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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

After major storm cleanup, NOBTS reopens campus

By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College President Jamie Dew announced the reopening of the school’s campus Sept. 7 following Hurricane Ida. The campus has been closed to residents since the Aug. 29 storm knocked out electricity throughout the region. Campus power was fully restored late in the day on Sept. 6 and seminary facilities crews checked every campus residence to assure there were no unit-level electricity problems. After the facilities team assessed each unit, Dew invited residents to return and reoccupy campus housing. “The campus is now open and we are very excited about that,” Dew told the seminary family via a social media video. “I’m excited to see you back on campus to continue the work God put us here to do.” In a video addressed to campus residents, Dew urged returning students, faculty, and staff to buy groceries and fill up with gasoline before entering the city. While many stores are reopening and some supplies are available, there are long lines at grocery stores and gas stations. With power restored to over 75 percent of the residences in New Orleans, Dew warned the basic services could be strained for the next few days … [Read more...]

Disaster Relief cooperation among states ‘a partnership in the Gospel’

By Baptist Message staff NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) – With more than 423,000 south Louisianians still in the dark nine days after Hurricane Ida’s landfall, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams are working hard to repair homes, serve food and share Christ’s love in the region. Through Sept. 6, 14 sites are hosting teams from 13 states. They have prepared 147,517 meals, served 4,790 meals, assessed damaged 504 properties, completed 40 chainsaw jobs, and offered 1,207 showers and 821 laundry loads. Teams also have distributed 101 Bibles, shared the Gospel 68 times and seen 12 people profess their faith in Christ. Among the teams working to restore hope in Louisiana are North Carolina Baptists. Tom Beam, North Carolina Baptist Men/Baptists on Mission coordinator, said that since Sept. 3 team members have prepared 60,769 meals and offered 190 showers and 166 laundry loads at First Baptist Church in New Orleans. “Not only are we here preparing meals for people in need and cleaning out houses, we also have an opportunity to share the Gospel,” Beam told the Baptist Message. “We want people to know that Jesus is the best part of who they are. We already have heard of people asking more questions about the Gospel, asking more … [Read more...]

State, national Baptist leaders visit key Disaster Relief sites

By Message staff NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) – Southern Baptist Convention President Ed Litton and North American Mission Board Send Relief President Bryant Wright visited Louisiana Baptist churches, Sept. 6,  who are hosting disaster relief teams in areas hit hard by Hurricane Ida. Joining them on the tour were Litton’s wife, Kathy, other Send Relief staff, Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team Leader John Hebert and his wife, Kitty, and Louisiana Baptist Convention President David Cranford. They stopped at First Baptist Church, LaPlace, First Baptist Church, New Orleans, First Baptist Church, Ponchatoula, and Woodland Park Baptist Church in Hammond. “We are really here not only seeing what has occurred but hopefully helping others know how you can be of help to churches like this in LaPlace Louisiana,” Wright said during a visit to First Baptist LaPlace. Litton led prayers with Pastor Shane Newton and members at First Baptist Church, LaPlace. He also prayed with Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief team members who are working out of Woodland Park Baptist Church in Hammond. “You love people,” Litton told the Arkansas team. “You don’t ask people what their politics are before you feed them. You don’t ask their skin … [Read more...]

Value of being a Southern Baptist

By Jeff Iorg More than 25 years as a Southern Baptist denominational executive, preceded by more than a dozen years as a Southern Baptist pastor, has shaped my perspective on navigating the vagaries of working among and with the large network known as the Southern Baptist denomination.  It can be a daunting, and at times disappointing task.  Here are eight perspectives (and one concluding story) which have helped sustain my spiritual, emotional, and strategic equilibrium – and helped me maintain a positive perspective on denominational involvement and leadership. Recognize there will always be imperfection There never have been any “good old days” when the denomination functioned without difficulty, divisions, conflicts, and scandals.  We have lived through moral failures, criminal activities, strategic blunders, and financial disasters throughout our 175-year history.  We have struggled with sins like racism and failures like mishandling sexual abuse.  We have always been, and always will be, an imperfect denomination.  While we must strive to solve pressing problems and build a healthier organization, we must also admit perfection will never be achieved. It is astounding, however, what this imperfect denomination has … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists give encouragement, funds to churches impacted by Ida

