Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Matthew Hurst,
The Well Church
Len Miller,
Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles
McKinley Davis,
First Baptist Church, Coushatta

Sign up for 'Churches Helping Churches' damaged by Hurricane Laura

  • About
  • Archive
  • Contact
  • John 3:16
  • Louisiana
  • U.S. & Intl
  • Facts & Finds
  • Culture & Society
  • Editorial

Ready or not? Georgia Barnette Offering makes a difference in disaster relief!

September 5, 2020

By LBC Communications Staff

ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBC Comm) — A popular insurance jingle begins with “like a good neighbor …”

According to John Hebert, Director of Missions and Ministries for Louisiana Baptists, gifts through the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering enable Louisiana Baptists to be good neighbors to people across the state, especially in times of disaster.

“The lady behind the yellow disaster relief shirts is Georgia Barnette,” Hebert explained. “Our state missions offering supports disaster relief training and relief efforts throughout the year.”

Likewise, Steve Horn, Executive Director for Louisiana Baptists, noted that Louisiana Baptists were ready for Hurricane Laura before she made landfall in southwest Louisiana.

“Every fall, Louisiana Baptist churches collect an offering designated for missions and ministries in Louisiana. These gifts provide the foundation of our relief efforts so when a storm such as Laura hits, we can immediately respond.”

In 2019, Louisiana Baptists not only responded to need within the borders of the state, but also in Cape Cod and the Bahamas.

“Hurricane Dorian decimated the Bahamas last year. Thanks to volunteers and assistance from the Georgia Barnette Offering, we’re helping rebuild St. Matthews Baptist Church at Pelican Point on East Bahama Island,” Hebert said.

Disaster Relief readiness begins each spring prior to the beginning of hurricane season with regional training events. Volunteers are trained in various tasks such as chainsaw operations/tree removal, mud out procedures, food preparation and feeding. There is even chaplaincy training.

“During disasters such as Hurricane Laura, people are looking for hope. Their world has been destroyed in many cases. Our Disaster Relief chaplains provide spiritual counseling and prayer and give them Bibles and tracts to encourage their spiritual development,” Hebert continued. “This would not be possible without the help of the Georgia Barnette Offering,”

Louisiana Baptists regularly partner with other organizations such as the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, The Red Cross and the United Way in meeting the challenge of natural disasters. This year’s partnership included responding to a pandemic.

“During the COVID quarantine in the spring, we partnered with the United Way of Lake Charles to prepare and serve more than 50,000 meals,” said Hebert.

The dawn of a new decade has brought many surprises, but Horn believes with the prayers and generosity of Louisiana Baptists through the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering, God’s people will be ready to respond.

“I don’t think anyone wants a repeat of 2020 next year. But no matter what occurs, Louisiana Baptists will be ready as a direct result of gifts received this fall.”

For more information regarding the scope of the Georgia Barnette State Mission Offering or to donate, visit GeorgiaBarnette.org.

Comments

Search

  • Trending
  • Recent
  • Must Read

Trending

  • John MacArthur rebukes SBC stance on Critical Race Theory By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor SUN VALLEY, Calif...
  • Beth Moore charges SBC conservatives with ‘sin’, recants 2009 statement on ‘homosexual sin’ By Will Hall, Executive Editor HOUSTON (LBM) -- LifeWay’s...
  • Why was Jesus’ birth so important? By Billy Graham All Christians look forward to celebratin...
  • ULM students now share Christ, not just room By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM...

Recent

Biden orders schools to allow biological men to compete on girl teams

State executive director Randy Adams to be nominated for SBC president

Bible sales surge as many turn to Good Book during COVID turmoil

Must Read

State executive director Randy Adams to be nominated for SBC president

LACOSBE aligns with Conservative Baptist Network

NLBA ‘Call to Prayer’ slated for Jan. 31

Editorial

Lord, that’s not how we do things!

By Joe McKeever “‘…your ways are not my ways,’ saith the Lord.”  (Isaiah 55:8) Keep an eye on how the Lord works in your life. You might learn something useful for the next time He wants to use you. This little couplet seems to sum up 90 percent of what Scripture and life teach us concerning the operation … Continue Reading.

Copyright © 2021 by The Baptist Message · Built by Megaphone Designs