matter where a baptism takes place, it’s always a humbling experience to be part of it.” Michelle Norred, Rileigh’s mother, expressed appreciation for Mount Vernon Baptist Church Pastor Randy Burdeaux’s receptive attitude about the special arrangements. “When Rileigh told me that she wanted to be baptized in a horse trough, I thought we would have Bobby come to our house,” Michelle said, “It was great that Brother Randy was so open to the idea and accommodated her.  Our horses are a part of our everyday lives and being able to use that to reveal Rileigh’s decision to surrender her life to Christ was an extra blessing.” “I never knew what a horse trough even looked like until we began planning Rileigh’s baptism,” Blasingame said. “Many of us … [Read more...]

With the need for trained disaster relief volunteers a high priority throughout Louisiana, four locations are hosting training sessions, sponsored by the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Disaster Relief. Two sessions will take place in Sulphur and Natchitoches Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Houston River Baptist Church in Sulphur will offer mud-out training, where volunteers will learn how to clean out the inside of homes damaged by the flooding. Trinity Baptist Church in Natchitoches will hold mud-out and shower unit training that night as well. The cost is 28 dollars at both locations and includes a hat and shirt. Thursday at 6:30 p.m., Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge will hold mud-out training. The training fee is $22, and includes a hat and shirt. And through Saturday, First Baptist Church in Haughton will host two short sessions each day for walk-up volunteers wishing to minister in Bossier, Caddo and Webster parishes. Pastor Gevan Spinney said the free sessions are at 7 am and noon, and volunteers should come wearing rubber boots. Other equipment will be provided. Over the weekend, 134 volunteers were trained in mud-out, feeding, chainsaw, childcare and ham radio at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston while another … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LC communications PINEVILLE (LCNews) - Louisiana College’s debate team competed at the inaugural Alvin College Classic International Public Debate Association tournament in both the novice and professional divisions on March 4-5 in Alvin, Texas. LC Debate Coach Brian Manuel took top honors in the professional division, and Stephen Marsalis - a third-year debater and junior history major from Lafayette, Louisiana - was a semifinalist in the professional division. “Louisiana College is one of the oldest organizations on campus, and it owns a winning history,” said Manuel, an adjunct professor at LC and middle school English teacher in Oakdale. “I am deeply proud of our team because they prepared diligently and represented LC admirably. We continue to see improvement in our statistics.” Learning to debate teaches students how to communicate clearly and authoritatively while being persuasive in a cordial manner, Manuel said. “It helps students to be prepared with an answer in most any situation they may face, whether one-on-one, or with colleagues, or even larger audiences.” The next competition for Louisiana College’s debate team will be the National IPDA championship March 31 - April 3 at Lee … [Read more...]