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist state missions team members began distributing funds Friday, Sept. 3, to pastors whose homes were heavily damaged by Hurricane Ida. The emergency gifts were made possible through gifts to the Georgia Barnette State Mission Offering and donations from churches and individuals. “We have worked with the associational missionaries in the most affected regions to identify pastors with great need,” Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn told the Baptist Message. “We are blessing them with a small gift to help them with daily essentials and asking God to use it mainly to be an encouragement to them. We do anticipate more needs in the coming weeks and are prepared to bless other pastors as well.” So far, 70 Louisiana Baptist churches, associational offices and ministry centers have been confirmed as having sustained damage or destruction from the Category 4 hurricane. However, Lafourche and Terrebone Parishes were hard hit and churches there have been out of reach by phone or internet. “It’s from minor to catastrophic,” Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team Director John Hebert said. “Pray for the churches well being physically and emotionally. They … [Read more...]

Church gives back during Hurricane Ida relief efforts

By Baptist Message staff WELSH, La. (LBM) – Shortly after Hurricane Delta made its way through Louisiana in September 2020, a team from First Baptist Church, Golden Meadow, arrived at First Baptist Church, Welsh, and fed hundreds of community members over a three-day period. Now, the church at Golden Meadow has suffered damage from Hurricane Ida, so the Welsh congregation plans to give back to the people who offered so much to their area. FBCW Pastor Pat Deshotel said members designated $3,000 to donate to the Golden Meadow church in memory of member Claude Fontenot, who served as pastor there from 1961-1982 and died in August. “They came to help us right after the hurricane last year and we wanted to return the favor by paying it forward,” Deshotel told the Baptist Message. “The Bible tells us to love one another and I can’t think of a better way of obeying that commandment than showing love to that church.” First Baptist Welsh is among the many churches that are giving back to those impacted by Ida. Others interested in donating money to disaster relief efforts can click here to donate online, or send such gifts by mail: Louisiana Baptist Convention, P.O. Box 311, Alexandria, Louisiana. Volunteers are needed to serve on … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists give Ida evacuees, first responders shelter

By Baptist Message staff EUNICE, La. (LBM) – Four Louisiana Baptist encampments have opened their facilities to Hurricane Ida evacuees and first responders. James Newsom, director of Acadian Baptist Center in Eunice, told the Baptist Message 120 linemen and 70 members of First Baptist Church, Golden Meadow, and their families are residing at the camp. Newsom said the camp is providing rooms, meals and household items, and added that area pastors have visited the camp to pray with the evacuees. “It’s really sad knowing the heartache and devastation they are going through,” Newsom said. “Pray that God would use this hurricane to bring people into the Kingdom and that He would send people to come help the church and families rebuild.” Matthew Chouest, FBCGM pastor, said he is grateful for the ABC, which regularly hosts members from his congregation at annual summer camps and men’s retreats, and Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief, which already is giving assistance. He also told Baptist Message that already individuals and congregations from around the country have expressed interest in donating funds and supplies and coming to help rebuild as well as minister to the community. Chouest, who returned to his church … [Read more...]

God protects Louisiana Baptist deacon during height of Ida’s fury

By Baptist Message staff PORT FOURCHON, La. (LBM) – Donald Autin, a deacon at Bayou Vista Baptist Church in Morgan City, is thankful for God’s protection as he and others aboard a boat survived wind gusts of 172 mph in Port Fourchon as Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana, Aug. 29. According to Steven Kelly, pastor of Bayou Vista Baptist Church in Morgan City and director of missions for Gulf Coast Baptist Association, Autin is safe but unsure when he will return to port. Autin is a chief engineer on a supply boat that services oil rigs and handles other marine needs in the Gulf of Mexico. Port Fourchon is where Ida made landfall on the Louisiana coast with sustained winds of 149 mph. Kelly shared with the Baptist Message a text he received from Autin’s wife, Gina, once the storm passed: “Just heard from Donald. They are on the tail end of it. They clocked winds at 200 mph. He said to thank you for praying. They had 2 extremely close calls with huge ships breaking free from dry dock and he said the ‘hand of God’ moved them at the last moment and kept their boat from being crushed.  He said that boats had sank and flipped. Major damage for sure but they still are unable to see much because of the heavy … [Read more...]