Twenty Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers from the Baton Rouge area are scheduled to leave Friday for the area affected by the recent tornado in Oklahoma and begin work on Saturday, according to Gibbie McMillan, state director of disaster relief for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. This team will install tarps on homes that sustained roof damage.
By Philip Timothy, Message Staff Writer
WOODWORTH – Much like the last four months, the ‘crisis at LC’ dominated discussion at the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s annual spring meeting of the Executive Board May 7.
In addressing the situation, LBC Executive Director David Hankins in his report to the board began by saying, “I would like to speak to you about the crisis at LC.
By Holly Jo Linzay, Regional Reporter
NEW ORLEANS – Tina Gilbert received a special gift from her first-born son, Chad, a few days before Mother’s Day. It was one that saved her life.
Chad donated 60 percent of his liver to his mother in a transplant procedure May 8 at Ochsner Multi-Organ Transplant Institute in New Orleans. At press time, both mother and son were listed in good condition.
“Everything went perfectly with the surgery,” said Cole Gilbert, Chad’s wife, about the two-person liver transplant operation.
By Brian Blackwell, Marketing Director
STATEWIDE – Law firms in the state are reporting mixed response so far from Louisiana Baptist churches who may be eligible participants in the multi-billion dollar compensation fund established by the federal court settlement for the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Of the law firms who placed an ad related to the settlement in the Baptist Message, one reported a few inquiries while another reported that around 25 Baptist churches have already responded and completed participant eligibility worksheets.
By Ann Maniscalco, Special to the Message
NEW ORLEANS – Churches that try to create a one-size-fits-all senior adult program are not considering the diversity among the 55-plus age group, said Amy Hanson, Ph.D., at a recent four-session event at NOBTS.
Hanson is author of Baby Boomers and Beyond: Tapping the Ministry Talents and Passions of Adults Over 50.
By Al Quartemont, Special to the Message
PINEVILLE – After a rather turbulent semester that brought its share of headlines, Louisiana College had the opportunity to simply celebrate its best and brightest Saturday, May 11, with the graduation of 170 students in the college’s spring commencement.
In all, 112 undergraduates, 55 masters level and three secondary students comprised the Spring 2013 class.
Among the academic standouts: Joshua Jee, an applied mathematics major from Mandeville, who completed his degree with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
By Rachel Ortego, Regional Reporter
COTTONPORT – When Jacob Crawford began a church in Avoyelles Parish seven years ago, he had a vision for a modern church, one, he said, that would have “the black ceilings with all the lighting and nice things.”
Things changed when he arrived in Marksville to plant Life Point Church. He found an area where 50 percent of the people live in poverty, 50 percent of high school students drop out, and a parish that leads the state in domestic abuse, suicide and some forms of substance abuse.
By Staff, World News Magazine Briefs
Every four years more than 40,000 Boy Scouts and their leaders hold a National Jamboree. This year they are scheduled to gather in July at the new Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia.
The scouts pitch tents, hike, tie knots, trade patches, and raise their right hands to affirm: “On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, to obey the Scout law, to help other people at all times, and to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”
By Erin Roach, Baptist Press
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (BP) – Pastor Ray Parascando had just clicked “send” on an email to his congregation, letting them know of a plan to start monitoring train platforms in Staten Island after a rise in suicides involving people jumping from those platforms. Then he heard the sirens.
By Tess Rivers, Baptist Press
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – Overseas, the sound of a gate closing often signals the end of the workday when many business, healthcare and engineering professionals retreat into gated homes and communities.
For missionaries, though, it can be a despairing sound.
By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor
My first day in the office of the Baptist Message was Jan. 9, 2006. During the seven years and just over four months that I have been editor of the Message, I have never expressed my opinion on any issue in Louisiana Baptist life. However, with this column that will change.
By Larry Burgess, Friends of Louisiana College
On May 1, Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard announced a pledge from an anonymous donor of $10 million.
As members of the LC family we offer congratulations to the school for securing such a wonderful contribution.
We pray that the administration and the Board of Trustees will use the funds wisely to begin resolving some of the more endemic problems facing Louisiana College.
Specifically, we would like to see the following issues addressed in a timely manner:
By Mike Edens, NOBTS
Several weeks ago, in New Orleans, I agreed to write on martyrdom in our world today.
Persecution and martyrdom are concepts we in America tend not to think about.
We are even reluctant to face the death of our countrymen and fellow American Christians as they lay down their lives for great causes.
These deaths are painful and remind us of our violent, intolerant world.
By Bill Warren, NOBTS
Question: The Gospels say that a centurion was at the cross when Jesus was crucified and that Cornelius was a centurion. What was a centurion and what role did they have?
Bill Warren responds: “Centurion” was a rank within the Roman army, the Legions. A centurion was in charge of 80 men (not 100), with that group divided into 10 groups of 8 men each, with the 8 men thus forming the unit for occupying a tent when such was being used for housing during war.
By Karen Willoughby, Managing Editor
First Baptist Church of Montgomery will again this year be part of Camp USA.
Because of scheduling issues last year, the church did not participate.
However, despite Pastor Ray Teal’s recent health issues, the church is eager to be a part of this intercultural exchange, Teal said.
By Jerry Love, LBF Communications
ALEXANDRIA – In a spirit of camaraderie and cooperation, the members of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation Board of Trustees met in their regular quarterly meeting April 30 at the Louisiana Baptist Building.
By Karen Willoughby, Managing Editor
MONROE – The mention that revenues were 5 percent over expenses the first quarter of the year was the first of several bits of good news heard by trustees of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home during their May 10 meeting in the Rusker-Austin building’s conference room on the Children’s Home campus.
By Karen Willoughby, Managing Editor
ALEXANDRIA – The new digital delivery of the Baptist Message, as well as personnel items, dominated the agenda when members of the Board of Trustees for the Baptist Message met May 14 for their regular spring meeting. Chairman Pat Barber presided.
By Staff, Baptist Message
MONROE – A “baker’s dozen crew of 13 Louisiana- based Campers on Mission recently descended for their annual visit on the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home.
Their purpose: To do what they could. So, what could they do?
“They built the new railing on the dock,” said Julie Cupples, LBCH director of communication. “They painted bathrooms in three cottages. They painted front doors on some of the cottages. They replaced the shutters on the chapel and helped renovate an office.”
Arrivals/Departures
Jimmie Clark, new as pastor of Northside Baptist DeQuincy.
Caleb Brown, resigned as youth minister of Wallace Baptist Pelican.
Michael (wife Jodi) Trahan, new as pastor of Victory Baptist Esterwood.
Rhett Baxley, resigns as children’s minister at First Baptist St. Rose for a similar position in Arkansas. Pastor: Jim Kiltau.
Alex Davis, new as youth pastor at Summer Grove Baptist Shreveport. Pastor: Aaron Burgner.
Jeff (wife Barbara) Feibel, new as pastor at Woodland Hills Baptist Shreveport.
