BATON ROUGE (BP) -- Working as part of his church's disaster relief team, Sonny Ellis died while doing what he did best -- serving people. "He was showing the people of Denham Springs, an example of what Jesus would do," said Roy Hill, pastor of First Baptist Church in Satsuma, Alabama. On Sept. 1, Ellis had just placed a load of laundry in a washing machine with his church's disaster relief laundry unit, which was in operation helping flood survivors of the historic flooding in south Louisiana. A little before lunch, Ellis, 72, lost his balance and fell out of the door of the unit and sustained brain injuries, Hill reported. Ellis was taken to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge and died later that evening. "God is still on His throne and Jesus is still Sonny's Savior," Hill wrote on his Facebook page. "We were reminded last night at church that there are times we must prove that we believe what we say we believe. This is one of those times and [the Ellis family] is living out their faith." John Hebert, Louisiana Baptists Director of Missions and Ministry, was saddened to hear the news. "I have connected with his family and pastor to express how all Louisiana Baptists are deeply saddened … [Read more...]

NASHVILLE (BP) -- As Louisiana recovers from historic flooding, LifeWay Christian Resources wants to help churches, pastors and other victims. Part of the effort includes restoring Bible study material and pastoral libraries lost in the floodwaters. "LifeWay provides biblical solutions for life," said Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. "We want to support these pastors and churches during the good times, but even more during the difficult times. Replacing some of what was lost is a way for LifeWay to stand with pastors and churches through these heartbreaking circumstances." Amy Thompson, director of corporate relations, said, "Pastors were reaching out to LifeWay before the floodwaters even receded. We understand at least 35 pastors' homes and 60 churches are flooded." Bill Robertson, director of pastoral leadership at the Louisiana Baptist Convention, is helping coordinate LifeWay's ministry to flooded churches and pastors. "LifeWay is our partner in ministry to teach and reach people," he said. "In preparation for preaching and teaching, the pastor's library is an essential tool. When you lose it, it only compounds your misery during these difficult days. The resources provided by LifeWay … [Read more...]

ON THE MOVE Larry Evans is the new interim pastor following the resignation of Chris Campo  as pastor at Parkerson Avenue Baptist Church, Crowley. Chad (wife Dawn) Boudreaux is new worship leader at First Baptist Church, Crowley. Kaylie Glovier is new children minister at Red River Baptist Church, Benton. Jerry Elkins retires as music minister from Cross Point Baptist Church, Bossier City. Bruce Edwards retires as education minister from Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City. Mike Landry retires as pastor at Bethany Baptist Church, Bethany. Derek Cox resigned as pastor at Springs of Grace Baptist Church, Shreveport. Rex Blankenship named as interim pastor at Springs of Grace Baptist Church, Shreveport. IN REMEMBERANCE C Bullard Jones, 85, passed away July 26, 2016 after a brief illness. Raised in Winnfield, he graduated from Louisiana College in Pineville, where he met his wife Sunnye Dykes. He went on to obtain his Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. During his long service in ministry, he served churches in Louisiana and Texas. He retired from the ministry in Baton Rouge. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara (Sunnye) Dykes Jones. He leaves behind four sons and … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALBANY – Jase Shawley had just wrapped up a sermon to 350 evacuees from the historic flooding in southern Louisiana when he was approached by a church member who passed along a request from Cindy, a nearly-blind woman and an avowed atheist. “She really wants to speak with you about her salvation,” the Bethlehem Baptist Church student minister was told. Later that Aug. 14 afternoon, Shawley shared with her the basic plan of salvation and afterward Cindy had reason not only to celebrate having survived the storm, but also being rescued by Christ. “Cindy told me she didn’t know what had happened but it was something like she had never felt before,” Shawley said. “She told me she had grown up being taught God didn’t exist. But now her heart was telling her He was real. “Watching somebody who literally had nothing to do with any form of church or praying until that morning and then watching her say ‘Lord I need you’ just hours later was beautiful.” But Cindy’s salvation is not the only miracle God has performed at Bethlehem Baptist Church as a result of the storm. Floodwaters rapidly rose in the church parking Aug. 12, until Shawley asked God to intervene. Afterward, the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ZACHARY – Since the launching of Cross Creek Cowboy Church in 2013, Pastor Josh Morris has talked to his congregation about being Jesus’ hands and feet. In mid-August, they got that chance when many in the congregation stepped up and helped serve 600 hot meals, rescued horses and cleaned out the inside of homes heavily damaged from what has been called the 1,000-year flood. All this happened despite the church getting 2 1/2 feet of water in its own building. Fortunately, the water quickly receded and repairs already have been completed, Morris said, and he offered that many churches in the southern part of the state were not in as favorable a position. But he said regardless of the situation facing a congregation, God can use the devastation caused by the flood for good. “A lot of people have questions,” Morris said. “Where do they turn first? Church. This is where they come for encouragement when bad things happen. It gives us an opportunity to reach those who normally don’t go to church.” “The love of Christ is what we are showing,” he continued. “What they need right now is for us to minister to them and get their needs met first. Then we can start sharing the … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message