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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Another woman suffers medical emergency at an abortion clinic

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) — A photo of a woman in apparent pain and being transported by ambulance from an abortion clinic has raised concerns that an abortion clinic in New Orleans is operating despite a statewide ban on non-essential and non-emergency medical procedures. The incident could be further evidence of the need for Act 620, a state law being argued by the Louisiana Attorney General Office before the U.S. Supreme Court, that would require abortionists to obtain admitting privileges with a local hospital in case of complications for the woman patient during or after an abortion. In November last year a woman endured a botched abortion at a Baton Rouge abortion clinic and the complications resulted in her having to undergo a total hysterectomy. Her emergency surgery was cited as evidence in support of Act 620 during oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in March. DISTURBING IMAGE Louisiana Right to Life posted the photo on April 21 and noted that the woman had been taken by stretcher from the Women’s Health Care Center in New Orleans. Ben Clapper, executive director for the pro-life organization, said that ongoing abortions there and at the other two facilities, … [Read more...]

Washington association provides care packages, offers hope

Volunteers from the Washington Baptist Association and Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief, handed out 41 care packages to residents of Westminster Woods apartment complex in Bogalusa on Thursday, April 23. Hygiene products, grocery items, a Bible and information about the Louisiana Baptist Convention prayer line were among the items distributed. The prayer line is operational 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at 800.410.3492. Those who participated were Patrick Magee, pastor at Main Street Baptist Church in Bogulsa and compassion strategist for the Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana, and his wife, Rebeca; Greg Whaley, pastor at First Baptist Church in Bogalusa; Mark Morelock, pastor at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Bogalusa; Davey Daniels, youth pastor at Mount Pleasant Baptist; and Keith Sheridan, pastor at Lee’s Creek Baptist Church in Bogalusa. … [Read more...]

Tornadoes strike Louisiana again

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)--Three days after tornadoes and violent thunderstorms wreaked havoc in eastern and northern Louisiana, more tornadoes, swept through these regions, again, damaging buildings and causing one death, Wednesday, April 22. Among the hardest hit areas was Rapides Parish, where the violent weather claimed the life of a woman in Lecompte on Robinson Ridge Road. according to KALB. In this part of the parish, large trees were uprooted, roofs were blown off houses and power lines were downed. On the Louisiana State University of Alexandria campus, high winds destroyed parts of the roof and a section of cinder block wall of a facility which is part of the Agricultural Center. Other nearby buildings were extensively impacted, too. The school posted an update on its Facebook page, saying there was "damage to DeWitt Livestock building and a camper flipped over. The Oaks (apartments) and students are ok, but no power on campus.” AROUND THE STATE The City of Mansfield also experienced a storm-related fatality. KSLA-TV in Shreveport reported that a man was trying to retrieve his garbage can and fell into a flooded canal off Gibbs Street. His body was recovered about 50 yards … [Read more...]

You are equipped

By Rebecca Holloway PINEVILLE, La. - When we first received Evan’s diagnosis of Down Syndrome, I was in my 5th month of pregnancy. One of my first thoughts when we received this news was, “This cannot be. I am not equipped to be a special needs parent!” Yet here we are 6.5 years later. We have read a lot, gotten guidance from doctors, and I have received a lot of advice from other special needs parents. However, most days we still feel ill-equipped for the job. There is a steep learning curve and much on-the-job training. But one thing I have realized over the years is that I was indeed equipped for this. My maternal grandmother was sick on and off most of my growing up years. Once my parents divorced when I was in high school and my mother went back to school to become a nurse, I helped care for her a lot – even taking her to doctor’s appointments and buying groceries for her when she was in the nursing home. As I said, my mother went back to nursing school when I was in high school, and I felt like I went to nursing school with her! She would teach me what she was learning, and after she was working full time, I got to hear many stories about her patients and how the doctors would treat them for various illnesses. Ten … [Read more...]