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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Disaster relief response update

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- Louisiana Baptists have continued to aid churches who reported facility failures after the sporadic damage throughout the state caused by Tropical Storm Barry. According to Joe Arnold, director of missions for Bayou Baptist Association, a disaster relief team from Eastern Louisiana and Washington Baptist Associations has made temporary roof repairs to the main building of Mechanicville Emmanuel Baptist Church “We are thankful that it was not any worse than it was,” Arnold told the Baptist Message. “For the churches that had damage, first pray for them as they clean up. Second, if you have a construction crew available, we can plug them in with a church. Give me a call and we can make arrangements.” Four Bayou Baptist Association churches also likely will need assistance: -          Crosspoint Church, Cut Off: roof and ceiling repairs; -          Grace Community Fellowship, Chauvin: steeple replacement; -          Live Oak Baptist Church, Montegut: remove and replace sheet rock in the education building; and, -          Schriever Baptist Church: repair roof, ceiling and walls. Gibbie McMillan said the Louisiana Baptist Convention is working through the association … [Read more...]

On earthquakes, hurricanes and other hard things in life

By Waylon Bailey Over the weekend, folks in Louisiana dealt with Hurricane Barry while folks in California are still jittery over the two recent earthquakes. Both of these strike fear and concern. The folks in Louisiana say, “At least you know when a hurricane is coming.” The folks in California are very aware their state has a major earthquake every 150 years or so. It’s now been over 160 years since the last one. How do we deal with natural disasters which are bad and many of the personal aspects of life which are even more hurtful? First, we have to recognize that life is hard. We constantly deal with pain and suffering. We ask if God really is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28), and we question how we can count it all joy when we face various trials (James 1:2-4). Second, we have to recognize that we live in a broken world. Our sin has affected not just our lives but the whole creation. Paul stated it so powerfully, “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; for the creation was subjected to futility . . . because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. We know that the whole … [Read more...]