Louisiana Baptists have announced an initiative to partner healthy churches with churches impacted by the mid-August flooding in southern Louisiana. In some cases, multiple congregations will be connected with the same church due to the size of the recovery and rebuilding projects, said Wayne Jenkins, director of evangelism for Louisiana Baptists. Already, 34 churches have stepped up, he said. But 50-60 more partners are needed to care for up to another 40 or so churches still seeking financial and manpower assistance. Jenkins used as an example Amite Baptist Church in Denham Springs – home to 625 worshipers on a typical Sunday – which was flooded with up to 4 feet of water Aug. 13 and experienced about $1.3 million in damages. Unfortunately, the congregation did not have flood insurance to deal with the devastation caused by the 1000-year rainfall, he explained. “I just believe there are plenty of churches that are willing and are able to do something to assist flood-impacted churches like Amite,” Jenkins said. For information on how to partner with a flood-impacted church, call 318.446.3242. … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message “If your heart is of goodwill and your love of God is unconditional… you will see the Glory of God, the Glory of His Promises and the Magnificence of His Deeds done through your life and answered through your prayers. Open your heart, forget your mind - for God answers all prayers.” JACKSON, MISS. -- God does answer prayers. Saturday (Aug. 27) at 10:03 a.m. Kelly Longoria, accompanied by her mother Lisa Kiper and her husband Shane Longoria walked out of the Jackson, Miss., rehabilitation hospital six weeks after being shot in the head by an assailant and left to die. When she was first brought in to NSICU (Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit Hospital and Medical Center in Jackson), doctors gave 22-year-old Kelly little hope of surviving the night. They could not remove the bullet because it would cause significant damage and were unsure what effects leaving the bullet alone would have. She was intubated, unable to move her left side could not open her eyes or speak. The prognosis was grim. This family, whose faith was so strong, did they only thing they could … they turned to prayer … and asked others to pray as well. A prayer chain, which consisted of individuals, prayer groups, Sunday … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message JACKSON, Miss. – ‘We’re coming home!’ “Kelly Kiper Longoria has been released from the hospital this morning,” Lisa Knight Kiper, Kelly’s mother, wrote on her Facebook page. It was welcome news for the thousands of prayer warriors who have been lifting up Kelly Longoria and her family since early July. On July 16, 22-year-old Kelly was abducted at a convenience store on her way to work, shot in the head by her assailant and left for dead near a Winnsboro graveyard. When she was airlifted to the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit at Jackson Memorial in Jackson, Miss., the outlook was grim. Doctors told the family the chances were very high she would not make it through the night as they could not remove the bullet. They were concerned what the adverse effects would be by leaving the bullet. Scared and hurting, the family turned immediately to God for strength and intervention. And God answered in a mighty and powerful way. “After six long weeks, I’m happy to say today we are coming home. The past six weeks have been miraculous to say the least,” Shane Longoria wrote on his Facebook past Aug. 27. “Praise God for his miracles. “I've seen my wife fight for her life and fight for her … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter EAST BATON ROUGE -- Mary Cupit, 81, awoke to banging on her bedroom window in East Baton Rouge during the early hours of Aug. 14 as the new neighbor next door, Chad Tyrone, 24, knocked frantically to warn her about the rising water. By the time Mary roused her caregiver—her deaf brother Donald Cupit, 73—he had time only to throw on some clothes and grab his wallet and keys before helping his sister into a waiting car filled with neighbors they barely knew. The drive to safety took them to Tyrone’s grandmother’s house where the Cupits were welcomed as family. Five weeks earlier racial tensions had torn Baton Rouge apart. But that Sunday race did not matter. Though his first efforts to rouse his neighbor had failed, Tyrone, a Christian and an African-American, could not leave his neighbors behind. “He told me, ‘Mama, I’ve got to try one more time,’” his mother Theora Tyrone recounted of her son’s insistence as water rose in the street. “He’s always had a big heart.” Having lived only two months in the neighborhood near I-12 and Airline Hwy in Baton Rouge, Tyrone had spoken to Mary Cupit only briefly prior to the flood when he offered to mow the Cupits’ lawn. He learned later of … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer CENTRAL -- God’s people can be used to bring about hope to the community and experience revival, Tony Perkins said during a morning worship service at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church in Baton Rouge Sunday morning. Perkins, interim pastor with the Greenwell Springs congregation and president of the Washington, D.C.-based Christian public policy ministry, Family Research Council, encouraged worshipers they had an opportunity to make a difference for thousands of flood victims devastated with the loss of homes and businesses. “What God has given to you give freely to others, whether that be your resources or your time or your treasure,” Perkins said during his Aug. 21 message, “Searching for God in the Storm.” “This, my friends, could be the moment that you and I have been praying for in this church,” he said. “Sometimes God answers prayers in ways that we don’t expect nor do we want.” “But we’ve been praying for revival, we’ve been praying that we would reach this community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope that comes from knowing Him,” he explained. “This may be our moment, if you and I will have hearts of gratitude, minds of obedience and souls of … [Read more...]