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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Concord-Union churches, Rolling Hills donate $6,000 to trailer park residents impacted by tornado

By Baptist Message staff FARMERVILLE, La. (LBM) – A tornado leveled a trailer park in Farmerville on Dec. 13, injuring two dozen people and leaving 30 residents without food, clothing and other basic necessities. Area churches and Rolling Hills Ministry in Ruston were quick to step in with assistance as the needy individuals from Honduras and Nicaragua received air the following day. According to RHM Director of Ministries John Cowling, RHM Director David Abernathy, his wife, Jerri, and himself were assessing damage the tornado caused in the area when they were directed by local authorities to Alex, who manages the individuals who lived in the trailer park. After a brief conversation, Alex agreed to transport the residents to RHM’s thrift store, where they received clothing, other necessities, and a lunch. Later that evening, RHM also provided supper for the residents at their temporary housing, an apartment complex in Farmerville. Additionally, area churches from Concord-Union Baptist Association upon learning of the storm victims need donated $3,000, with RHM matching the donation. Each resident received $200 during a special prayer service, Dec. 14, at the former Farmerville High School. Cowling said he was … [Read more...]

Kennedy: Louisianians deserve to know how FEMA is raising the price of flood insurance

By Office of U.S. Sen. John Kennedy WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), on the Senate Floor, urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency to explain how it is implementing its new pricing algorithm for calculating flood insurance premiums, known as Risk Rating 2.0. FEMA’s new algorithm has sent the rates of many National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in Louisiana skyrocketing. Despite repeated questions from Kennedy, FEMA has yet to clarify how it determines new rates. “It doesn’t do any good to offer flood insurance if people can’t afford it, and that’s what FEMA’s doing right now,” said Kennedy. “We, in Louisiana, have the highest participation rate in the country, bar none. And despite what some people may think, my people who are buying flood insurance, they’re not multimillionaires. They’re working people. “There is no transparency with Risk Rating 2.0,” he continued. “People have absolutely no idea— members of the United States Congress have no idea—how this algorithm works and how they come up with a specific price for every home in America. But I'll tell you what we do know: All the prices have gone up. “A lot of those levees in Louisiana are paid for by Louisiana citizens. We have asked, ‘How does … [Read more...]

Tornadoes wreak havoc on state, causes multiple deaths

By Baptist Message staff KEITHVILLE, La. (LBM) – Multiple tornadoes ripped through Louisiana Tuesday and Wednesday, damaging homes and businesses, and causing multiple injuries and at least two confirmed deaths. The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office posted on their Facebook page that a mother, Yoshiko A. Smith, 30, and her son, Nikolus Little, 8, were found dead in the Pecan Farms area of Keithville. The mother was discovered under debris one street from her home while the boy was found deceased in a wooded area of Pecan Farms a half-mile from where the home was destroyed. One additional injury was reported after an adult male was transported to a local hospital. The extent of injuries was unknown. There was also severe damage reported by law enforcement and storm chasers near Four Forks in southwest Caddo Parish as a tornado crossed Hwy 169 early Tuesday afternoon. In Farmerville, nearly 25 people were injured when a tornado caused significant damage in a neighborhood including an apartment complex along Hwy 2 near Scotts Hideaway Road in Union Parish, according to KNOE-TV in Monroe. The National Weather Service also said a confirmed tornado was reported on the ground in Madison Parish at around 10:30 Tuesday … [Read more...]

Good Shepherd Hispanic celebrates debt retirement

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer METAIRIE, La. (LBM) – Good Shepherd Hispanic Baptist Church recently celebrated the retirement of $1,085,000 in debt on the congregation’s education building. Members rejoiced during a special note burning service, Oct. 8, and leaders said they are preparing to renovate the worship center to accommodate the growing congregation. “I can’t describe the joy,” Pastor Gonzalo Rodriguez told the Baptist Message. “People are excited and see that God is doing many great things. We are united with God in what He is doing, and we appreciate that He is blessing us.” Since God planted a desire in Rodriguez’s heart to start a small Bible study group (five people in 1980), Good Shepherd has grown to a church that in 2022 averaged 300 in worship and baptized 26 new believers. The growth and baptisms underscore the importance his congregation places on reaching Hispanics in the New Orleans area, and beyond, for Christ. The church recently ordained a member, Fernando Vera, to the ministry; and in July, he became missions pastor at First Baptist Church, Bogalusa. Additionally, the church has sent money and supplies to help churches share Christ’s love in Guatemala, Honduras and … [Read more...]