By Gregory Tomlin, Christian Examiner WICHITA FALLS, Texas (Christian Examiner) – A U.S. district judge in Texas has issued a preliminary nationwide injunction on the implementation of federal guidelines that squeeze transgender rights into the Civil Rights Act and mandate transgenders' access to the bathroom and locker room of their choice in public schools. On Sunday, U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor issued a 38-page ruling claiming the federal government's interpretation of Title IX is wrong and the expansion of the definition of "sex" to include anything other than the two anatomical or biological categories of male and female is abuse of the statute. To read the rest of the article, please click here. … [Read more...]
Top priorities for Baton Rouge flood victims
PRIORITY ITEMS NEEDED IN FLOOED AREAS. ANY OF THESE ITEMS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED BY FLOOD VICTIMS. Food Items: Water Bread Peanut butter and jelly Canned foods that can be eaten cold from can Breakfast Cereal Oatmeal and/or Grits Coffee Ladie’s Products: Maxi pads Deodorant Underwear Bras T-shirts (white if possible) Socks Hair brushes Towels /Wash cloths Men’s Products: Deodorant Shaving supplies T-shirts Athletic style shorts Towels /Wash cloths Cleaning needs: Bleach Rubber boots (for both ladies and men) - GREAT NEED Masks Heavy duty latex gloves All cleaning products Buckets and mops Many fans and/or dehumidifiers to help dry out Garbage bags Tables Plus size clothing People aren’t ready for any furniture items at this time. … [Read more...]
Louisiana ministry reprioritizes overseas focus to help at home
By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor COVINGTON – The decision does not come easily for Johnny Huffman of Fairhaven Ministry. But after seeing the misery and suffering caused by the recent flooding, he will not be sending a Christmas shipping container to Romania for the first time “in 15 years or 16 years.” “I, with the blessing of others involved, have decided not to ship to Romania in November this year,” said Huffman. “For many who help with the Christmas boxes, we will be directing all of those assets to helping children in the flooded areas at Christmas this year. “Under the present circumstances, I believe it is the right thing to do,” he said. While the historic flooding did not affect Huffman and his ministry at Fairhaven, he recognizes a lot of people are hurting at the moment. “So many who have had their lives completely changed in the past two weeks due to the flooding in South Louisiana. I want to assure everyone our prayers and thoughts are with everyone,” Huffman said. “But we also desire to help as The Lord makes it possible.” With his considerable contacts across the country and around the world, Huffman is putting the word out for any assistance people can provide. “To all my friends and … [Read more...]
Facsimile of Bible translated into Belarusian language donated to Library of Congress
Leading up to a celebration of the 500th anniversary of the printing of the Bible in the Belarusian language in 2017, Andrew and Inna Ryzhkov participated in a recent ceremony at the Library of Congress to donate a facsimile edition of the Bible. The couple on Aug. 11 met with Raman Matulski, the Director of the National Library of Belarus, to donate the Francysk Skaryna’s facsimile editions of the 500-year-old Bible in the Belarussian language. They also donated the Good & Evil illustrated Bible to the Jefferson Library for the European Reading Room. Next year, the celebration will include Bible exhibitions, regional conferences on the impact of the Bible on European cultural and historical development, Bible distribution and open outreach ministries in public schools, universities and public arenas. Since 2015, Louisiana Baptist churches have participated in mission teams in the country, in partnership with Byelorussian Mission, founded by the Ryzhkovs. By 2018, plans are to have visited all six provinces in Belarus, at a rate of two per year. For more information on how your church can participate in this ministry, contact Wayne Sheppard, Executive Assistant to the Executive Director for Louisiana Baptists, at … [Read more...]
Huckabee chastises president for vacationing while Louisianans suffer
Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has published a scathing open letter criticizing Pres. Obama for his absence from flood-ravaged Louisiana, especially for vacationing all the while in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. A beloved Southern Baptist pastor and former Arkansas governor, Huckabee shamed the president for his “hustle and bustle of golf, having ice cream and strolling the quaint streets of the Vineyard” while Louisianans endure an “apocalyptic event.” Meanwhile New York businessman Donald Trump and his running mate Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana, the Republican ticket for the 2016 presidential election, visited Louisiana Friday, going to Greenwell Springs Baptist Church in Baton Rouge to comfort flood victims and encourage disaster relief workers. Former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, the Democrat candidate for president, issued a statement via Facebook indicating she will delay coming to the Bayou State for the time being from in order not to be a “distraction” during the “relief effort.” The full text of Gov. Huckabee’s open letter is provided below. ----------------------------------------------- Dear Mr. President: How’s the vacation going on Martha’s Vineyard? Pretty swell … [Read more...]
