By Spc. Joshua Barnett, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office NEW ORLEANS – Approximately 300 Louisiana National Guardsmen continue working across the state to build protective barriers against the approaching flood waters and to patrol levees in support of local, parish and state officials at the request of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. The 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team has installed more than 2.3 miles of HESCO barriers and is currently filling them with sand to create a levee on Avoca Island to prevent backwater flooding from reaching Morgan City and other towns in south Louisiana. “We had a hard night, it was very cold, it was muddy, but out Soldiers were motivated,” said Lt. Col. Rich Hanes, executive officer, 256th IBCT. “They stayed up all night with no complaints. I’m very proud of them. They’re hard working, great Soldiers and great Americans.” The levee project is part of a larger effort designed to prevent high water from the Atchafalaya River from travelling through Bayou Chene, over Avoca Island and into the Intracoastal Waterway, where it could flood Morgan City and other towns. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working to seal off the waterway, … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Noshoba Davis, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office PINEVILLE – Louisiana National Guardsmen are working alongside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the 5th Levee District to conduct 24-hour levee patrols in the parishes of Concordia, East Carroll, Madison and Tensas to inspect for any issues caused by the winter river flooding. These patrols started on Jan. 8. “We have the National Guard out here with us to assist with monitoring the territory on the levees since there is so much ground to cover,” said Steven Evans, a construction controller with the US Army Corps of Engineers. Approximately 200 miles of levees are being checked for leaks, sand boils and seepage around the clock. “The younger Soldiers are getting to see and understand exactly what the Louisiana Guard is here for. They get to see it’s about the community and protecting the people, letting them know that we are here for them,” said Sgt. Aerrial Fredricks, of Monroe, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 528th Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade. The Guardsmen, working with the Corps, are learning how to identify problems that may arise during a flood. They … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BATON ROUGE – A little more than 24 hours after his unanimous election as president pro-tempore of the Louisiana Senate, Gerald Long is calling for unity from his fellow legislators and prayers from Baptists across the state. Long, a Republican and deacon at First Baptist Church Natchitoches, was elected by a 39-0 vote on Jan. 11 prior to inauguration ceremonies in the State Senate Chamber in Baton Rouge. Long said his election by his fellow peers was humbling. “It’s one thing when someone appoints you to something, but it’s another thing when your peers ask you to serve,” he said. His election as president pro-tempore marks the beginning of his third term in the Senate. Since becoming a senator, Long’s has served on committees dealing with insurance, agriculture, education, finance, and revenue and fiscal affairs. Long views the task to serve others, especially residents of the six parishes he represents, as not just a position but a calling from God. As a Christian, he believes serving in his position of leadership is a calling to be salt and light throughout the state. Looking ahead to the next legislative session, Long has two goals –the state government be transparent … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message Tallahassee, FLA. – More than 4,000 people, including former Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden, stood on the front lawn of the Old Capitol building for Franklin Graham’s ‘Decision America Tour, Tuesday Jan. 12. It was the second stop of the tour. During his nearly hour long speech, Graham covered issues like race relations, prayer in schools and same sex marriage. He assured the crowd his father, 97-year-old evangelist Billy Graham, was joining them in prayer from North Carolina. "We're in economic trouble, political trouble, and we’re in race trouble," Graham told the crowd. "I have no hope in the Democratic Party. I have no hope in the Republican Party. My only hope is in the almighty God. "Our nation is in trouble and there's not a political party that can fix it,” Graham told an enthusiastic crowd on the capitol steps. “Thank you for coming out today. I am so encouraged to see so many coming together to pray.” The tour will be making its third stop Wednesday, Jan. 13 at North Boulevard Town Square near the State Capitol in Baton Rouge at noon. Individuals and churches are  urged to attend this important rally according to Graham. Why? "We need to take a … [Read more...]

