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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Pastor, wife thankful for outpouring of support, prayers following parsonage fire

BASILE – More than a year after their home in Mamou flooded, the parsonage at First Baptist Church, Basile in which Pastor Mike Fontenot and his wife Jessica were staying, has been destroyed by a fire. Fontenot said the blaze happened between 2 and 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, July 11, but no one was inside. The couple, who live in the parsonage only on the weekends, reside at their house in Mamou during the rest of the week. And just like when their Mamou home flooded, they have experienced an outpouring of support from the community and the state. The couple is grateful for the concern shown by others since the fire likely was started by a lightning strike. “Jessica and I are well, praise God," Mike Fontenot told the Baptist Message. "The house is a total loss but that can be replaced. We did not have insurance on our personal belongings because we did not know we needed it due to our first time in a parsonage. So we are trusting God to help replace these things when we rebuild.” Jessica Fontenot, who is human resources specialist for Louisiana Baptists, took to Facebook and expressed gratitude for the encouraging words offered. “I wanted to take this opportunity before I go to bed tonight to thank each and every one who … [Read more...]

Haiti mission teams return safely home, grateful for prayer

By Message Staff After spending several tense days sheltered in a compound after violent protests broke out in Haiti last weekend, a Louisiana Baptist mission team has made it safely back to the United States. The team of 35 landed in Miami, Florida, early in the evening on July 10 and caught a connecting flight to New Orleans at 11:15 p.m. “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to city of Miami," Louisiana Baptists church planting director James Jenkins told the Baptist Message. "The word relief is just not strong enough to convey my feelings about safely leaving Haiti and returning to America." Jenkins said the team left the missionary compound at 6 a.m. and arrived shortly afterward at the airport, where they spent most of the day until their departure at 4:30 p.m. "Despite the events of the past days, I am convinced that we cannot give up on Haiti," Jenkins said. Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana Director of Missions Stan Statham posted on the association's Facebook page that the team members were in good spirits. "We want to thank everyone for their prayers and ask you to continue to pray for our Haitian brothers and sisters in this time of need in Haiti," he wrote. "Our team of 35 … [Read more...]