HORNBECK – Those attending Sunday worship Sept. 10 at First Baptist here heard a mother’s testimony of God’s unfailing peace even in the most horrific circumstances: not being able to find her son, who lived only eight blocks from the World Trade Center, on Sept. 11, 2001. HORNBECK – Those attending Sunday worship Sept. 10 at First Baptist here heard a mother’s testimony of God’s unfailing peace even in the most horrific circumstances: not being able to find her son, who lived only eight blocks from the World Trade Center, on Sept. 11, 2001. Sally Smith coupled descriptions of watching the horror all day long on television, and trying all day long to contact her son Jonathan, who lived and worked in lower Manhattan. At one point, his mom said, she left a voice message: “Jonathan, I don’t know if you’re alive on this earth or alive in heaven, but whichever it is I know you’re safe.” Sallie Smith, here last weekend from Texas with her husband Carl Smith who was preaching at the morning service described her son’s reaction as he watched the crumbling of New York City’s Twin Towers five years ago. Weeping in disbelief, Smith cried out to God, “Why do your children hate one another so?” “It brought tears to my eyes, … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – Regional Reporter Tammy Sharp made the switch to staff writer this week. ALEXANDRIA – Regional Reporter Tammy Sharp made the switch to staff writer this week. A frequent contributor for the last several months to the Message, Sharp’s writing, work ethic and spiritual steadfastness impressed Editor Kelly Boggs and the Message Board of Trustees. “Tammy is an excellent addition to the Message staff,” Boggs said. “It’s even better that she came from the ranks of regional reporters – those writers who report the news of their associations.” Sharp lives in Hornbeck, with her husband, Kenny, a lumber-related company maintenance supervisor, and their 3-year-old son, Devyn. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1992. Sharp, who was casting about for a job last spring after losing her part-time college teaching position to budget cuts resulting from hurricanes Katrina and Rita, decided to try her hand at freelancing. “Then I saw an ad in the Message for a Regional Writer’s Conference, and thought that would be a great place to network,” Sharp said. “It was inexpensive and just up the road, so I went,” she said. “I’m so glad I … [Read more...]

Americans are rarely, if ever, united in thought. However, on Sept. 11, 2001, as the World Trade Center was collapsing in a heap like a poorly constructed house of cards, one question dominated the consciousness of every mind. That single unifying thought was, “Why?” In that moment in time, every citizen of the United States pondered alike. Americans are rarely, if ever, united in thought. However, on Sept. 11, 2001, as the World Trade Center was collapsing in a heap like a poorly constructed house of cards, one question dominated the consciousness of every mind. That single unifying thought was, “Why?” In that moment in time, every citizen of the United States pondered alike. In the time it took the twin towers to become rubble, “What has motivated this horrific act?” was asked 100 million times or more. As the ominous cloud of dust and debris began to linger in the heart of New York’s financial district, however, our oneness of thought began to dissipate. The fleeting moment of unity evaporated as, one by one, opinions for what motivated the terrorist attack were expressed. Explanations were traded – and debated – in print, on talk shows, over the fence, in car pools and during coffee breaks. It is agreed that the … [Read more...]

The story of Mrs. Mellie Jones of Pineville might appear to the casual observer to be one of a normal, middle-class, Southern Baptist life. Most people never knew the hardship she had faced in her life. What people did know, however, is that Mellie would rather give than receive. The story of Mrs. Mellie Jones of Pineville might appear to the casual observer to be one of a normal, middle-class, Southern Baptist life.  Most people never knew the hardship she had faced in her life. What people did know, however, is that Mellie would rather give than receive. Mellicent “Mellie” Fletcher was born in Indiana near Indianapolis.  Her mother died when she was very young. Mellie tried living with her father, but it was hard for him to support the family.  Eventually she went to live with an aunt, Mrs. Louis Prescent. As an adult, Mellie joined the military to see the world but spent most of her time stateside in Miami, Florida. She confided in a friend that she cried one day because she was washing GI dishes on her birthday. Though her military adventure was not all she expected, Mellie retired as a Colonel.  Each Veterans Day she would proudly stand with her fellow soldiers as their church honored their service. It was … [Read more...]

Check it out! Potpourri SULPHUR – First church: Palmetto State Quartet in concert; Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m.; free admission, love offering accepted; David Holder, pastor. RUSTON – Temple church: Evangelism Rally; Sept. 25, 7 p.m.; Chuck Kelly, guest speaker. NEW ORLEANS – Calvary church: Joe Aguillard, guest speaker; Sept. 24, 10 a.m.; Keith Manuel, pastor. EUNICE – Acadian church: Senior Adult Fellowship; Sept. 19, 10 a.m. registration and lunch served at 12 p.m.; Mickey Bounds, guest speaker; Joe Aguillard, music; free, love offering accepted; for information, call 337-457-9047; James Newsom, camp manager. DRY CREEK – Dry Creek camp: Senior Adult Retreat; Sept. 25, 9 a.m. – Sept. 26, after lunch; David Holder and Bill Thorn, guest speakers; Jim Reynolds and Margie Nell Walker, musical guests; Boyd Tweedy and R. L. Hillum of “Cross Country,” special featured guests; $50 per person/full time lodger, $30/full time commuter and $20/one day commuter; bring items for yearly silent auction; to register or for information, call 337-328-7531; Todd Burnaman, camp manager. BATON ROUGE – First church: Paul Saik in concert; Sept. 17, 6:30 p.m.; Chris Turner, minister of music; Burn Page, pastor. SLAUGHTER – First church: … [Read more...]

