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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Event provides hope for the homeless

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – Armed with a bag of clothing in one hand and a cup of hot chocolate in another, Kelvin Reynolds mingled among other needy individuals on a chilly Thursday morning in downtown Alexandria. With Christmas just days away, Reynolds, who is homeless, will be spending the holiday season on the streets or in a shelter. Yet, despite his situation, Reynolds said he is thankful. “God is still good,” Reynolds said. “Jesus is the reason for the season. I’m praying one day soon I will not be homeless. Please pray for me.” One Thursday a month, Reynolds and 75 others can be found at the Emmanuel Baptist Church parking lot for a street outreach event called H20 – Helping 2 Overcome Homelessness. Since August 2013, the Volunteers of America Homeless Outreach Program has hosted the event with help from area churches and non-profit organizations. Those who attend the event receive hygiene items, clothing, shoes, haircuts, food and even a Bible. Most of all they receive the love of Jesus. On this Thursday, Dec. 15, 10 organizations came to help out, including Alpine First Baptist Church, Pineville; Journey Church, Pineville; Family of Grace Church, Alexandria; Calvary Baptist … [Read more...]

Thieves target churches in Grant, Rapides Parishes

By Message Staff The Christmas season is not all cheer for some Louisiana Baptist churches after being victimized by burglars in the past two weeks. Five churches of various denominations in Grant Parish and four Baptist churches in Rapides Parish have reported theft or vandalism inside their buildings. According to Robert Daniel, director of missions for Big Creek, Central Louisiana and North Rapides Baptist Associations, the Baptist churches vandalized were Wayside Baptist Church in Pollock, Alpine First Baptist Church, Bethel Baptist Church in Colfax, First Baptist Church in Lacompte, Lamourie Baptist Church in Lecompte, Oak Grove Baptist Church in Bentley and Riverview Baptist Church in Alexandria. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain said the burglaries occurred late Sunday following evening services. He is urging churches not to leave cash in their facilities for any reason. “Also, make sure all doors and windows are locked,” McCain said in an e-mailed statement. “If you have a surveillance system, please make sure it is working properly and if you have an alarm system make sure it is turned on. We are working hard with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Detectives to solve these cases.” Lt. Tommy Carnline, public … [Read more...]

Non-food treats for the holidays

By Joyce Smith Christmas parties, goodie bags, and gift exchanges. This time of year gives us opportunities to give little treats to our preschoolers we teach in Mission Friends. What do you do if you have a preschooler with allergies? This can make all the difference in what we give and serve to preschoolers. This year I have a preschooler who has severe allergies to food items, and we have to be very careful about what we offer to our Mission Friends. We do not want to single him out, so we serve all the preschoolers in our class the same snacks that he can have. The nature of his allergies is so severe that we always get prior approval from his mom for anything we serve. So for Christmas when we want to give our preschoolers a special treat, what can we give? I started searching and making a list of non-food items for preschool teachers to give as treats. What other items can you add to the list? Nativity ornament stampers fun drinking straws small packages of play dough silly sunglasses finger puppets shoelace charms Originally published on www.WMU.com. … [Read more...]

Seminary students part of ‘spontaneous’ protest face no censure, for now

By Joni B. Hannigan, Special to the Message FORT WORTH, Texas – In an unusual show of defiance a few students at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary stood and then walked out during the chapel service Nov. 29 in apparent disagreement with the speaker. Seminary President Paige Patterson said later he believes the four Calvinist students who sit together most likely acted in a “spontaneous” manner and although the student code of conduct generally frowns on such behavior, this was not the norm. “If it were to happen again, I would deal with it in no uncertain terms,” Patterson said in response to questions. “They are free to think what they want, but they are not free to be rude or to disturb chapel. They know me well enough not to push this issue.” CLEARING THE AIR The students were reacting to a message by Rick Patrick, pastor of First Baptist Church in Sylacauga, Alabama, and a 1993 graduate of Southwestern Seminary. Patterson, in a separate Dec. 2 blog on the seminary website, also defended Patrick as delivering his message “as would be expected at a Southern Baptist seminary in view of the current discussions in our denomination.” Further, he clarified remarks he made after Patrick’s message the … [Read more...]