By Tobin Perry, North American Mission Board communications COVINGTON — The North American Mission Board (NAMB) has asked veteran Louisiana pastor Waylon Bailey to serve as its ambassador to the state’s Southern Baptist pastors. In this role, Bailey will express gratitude to pastors for their churches’ giving to the Cooperative Program and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering®. He will also serve as a resource for pastors who want to get their churches more involved in North American missions. “I have a long association in Louisiana,” Bailey said. “I have a great desire to reach the state for Christ.” Bailey served as president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention between 2011 and 2013. As president, he led the convention to institute the 2020 Commission. The commission evaluated all that the state convention was doing in order to make an assessment of what it should continue to do. Bailey says the commission determined to emphasize reaching two Louisiana demographics in particular—“ethnics and the next generation.” Bailey hopes by serving in this ambassador role with NAMB he can help the state’s churches make progress toward that goal. He hopes to come alongside Louisiana Baptist pastors as they seek to impact their … [Read more...]

By Message Staff VIDALIA – Residents of Vidalia, Natchez, Miss., surrounding communities and parishes came together to plea with God to spare them from widespread damage from the rapidly rising floodwaters of the Mississippi River. And it appears God has answered their plea. Held on Jan. 10 at the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center, the Miss-Lou Community Prayer Gathering drew several hundred pastors, laymen and business leaders for a time of prayer and intercession for the community and state. Scripture reading and singing were also part of the afternoon. Bill McCullin, pastor of First Baptist Church in Vidalia, was encouraged by the response of attendees from not just Southern Baptist churches but other denominations. “Just seeing so many different denominations and churches in so many parishes come together to pray and seek Him was a blessing,” McCullin said. “It took rising waters to bring the community together.” The last time McCullin recalls the community coming together for a time of prayer was in 2011, when the town saw its riverfront flooded by the Mississippi River. The record crest was 61.95 feet on May 19, 2011, and took weeks to recede. He believes the community learned from that … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message BATON ROUGE – In a resounding victory for Louisiana Pro-Life advocates and Louisiana Southern Baptists, New Iberia Republican Taylor Barras was elected as the new Speaker of the House in a stunning vote and Gerald Long (R-Natchitoches) was unanimously elected as President Pro Tempre of the Louisiana Senate. The Republican-dominated Louisiana legislature broke ranks with incoming Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards (the first Democratic Governor since 2008) and elected New Iberia Rep. Taylor Barras as their speaker with 56 of the 105 House member’s votes. "We congratulate Rep. Barras on his election as Speaker of the House,” said Ben Clapper, Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life. “Rep. Barras has a 100 percent pro-life voting record with Louisiana Right to Life, and we are confident the House of Representatives and the Health and Welfare Committee will be under pro-life guidance.” The speaker's race originally featured four candidates -- Barras, New Orleans Democrat Walter Leger III, New Orleans Democrat Neil Abramson and Metairie Republican Cameron Henry. In the first round of voting, Henry and Leger got the most votes. Henry, however, ended up dropping out of the race, throwing his … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – Charles Billingsley is well known as the once lead vocalist of the Christian music group Newsong, recording such hits as “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” and singing at various Louisiana Baptist events. Yet, a successful and storied music career nearly ended in 2009 when Billingsley severely injured his voice during a concert in Florida. What followed was a major surgery to remove a vocal cord and uncertain days ahead. The night before the surgery, friends gathered to pray over Billingsley and issued a challenging question that if he never sang again, would he still love and serve God? The answer was “I think so.” After five days of not speaking or singing, the vocal cords healed and Billingsley was shown a fresh view of God and His plan. “Sometimes the Lord makes you get quiet and get alone in order to get what it means to worship him,” Billingsley said. “Through all that, I learned how to worship again through no music or singing but the power of his presence. That rejuvenated me spiritually and physically. As result, the Lord put a new power in my ministry and in my singing too. I came back stronger and better than ever.” Billingsley, who has been leading … [Read more...]