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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

State returns to Phase 2, but churches remain at 75 percent capacity

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Gov. John Bel Edwards announced at a Tuesday afternoon press conference that Louisiana will move back to a modified version of Phase 2 of reopening the state on Wednesday. Citing a continued increase in novel coronavirus related cases and hospitalizations, Edwards said the decision was necessary to keep the state from continuing to move in the wrong direction and for schools to remain open. The state saw 3,266 new cases and 39 deaths on Tuesday, and had 1,052 COVID-19 hospitalizations, an increase from fewer than 600 patients reported on Nov. 1.  Under the order that expires Dec. 23, attendance at churches will continue to be limited to 75 percent of a worship center’s seating capacity and businesses including restaurants, gyms and non-essential retailers will be limited to 50 percent capacity. A statewide mask mandate also remains in place for anyone eight years or older or with a major health condition. Social gatherings will be limited to 25 percent capacity and no more than 75 people indoors and 150 outdoors when physical distancing is not possible, bars in parishes with more than 5 percent test positivity must close to indoor consumption and sporting event venues can have … [Read more...]

Former pastor seeks gift of life from liver donor

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer CROWLEY, La. (LBM) – A former Louisiana Baptist pastor is hoping to receive an early Christmas gift – a living donor who would offer up a portion of his or her liver to give him a chance to regain some semblance of a normal life. In 2014, doctor's discovered David Kindred's liver had been damaged beyond its ability to restore itself because of complications from medications prescribed for an errant diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. Since then, his family has prayed fo find a qualified donor. Kindred, who accepted Christ while serving on a mission trip with First Baptist Church, Scott City, in 1973, last served as pastor of Rice City Baptist Church, Crowley, 2004-2006. Although he is no longer serving as a pastor, Kindred continues to be active in ministry as a Sunday school teacher and choir member at Community Baptist Church, Lafayette, where he and his family are members. DONOR INFORMATION The liver is one of the only organs in the human body that has the ability to regenerate, or regrow, according to medical textbooks. Between 8-10 weeks after the living-donor liver transplant, the liver will regrow to full size and function in both the donor and the recipient. The donor … [Read more...]