Churches in Vernon Parish started praying in February for its Crusade for Christ, set for Sept. 17-20 at the Vernon Parish Rodeo Arena. Churches in Vernon Parish started praying in February for its Crusade for Christ, set for Sept. 17-20 at the Vernon Parish Rodeo Arena. he crusade has five objectives, reports Interim Director of Missions E.J. Bradshaw: • Engage all churches in a common effort to reach the lost; • Revive and rejuvenate the churches of Vernon Parish; • Reach out to the lost of Vernon Parish; • Impact the community with the gospel; and • Stimulate community interest in their spiritual condition. Wayne Jenkins, evangelism team leader for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, is to be guest preacher. Worship leader and crusade choir director is to be Grant Blakeney, associate pastor, music, at East Leesville Baptist. Elsewhere across Louisiana, there’s a lot going on. Westside Baptist, Natchitoches, hosted its fourth Outdoors Outreach Program Sept. 7 with the nationally-known Duck Commander – Phil Robertson – as guest speaker. About 400 people were expected, many of whom are unchurched, said Kenny Lantz, one of the event organizers. As many as 80 people a year have made commitments for Christ at … [Read more...]

BILOXI, Miss. – From the beginning, Jim Didlake had a bad feeling about the storm named Katrina. When it crossed south Florida last August as a minimal hurricane and passed into the warm Gulf of Mexico waters, he started preparing. BILOXI, Miss. – From the beginning, Jim Didlake had a bad feeling about the storm named Katrina. When it crossed south Florida last August as a minimal hurricane and passed into the warm Gulf of Mexico waters, he started preparing. “I knew it was going to blow up fast when it got into the Gulf. When it came across Florida following the track the bad hurricanes have always followed, I remember thinking to myself, ‘We’re going to get this one,’” said Didlake, director of men’s ministries and disaster relief coordinator for the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. He was right. Hurricane  Katrina did “blow “ to a Category 5 hurricane before coming ashore between Bay St. Louis and Waveland on Aug. 29 as a high Category 3 storm. (Some experts argue that it was actually a Category 4 at landfall.) Didlake and a team of trained Mississippi Baptist disaster relief workers rode out the storm from forward positions in south Mississippi. “I’ve done disaster relief work in Mississippi for 30 years, … [Read more...]

(BP) – Among the 500,000 people who evacuated Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama because of Hurricane Katrina a year ago, about 11 percent now have severe mental illness compared with 6 percent before the storm, according to the first study of its kind sponsored by the federal government. (BP) –  Among the 500,000 people who evacuated Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama because of Hurricane Katrina a year ago, about 11 percent now have severe mental illness compared with 6 percent before the storm, according to the first study of its kind sponsored by the federal government. USA Today reported Aug. 29 that nearly 20 percent of Katrina evacuees said they had mild to moderate mental illness, compared with less than 10 percent before. About 15 percent of residents of the counties and parishes struck by Katrina have depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other forms of mental illness, USA Today said, which is twice as many as before. Even so, fewer people reported they were considering suicide than before the storm, the newspaper noted, which may reflect a hope in the ability to start over. “We did a study in Miami after Hurricane Andrew,” psychiatrist Eugenio Rothe of the University … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – Dennis Dunn never will forget that devastating June day in 1980. PINEVILLE – Dennis Dunn never will forget that devastating June day in 1980. As a recent graduate of Woodlawn High School, Dunn was going about his daily routine when he received a phone call that haunts him to this day. His best friend, Steve Lofton, was dead. “The event was devastating, but it also got me back on track with my relationship with the Lord,” Dunn said of the deadly accident that electrocuted his comrade. “At that time in my young life, it impacted me most for Jesus. I learned just how fragile life was.” Twenty-seven years later, the head football coach of the Louisiana College Wildcats still remembers the impact of the situation and tries to use his position to show young men the importance of life. Born on March 21, 1962, the Ruston native moved to Shreveport with his family when he was six months old. Dunn lived with his parents and one sister. His dad worked two jobs while his mom taught school. When Dunn was not tending to household chores, deer hunting or attending church, the youngster was participating in athletics at Woodlawn High School in Shreveport. A two-sport star, Dunn … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA – The Roy O. Martin Lumber Company and the Louisiana Baptist Childrens Home are teaming up to host the second annual Brenda Hall Abney Fall Golf Classic Oct. 2 at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, La. ALEXANDRIA – The Roy O. Martin Lumber Company and the Louisiana Baptist Childrens Home are teaming up to host the second annual Brenda Hall Abney Fall Golf Classic Oct. 2 at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, La. Proceeds from the event will be used to build a new learning center at the Children’s Home in Monroe, said Jonathan Martin, President and CEO of Roy O. Martin Lumber Company Group.  The project will get underway as soon as all funds are secured. “Last year we raised $103,000 towards the goal of $750,000 needed to complete the center,” Martin said. Brenda Hall was five years old when her mother was killed in an automobile accident.  Relatives, unable to keep Brenda and her six siblings together, sent them to live at LBCH in 1977 when Brenda was 12. “It was there where she received the Christian nurturing, the loving encouragement and the essential education that would form her character and set her professional goals,” said Martin who, with his wife … [Read more...]