By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer   The congregation of Zenoria Baptist Church in Trout knows the difference 12 hours can make. Last Friday morning, members of the Zenoria’s congregation, members from First Baptist Church in Jena and others from the community were cleaning up a small amount of standing water off the floor inside the church building. By that evening, the floodwaters had risen almost 9 feet and had nearly reached the rooftop of the church, which is located less than a half-mile from the overflowing Little River. Now, the church is waiting for the water to recede. Pastor Joel Johnson said the church that averages 40 on a Sunday morning is determined to renovate the facility and continue being a shining light in the community, something it has done since its founding in 1922. “The congregation is disheartened about not being able to meet together at the church, but they are determined the flooding is not going to stop us from meeting as the body of Christ,” Johnson said. “They are ready to see what that next step is and how do we go about doing it. They are very encouraged about keeping the church going and keeping the church as a part of the community.” As they look toward the future, … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message After a week of rain, the sunshine was a welcome sight for many in Louisiana Sunday. The same could not be said for the rapidly rising floodwaters that has overtaken nearly 5,000 homes, businesses and churches throughout the state. According to initial figures released Sunday (March 13) by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, 4,958 homes have been damaged due to historic river flooding caused by more than two feet of rain. But during the reprieve many people affected by the flooding went to church to pray for the victims, seek God’s Divine intervention or to just give thanks. Such was the case as the community of Sterlington, unified by the historic flooding, attended services at First Baptist Church Sterlington. The congregations of First West-Fairbanks Campus, First Sterlington, St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church and Foundry attended services at First Sterlington praying for unity in the middle of the present disaster. Pastor Ben Hackler of FBC Sterlington shared from Matthew 8 about how Jesus would carry us through the storms we face Other Southern Baptist churches raised money to assist Louisiana Disaster Relief teams in recovery efforts … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message As if the rain wasn’t enough, now comes the flooding and it could be historic. More than 24 inches of rain has fallen in Louisiana over the last five days and residents are now bracing for major flooding. According to the National Weather Service, record flooding is already occurring along a stretch of the Sabine River, the Bogue Falaya River in Covington and Bayou Dorcheat at Lake Bistineau and Little River in Winn and LaSalle Parishes. The flooding of the Sabine River is being accelerated by the release of 207,644 cubic feet per second or about 1.5 million gallons per second at the Toledo Bend Spillway, which was constructed in 1966. In the next several days along the Louisiana/Texas border the river will rise to historic levels. Residents down river are under mandatory evacuation orders as the river is expected to crest by almost two feet over the unofficial record set in 1884 in the town of Deweyville, Texas. The crest will flood numerous homes and leave roads impassable and towns isolated. Thousands of homeowners in north and central Louisiana have already encountered severe flooding from the heavy rain – 24 inches in some areas. In response, Samaritan’s Purse has deployed two … [Read more...]

By Norman Miller, Louisiana College Communications PINEVILLE -- One of Louisiana College’s beloved donors and friends, Mary Anna Granberry, passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on the morning of March 11 in Lafayette. Members of First Baptist Church in Lafayette, the Granberrys have a history of generosity for Baptist causes. The Granberrys contributed substantially to build the Granberry Conference Center that adjoins Louisiana College’s Hixson Student Center, and endowed two scholarship funds that still support LC students. They also established the counseling centers statewide for the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home. Today, Granberry Counseling Center has 11 sites that see more than 1,500 clients annually. The Granberrys became acquainted with Louisiana College through Bonnie Lynn and an event she founded called “Adults with Seniority.” Bonnie was LC’s director of planned giving during the presidential tenure of her husband, Bob Lynn. “The Granberrys were very generous people, who loved Louisiana College and Christian higher education,” said Byron McGee, LC’s vice president for Institutional Advancement. “We are very grateful for their generosity.” LC president Rick Brewer said, “While our hearts are … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Even as floodwaters continue to rise in Sterlington, the churches of various denominations there are coming together to spread Christ’s love through meal and clothing distributions. “There is a lot of water everywhere and it is steadily rising” said Ben Hackler, pastor of First Baptist Church Sterlington. “Right now, there really isn’t much we can do but to watch it rain, help where we can and wait. We’ve mobilized people to help where we can.” According to Hackler, First Sterlington and First West Monroe Fairbanks have joined together to provide hot meals, sandwiches and bottled water to those in need. The First West thrift store already has received a number of donations which they are distributing. The Methodist Church, which is across the street from First Sterlington, is one of four shelters operating in the area and both Baptist Churches are supplying meals and personal items to the occupants and relief workers. “If need be, we can also house people as well,” Hackler said. “So far, we have not been needed to house anyone. Hackler, who was in Frenchmen’s Bend subdivision Friday morning helping to move furniture out of a house threatened by rising water, said the work in the area has only … [Read more...]

The record flooding throughout Louisiana, especially in north Louisiana, has led to postponements of  several events scheduled for Saturday. The Missions Jamboree (M-JAM) which was to take place at Cedar Crest Baptist Church in West Monroe, has been rescheduled for a later date to be announced. For more information, call 800.622.6549, extension 266. Also two multi-denominational, pro-life prayer vigils – one in Bossier City and the other in Shreveport -- have been moved to March 19. Due to flooding in north Louisiana, The Generate Conference 2016 slated for Monday and Tuesday at North Monroe Baptist is being postponed.  The new date for the conference will be determined at a later date. … [Read more...]