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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham visits Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Command Center

By Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Congressman Ralph Abraham made a surprise visit on his tour of Louisiana to assess damage and the many corresponding relief efforts, stopping in Alexandria to encourage volunteers at the Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Command Center. Abraham, a member of Alto Baptist Church, dropped off donations of bottled water, and took a look at the operations hub. But he spent most of his time encouraging the disaster relief workers who provide support to volunteer field teams by taking calls for help, ordering food, water and ice for distribution, and, coordinating the overall efforts of the multi-state response of Baptists. “I want to thank you for all you’re doing for Louisiana,” Abraham told the group. “Everyone sees the teams in the field serving meals and clearing trees, but few know about the behind-the-scenes support like this that run such a large operation across the state. “Keep the faith. God is working through you,” he added. The center, which now occupies the offices of the Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team department, coordinates the Louisiana Baptist and other state Baptist disaster relief efforts in the state. As of Sept. 2, the date of the congressman’s … [Read more...]

Trump, Johnson tour hurricane damage

By Baptist Message staff LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) - Two days after Hurricane Laura devastated parts of Louisiana, President Donald Trump stopped in Calcasieu Parish to assess areas hit hard by the storm. Trump arrived in Lake Charles around noon. He also visited other communities impacted by the storm, which made landfall Thursday in Cameron as a Category 4 hurricane. “I’m here to support the great people of Louisiana,” Trump said during a roundtable discussion with city, parish and state leaders. “It’s been a tremendous state for me. I love the people. We’ve had a great relationship right from the beginning. It’s very important that I was here; and, already I've met some people who have been absolutely devastated. This was a tremendously powerful storm.” Prior to his visit, Trump approved Gov. John Bel Edwards’ request for a major disaster declaration, which grants federal assistance to those in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis Parishes, which were severely damaged from Laura. U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, a member of the First Baptis Chiurch, Bossier City, was among Louisiana’s congressional delegation which accompanied Trump for the visit. “It would be difficult to overstate the scope of the hurricane … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists invited to be part of global prayer event

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WASHINGTON, D.C. – Several Louisiana Baptist churches will simulcast “The Return: National and Global Day of Prayer and Repentance,” a global prayer event planned for Sept. 26 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and their pastors are asking other Louisiana Baptists to join them in this time of repentance and revival, a special need, they said, during a time of division and unrest in the United States. The tentative schedule includes scripture reading, prayer and times of praise and worship, and, the preliminary list of speakers includes: author Ruth Graham Lotz, Gateway Church (Dallas, Texas) Pastor Robert Morris, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson, country music artist Pat Boone, and actor Kevin Sorbo. Dustin Stockstill, pastor of Bedico Baptist Church in Ponchatoula, said his congregation chose to host the event to help their community refocus on God. “A lot of good can come out of it,” Stockstill told the Baptist Message. “Revivals in America always started with a prayer meeting, whether it was a few or a large group of people. They realized the need for repentance and change and … [Read more...]

‘Pledge of Allegiance’ changed at DNC

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor MILWAUKEE (LBM) -- At least three leaders of groups represented on the digital broadcast of the Democratic National Convention proceedings either deleted or added phrases to substantially alter the Pledge of Allegiance. The DNC Caucus and Council Meeting: Muslim Delegates and Allies Assembly as well as the DNC LGBTQ Caucus Meeting were started by reciting the pledge, but “under God” was deleted both times. Meanwhile, the DNC Environment and Climate Crisis Council began its meeting with the pledge, with an addition, “with liberty and justice for all … some day.” Although available online, none of these controversial segments have been broadcast on network or cable stations except Fox News. Meanwhile, the DNC platform committee passed a resolution ahead of the virtual meeting of Democrats that applauds the religiously unaffiliated while at the same time condemns people of faith who do not support a liberal political agenda. The “Resolution Regarding Religiously Unaffiliated Demographic” cites the growth of the number of religiously unaffiliated among Democrats, calling the demographic “the largest religious group within the Democratic Party,” and praises the fact that … [Read more...]