BATON ROUGE - Istrouma Baptist Church held a "One Another Sunday" event on April 10, where several hundred members gathered for food, fun and fellowship at the church's ball-fields then some of the staff pastors baptized nine new members in a stock tank. Senior Pastor Jeff Ginn started the baptisms with Whitney Dicus who was surprised at the water temperature when she stepped into it. If your church has a baptism or salvation story - especially related to the recent floods that have hit the state - send them to us at philip@baptistmessage.com. … [Read more...]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHxD0lLGk0k MONROE – Responding to natural disasters is old hat to Alabama’s John Hayes. From Japan to Haiti … from Missouri to Oklahoma … to New Jersey to Colorado, the Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer has responded. His latest stop just happens to be in hard hit Monroe at North Monroe Baptist Church where he is serving as the head of the incident command center. An 18-year veteran of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief work, Hayes is spending this week at the command center coordinating teams responding to requests for work on homes damaged by last month’s historic flooding. Since the incident command center opened, teams have received 297 requests for work and completed 176. Hayes said teams from Alabama, Florida and Oklahoma that are stationed at the church are receiving as much of a blessing working on the homes damaged in the flooding as the homeowners themselves. “The main thing is we work with the people,” Hayes said. “We also minister to them as we try get them back into a life of normalcy. “It’s not about cleaning out the houses, it’s not about cutting the tree out or feeding them,” said Hayes. “It’s to minister to the individuals. It’s about making their life … [Read more...]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hYKj7zZnZI By Message Staff Residents of Louisiana got an unwelcomed guest Monday – more than three to four inches of unneeded rainfall in the state. With more rainfall expected throughout the week, locations - some that have already experienced historic flooding last month and remain inundated - are bracing for more high water and any possible disruptions to cleanup efforts. The additional rainfall could also prevent the fall of swollen lakes and rivers which in turn would prevent some to get back into their homes. In Monroe, one of the hardest hit areas in the state, there are homes that remain unreachable as water levels stubbornly refuse to recede. On Monday, parts of Texas saw softball-sized hail and lighting from a storm caused a fire at Murmil Heights Baptist Church in El Dorado, Ark. In Louisiana, flash flood warnings were issued for five parishes in the northwest portion of the state and nearly 4,300 homes and businesses lost power. Later today (April 12), scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will increase from Texas into Louisiana. The National Weather Service is forecasting showers and a few thunderstorms on Wednesday for many parts of the state, diminishing later … [Read more...]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZwkJeT34i0 RUSTON - The days can be long and difficult for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief workers. But what helps these volunteers get through the hard times, the long days and the back-breaking work is the knowledge they are bringing hope and healing found in Jesus Christ to those in need. "We know in a disaster God is working all around us," said Eddie Blackmon, Director of Disaster Response and Recovery with the North American Mission Board. "And in disaster relief we are joining God every day where he is working." Since March 28, Blackmon has manned the incident command trailer at Rolling Hills Ministries in Ruston where he has been overseeing disaster relief efforts caused by the worst flooding Louisiana has seen in decades. He and other volunteers have assessed 1,267 homes, cleaned up 308, and served 53,915 meals. They also have  presented the gospel 331 times, resulting in 29 decisions to accept Christ. For more information on volunteering with disaster relief efforts in Louisiana, click here. … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE - The state of our nation and world continues to decline, burdening the heart of Christians around the world. In the Old Testament, alarming circumstances, such as we see in America and in our state would have caused men of God to call for a solemn gathering of God’s people to pray. Dr. Brewer has heard the call from the Lord concerning the situation that we face concerning the state of our nation, our churches, and our college. As a result, we are gathering either in front of Alexandria Hall or in Guinn Auditorium, depending upon the weather, to praise the Lord and pray for spiritual awakening around the world. This effort will bring the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, and students together for a time of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (ACTS) before the Lord. I would like to encourage all faculty and staff to attend this service today at 4 p.m. as we seek to praise and pray for the Lord’s direction and favor upon our nation, churches, and college. See you there! Dr. Rick Brewer, President … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LC communications PINEVILLE - While Louisiana’s legislature continues to discuss the future of TOPS funding, recent action by the legislature means that Louisiana College students will not receive the final 20 percent of previously allocated TOPS funding. However, because of strategic budgeting, a commitment to the stewardship of available funds, and a concern for the finances of our students, Louisiana College will voluntarily absorb any TOPS funding shortfall for the 2016 spring semester. “Although Louisiana’s private colleges and institutions were not required to absorb the loss of the final allocation of TOPS funding, we chose to do so,” said Dr. Rick Brewer, president of LC. “Alleviating the additional stress of this financial burden for our students and their parents was first and foremost in LC’s assignment of budget resources.” … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message PINEVILLE (LBM) - On Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Bolton Chapel, Manny Klepper will share his memories of Kristallnacht – “The Night of Broken Glass.” On that night in November 1938, members of the Hitler Youth, SS and Nazi storm troopers attacked Jewish places of business and worship. They broke into Jewish homes and brutalized Jewish men, women and children. This night of violence was a precursor to the “Final Solution” – Nazi Germany’s systematic attempt to annihilate European Jews. Students, faculty and members of the public are invited to hear  Klepper discuss his experiences of growing up as a Jewish boy in Nazi Germany and the lessons he learned from the Holocaust.  Students attending this presentation will receive one cultural credit. … [Read more...]