Homewood Baptist’s gifts provide ladies in shelter hope, love
The Woman's Missionary Union of Homewood Baptist Church in Alexandria provided purses filled with personal hygiene items to the ladies of Hope House in the city Aug. 18. The ladies also took snacks for the children residing at the facility. … [Read more...]
Sara Horn: 2016 Louisiana flood, glimpses of the good
By Sara Horn For those of you not living in Southeast Louisiana, this past weekend was probably very different than ours. You probably watched a little of the Olympics, got ready for a new school year, or enjoyed one last summer trip or cookout. Things didn’t happen that way here. Last Thursday night, a week ago as I’m writing this, the rain started. This is not unusual for summer in our area. But by Friday morning, the rain had started filling ditches that normally don’t fill, and covering roadways that normally don’t cover. I was on my way to a doctor’s appointment in Baton Rouge when we got the call that schools, our second full day of the new year, were closing and parents needed to come back and get their kids. Buses were already en route trying to deliver kids back home they’d just picked up. The water came fast and no one was prepared for what was happening. A couple of buses got stuck in several feet of water because they could no longer see the road. Teachers got stuck at their respective schools because after helping their students leave, they found out the roads to their own homes were no longer passable. State offices closed and my husband had already turned around and returned to the house since major … [Read more...]
Lane Corley: Disaster Relief leadership, my week with Incident Command
By Lane Corley What an incredible week in Louisiana! Flash floods, roof top rescues, shelters, gutted homes, & now months of recovery efforts ahead of us. I ended last week thinking that I was going into a couple of weeks of heavy promotion for our Multiply Louisiana Conference & I’d keep pushing toward 40 church plants for this year in Louisiana, along with helping my kids get settled into new routines in school & prepping for a big fall with my church. But with the 1,000 year flood that hit over the weekend, I’ve had the opportunity this last week to help Southern Baptist setup Incident Command Operations for one of the worst disasters in Louisiana history. It’s given me the opportunity to see a different side of SBC Disaster Relief operations. I’ve been on chainsaw crews, mud out crews, Assessment teams, & chaplain teams, & I knew about Incident Command, with little knowledge of what went on. Still don’t know much, but here’s a few observation & takeaways from shadowing Incident Command this week: Just like everywhere else, it’s led by volunteers Incident commanders are trained & equipped a little differently. A communications trailer, laptops, 3-5 phone lines. All managed by volunteers. … [Read more...]
Steve Horn: Reflections on the week
By Steve Horn About this time last week is when we began to know that this week was going to be one like we have never seen. Though my personal home was spared, we are hurting for so many friends scattered across South Louisiana who have suffered devastating loss. We have had a variety of emotions for sure. Now, a week later, I want to share some random reflections. 1. We need each other. We knew this already, but we seem to forget this too often. Seeing people help each other from every walk of life has been rewarding even in the midst of such tragedy. 2. We need God. Without a spiritual compass that points to an empty cross, an empty tomb, and an awaiting eternal glory that far exceeds any temporary affliction, I don’t know how you make it through times like this. 3. There was a lot of hurt going on in the world before last Friday and that has not changed. And, for some, more bad things have happened this week. In the midst of all of the disaster relief, let us not forget that people still have cancer, still are having heart attacks, some have died this week totally unrelated to the flood, people are still unemployed, and others have suffered many other overwhelming circumstances of life. Let us not forget all of … [Read more...]
Trump brings national attention to Louisiana’s plight
By Philip Timothy, Message Managing Editor BATON ROUGE -- An impromptu visit by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Aug.19 has succeeded in getting south Louisiana -- stricken by catastrophic flooding -- some national attention. Trump and Pence came to Baton Rouge to survey damage, visit with flood victims and relief crews and offer encouragement. The two men stopped at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church where they met with Tony Perkins, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Christian public policy ministry, Family Research Council, and Franklin Graham, president of the Christian international relief agency, Samaritan’s Purse. “Yesterday’s visit by Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and Franklin Graham has generated a lot of interest across the country from people who want to help our church and community,” wrote Perkins, who also is serving as interim pastor of the Greenwell Springs congregation. “Today 90 volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse were sent to clean out houses in the area. “As of last night we have had over 600 applications for assistance in removing debris and cleaning out homes,” Perkins said. Trump and Pence were joined by other local and state officials. … [Read more...]
