By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor FRENCH SETTLEMENT -- The crew of the UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter was assigned search and rescue duties Aug. 15, flying along the Amite River when a small group of people flagged them down. The chopper, part of F Co 2-135th AVN, an Army National Guard aviation support unit based in Pineville, hovered as team members tried to assess the needs of those stranded on the ground. NOT A TYPICAL MONDAY “We could see a walker sitting in the small boat and an elderly lady sitting in the boat,” said Staff Sergeant Chad McCann, a member of Union Baptist Church, Deville. “We realized we couldn’t do a hoist rescue so the pilots [Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jesse Curtis and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Walt Clement] inched the chopper down to a small sand island between two houses. As the medic, Staff Sergeant Scott Hamilton, went over to assess the needs, McCann borrowed a small boat and followed after him. What they found was much more than they anticipated. “Not only was there an elderly woman, but she had just recently had brain surgery,” McCann said. “There also was a young mother (the woman’s daughter) and two small children. We quickly got the grandmother secured in the helicopter and I went … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Directors of missions from the southern areas of the state are asking for donations that will be distributed to thousands of people affected by last weekend’s massive flooding in south Louisiana. “The greatest needs we have right now are prayer for the pastors who have personally experienced loss and for their financial issues,” said David Carlton, director of missions for Evangeline Baptist Association. “Some have no flood insurance.” The Bayou Church, which is a member of the Evangeline Baptist Association of churches, is collecting bleach, rags, mops, deodorant, soap, toothbrushes and school supplies from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. though Thursday, Aug. 18. The church is located at 2234 Kaliste Saloom Road in Lafayette. In Baton Rouge, one church opening its door for donations is Istrouma Baptist Church, 10500 Sam Rushing Drive. These items may be dropping off from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Thursday: First aid kits 50-ft. heavy duty water hoses Crow and pry bars Square shovels Squeegees Brooms Rubber gloves Hard hats Five-gallon buckets bleach Mosquito repellent Gatorade Bottled water Hammers Dust masks One-gallon spray bottle Box fans Extension cords … [Read more...]

By Message Staff LAKE ARTHUR – The sandbags are stacked high around First Baptist Church in Lake Arthur, most of the congregation has evacuated and now all they and the rest of the southwest Louisiana town can hope for is a miracle from God. Threatening to flood the community is the Mermentau River, whose crest occurred earlier Thursday, Aug. 18, at 10.73 feet. The river previously was expected to crest at 11.5 feet on Friday. So far, they are holding up as the community and local churches have banded together to help one another during this time. “We are holding each other’s hand during this time,” said Pastor Jered. “The Lord has shown up and showed off his greatness during this time.” The Lake Arthur Police Department has issued a dusk-til-dawn curfew until further notice for the town of 2,700 residents. Thomas said water was not in the town yet, though he expects to know if water will come into Lake Arthur between later tonight and sometime Friday. Lake Arthur Mayor Robbie Bertrand said in a Facebook post Thursday morning that overnight all levees held, with some amount of leakage due to pressure from the buildup of water against them. Bertrand said the east part of town does not have a levee or pump and … [Read more...]

By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Public Relations NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana has been no stranger to disaster during the past decade. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill ravished the state in recent years. Once again the state is in the epicenter of a historic disaster. During the past week, unprecedented flooding near Baton Rouge has displaced thousands of residents and ruined more than 40,000 homes. While the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary main campus is well outside the affected area, many seminary students and their families are among the victims of this tragedy. The needs are overwhelming and NOBTS is readying for a response as the event moves from crisis to recovery. “The flooding rains and rising rivers that hit South Louisiana during the last several days have created a monumental catastrophe causing severe damages in homes, churches and businesses far too numerous to list.  It will affect our area for a long time to come,” said New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley. “Thousands need food, clothing, and shelter.  There will be an enormous need for workers to help rebuild entire communities.” Kelley said that those who wish to help seminary students affected by … [Read more...]

B By Craig Franklin JENA, - For Louisiana College Head Men's Basketball Coach Reni Mason, basketball is nothing more than a platform to build the kingdom of God. Mason and his assistant coach, Jonathan Brooks, and two other student-athletes -- Raheem Regis and Travis Schutlz -- represented Louisiana College and Jesus Christ August 11 and 12 when they conducted a free basketball clinic at First Baptist Church Jena for aspiring players from kindergarten through 12th grade. "We teach the fundamentals of basketball, but the most important reason we conduct these camps is to share the Gospel," Mason said. "We start each day with a devotion, get into our drills, and end with a devotion. Everything we do starts and ends with God." "I'd like to thank Pastor Dominick DiCarlo and the Jena First Baptist Church family for allowing us to come and conduct this clinic," Mason said. Louisiana College sponsors basketball camps for three weeks each summer, but this year expanded with free clinics to areas outside of the campus after. "This year we conducted two of these clinics, the first was at Alpine Baptist Church in Tioga and the second was here at First Baptist in Jena," Mason said. "We've averaged about 65 youths between … [Read more...]

By Craig Franklin, Jena/Olla Times JENA -- For Louisiana College men's basketball coach Reni Mason, basketball is nothing more than a platform to build the kingdom of God. He and his assistant coach, along with two LC players, brought that platform to Jena last week as they conducted a free basketball clinic at First Baptist Church for aspiring players from kindergarten through 12th grade. "We basically teach the fundamentals of basketball but the most important reason we conduct these camps is to share the Gospel," Mason said. "We start each day with a devotion, get into our drills, and end with a devotion. Everything we do starts and ends with God. "I'd like to thank Pastor Dominick DiCarlo and the Jena First Baptist Church family for allowing us to come and conduct this clinic," he said. "I have never been to Jena so all I knew was what I had heard. Well, I can tell you after being here, Jena is nothing like the image some tried to make it out to be several years ago." Louisiana college, which is located in Pineville, sponsors basketball camps for three weeks each summer but this year began branching out and conducting free clinics to other areas outside of their campus after the camps at LC have … [Read more...]

Hannah Wallace, Mississippi College Public Relations DENHAM SPRINGS -- Mary Beth Hughes doesn’t recognize Denham Springs after her hometown was devastated by historic flooding. “Ninety percent of our town was under water,” said the 21-year-old Mississippi College senior. But the amazing thing is her home wasn’t damaged, and never lost electricity. “God had his hand on our house,” Mary Beth said Wednesday after returning to the Baptist-affiliated university in Clinton. “It’s a miracle.” Describing the impact of monsoon rains that brought havoc to Bayou State residents made Hughes tear up at times. “Truly this is the greatest place in the world and the people are the greatest you will ever meet,” she said. “We will need prayers. Denham Springs is torn up. But we will recover.” The storm dumped more than 20 inches of rain on southwest Mississippi, coastal Louisiana, and led to massive flooding in cities like Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana. It left seven people dead and sparked rescues of more than 20,000 people. The Amite River was among several rivers and creeks pouring over their banks. Motorists were stranded. People climbed trees to get away from rushing waters. Louisiana’s recovery team dubbed the Cajun … [Read more...]