By Message Staff PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – Hours after Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Haiti, the family of a Louisiana Baptist pastor stranded in the country was asking for prayers of safety for him and thousands of others in the path of the storm. Steven Smithson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Winnfield, is in Haiti on a mission trip. His wife, Stephanie, posted on her Facebook page that he experienced strong winds earlier this morning, Oct. 4, but by 8 a.m. CST was seeing only rain. His flight out of the country is delayed indefinitely. She said God is answering prayers for protection and peace. “We are forever grateful,” she said. “Mudslides and third world housing will be the main cause in which lives are lost. Haiti needs our prayers. Steven needs to get home. “But I want to say my fears are being set at ease because of your prayers,” she continued. “Thank you for you all for praying, please continue them.” Hurricane Matthew made landfall near Les Anglais, Haiti, around 6 a.m. CST today. The Category 4 Hurricane was packing winds of 145 mph and is forecasted to dump up to 40 inches of rain in some areas, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to remain a powerful hurricane … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, Louisiana College communications PINEVILLE – Louisiana College assembled a world-class panel of bio-ethicists for its first annual “Values & Ethics” conference, Oct. 10-11. Slated to meet in LC’s Martin Performing Arts Center, the Oct. 10 session at 6 p.m. is free and open to the public and features nationally acclaimed author/scholars Dr. Ben Mitchell and Dr. Douglas Axe. Local health care specialist Mary Kienzle, MSW, of Christus St. Francis Cabrini Hospital completes the trio that will explore the interesting parallels between society’s view of origins and a rapidly changing culture. Subtitled “Origins,” the conference offers Cenla residents “the rare opportunity to hear from three top-flight experts whose credentials are as impressive as their content is stimulating,” said Louisiana College president, Dr. Rick Brewer. Former director of Social Services for New York State, Kienzle brings more than 30 years of experience in health care. A graduate of New York University and Hunter College, Kienzle is director for Missions Integration Services and Spiritual Care Departments at Christus Cabrini Hospital, which is sponsoring the conference. Author Doug Axe earned a PhD in biochemical … [Read more...]