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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Compassion Center Bible distribution: Bread of life ‘better than food’ for one

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – Compassion Center staff and volunteers recently witnessed Matthew 4:4 in action when 170 recipients of a food distribution, Feb. 17, were elated to receive Bibles. “We had so many testimonies of people who were happier to get a Bible than they were to get food,” Com[1]passion Center Director Matt Hancock told the Baptist Message. “Many of them just talked about how much it meant to them. We had one lady who kissed her Bible and said, ‘this is better than food,’” evoking allusions to Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” For several months, a staff member had prayed that Bibles would be donated for distribution by the Compassion Center, which is housed in a 16,000-sq.-ft. facility on the campus of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries. The Bible would be in­cluded with food, school supplies, diapers, shoes, new clothing and other life essentials the Com­passion Center provides. Those prayers were answered in early Feb­ruary by a gift from two individuals which was enough to purchase 500 Bibles. Hancock said he expected all the Bibles would be distributed in a week, and … [Read more...]

La. Baptists among state’s longest married couples

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Three Louisiana Baptist couples are among the runners-up for the distinction of longest-married couples in the state, released by the Louisiana Family Forum on the day before Valentine’s Day: Billy and Billie Crooks, members of New Friendship Baptist Church, Dry Prong; Margaret and James Mohr, members of Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport; and Bobby Earl and Pat Hicks, members of First Baptist Church, Marion. Louisiana Family Forum is a pro-life, pro-family, faith-based think tank that also advocates for First Amendment and limited government public policies. Based on submissions LFF received, Leland and Gussie LaCaze of Robeline were named the longest married couple (79 years). The LaCazes and ten runners-up were honored with a proclamation from Gov. Jeff Landry and by induction into LFF’s 2026 Marriage Hall of Fame: — Marion and Jean Hess, Metairie, 78 years — Billy and Billie Crooks, Dry Prong, 77 years — Angelo James and Josie Lewis, Shreveport, 75 years — Margaret and James Mohr, Shreveport, 74 years — Jeanette and Harrison Matherne, Raceland, 74 years — Bobby Earl and Pat Hicks, Marion, 74 years — Nettie and Conrad Simoneaux, Shreveport, 73 years — … [Read more...]