By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) — A photo of a woman in apparent pain and being transported by ambulance from an abortion clinic has raised concerns that an abortion clinic in New Orleans is operating despite a statewide ban on non-essential and non-emergency medical procedures. The incident could be further evidence of the need for Act 620, a state law being argued by the Louisiana Attorney General Office before the U.S. Supreme Court, that would require abortionists to obtain admitting privileges with a local hospital in case of complications for the woman patient during or after an abortion. In November last year a woman endured a botched abortion at a Baton Rouge abortion clinic and the complications resulted in her having to undergo a total hysterectomy. Her emergency surgery was cited as evidence in support of Act 620 during oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in March. DISTURBING IMAGE Louisiana Right to Life posted the photo on April 21 and noted that the woman had been taken by stretcher from the Women’s Health Care Center in New Orleans. Ben Clapper, executive director for the pro-life organization, said that ongoing abortions there and at the other two facilities, … [Read more...]

Volunteers from the Washington Baptist Association and Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief, handed out 41 care packages to residents of Westminster Woods apartment complex in Bogalusa on Thursday, April 23. Hygiene products, grocery items, a Bible and information about the Louisiana Baptist Convention prayer line were among the items distributed. The prayer line is operational 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at 800.410.3492. Those who participated were Patrick Magee, pastor at Main Street Baptist Church in Bogulsa and compassion strategist for the Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana, and his wife, Rebeca; Greg Whaley, pastor at First Baptist Church in Bogalusa; Mark Morelock, pastor at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Bogalusa; Davey Daniels, youth pastor at Mount Pleasant Baptist; and Keith Sheridan, pastor at Lee’s Creek Baptist Church in Bogalusa. … [Read more...]

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)--Three days after tornadoes and violent thunderstorms wreaked havoc in eastern and northern Louisiana, more tornadoes, swept through these regions, again, damaging buildings and causing one death, Wednesday, April 22. Among the hardest hit areas was Rapides Parish, where the violent weather claimed the life of a woman in Lecompte on Robinson Ridge Road. according to KALB. In this part of the parish, large trees were uprooted, roofs were blown off houses and power lines were downed. On the Louisiana State University of Alexandria campus, high winds destroyed parts of the roof and a section of cinder block wall of a facility which is part of the Agricultural Center. Other nearby buildings were extensively impacted, too. The school posted an update on its Facebook page, saying there was "damage to DeWitt Livestock building and a camper flipped over. The Oaks (apartments) and students are ok, but no power on campus.” AROUND THE STATE The City of Mansfield also experienced a storm-related fatality. KSLA-TV in Shreveport reported that a man was trying to retrieve his garbage can and fell into a flooded canal off Gibbs Street. His body was recovered about 50 yards … [Read more...]

By Message Staff FAIRVIEW ALPHA, La. (LBM) - Nancy Spears, a member of Fairview Baptist Church in Fairview Alpha who in late March tested positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019, died Sunday, April 19. The cause of death was not immediately announced. According to a post from her husband, Wayne, a retired Louisiana Baptist pastor who now serves as CEO of Abbie Lane Retreat Ministry in Coushatta, a non-denominational 80-acre retreat facility for ministers and their wives, she died peacefully. “She was an awesome wife, loving mother, grandmother and friend to many,” Wayne Spears posted on his Facebook page Sunday. “Our family is grieving but at peace knowing she is home. Please know your many prayers were not in vain. God is still good, kind and gracious.” Wayne Spears said a funeral service will be held June 27, 11 a.m., at Fairmont Park Church in La Porte, Texas, followed by a memorial service at Fairview Baptist the next day at either 4 or 5 p.m. The services are scheduled in June in anticipation that the restrictions against gatherings of more than 10 people will have been lifted in both states by that time. “Thank you for the love, support, and care you have shown me and my family during this most difficult time … [Read more...]

By Message Staff COTTONPORT, La. (LBM) - Sandy McCain, warden at Raymond Laborde Correctional Center in Cottonport, died Monday, April 20, after a battle with the Coronavirus Disease 2019. McCain, chairman of the deacons and a choir member with New Prospect Baptist Church in Dry Prong, first announced March 27 he had tested positive for COVID-19. McCain’s wife, Diane, and sons, Justin and Jeremy, shared on the New Prospect Baptist Facebook page that while they were deeply grieved, they received comfort because his faith was placed in Jesus. “Words cannot express the thankfulness we have for all your kind words and prayer during this difficult time. As we mourn with you, know that our grief is not without hope. Here are two passages of Scripture that will tell you where Sandy places his hope and where we would encourage you to place your hope even now: ‘But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14' ‘No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Violent storms rolled through the state for the second weekend in a row, this time packing high winds and damaging homes in the cities of Leesville and Mandeville as well as Natchitoches Parish on Sunday, April 19. Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft told KPLC-TV that property damage was substantial and numerous power lines were knocked down on the northern edge of Leesville along Highway 171. He reported that there were no injuries in his area that were associated with the storm. A team from the National Weather Service was en route to Leesville Monday to survey damage and determine if a tornado had touched down. East Leesville Baptist Church reported a couple of downed trees and some siding blown off the back of its worship center. Pastor Tommy Kiker wrote on the church’s Facebook page that members of the church were serving others impacted by the storm, and they would continue the response throughout the week. “Thankfully it seems only property damage and no major injuries that we have heard of so far,” Kiker wrote. “Continue to pray for one another and as always as we serve may it be obvious we love God, Love people, Seek the Lost, and Make Disciples!” The Mandeville Police Department reported … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer DEQUINCY, La. (LBM) – Kristie Singley came to New Hope Baptist Church in Dequincy searching for a Bible study class to attend on Sunday morning, March 29, and in the process discovered her need for a Savior. Singley arrived on campus only to learn that her age group class met online prior to the Facebook Live worship service. But in the one-on-one conversation that ensued with Associate Pastor Tracy Smith, part of the skeleton crew that helps produce the livestreamed Sunday service, she turned to Christ. The following week, she was baptized in a portable deep basin at the April 5 drive in-service conducted by New Hope. “When I asked Jesus in my life I felt all my sins go away and felt like a new person and a new beginning in my life,” Singley told the Baptist Message. “The day I got baptized was a celebration of the new beginning in my life, a declaration that I give my worries, concerns and everything I have to the Lord so He can guide me and shape me into the person I’m supposed to be.” The baptism came while Singley was still recovering from the pain of losing a child only 30 minutes after his premature birth. She credited her church family for helping her cope with the … [Read more...]

By Message Staff MONROE, La. (LBM)–Louisiana Baptists have continued to help homeowners whose homes were damaged by a tornado that touched down in Monroe-West Monroe Sunday, April 12. Disaster relief teams from Rolling Hills Ministries in Ruston and Cedar Crest Baptist Church in West Monroe, as well as volunteers from First Baptist Church in West Monroe and Temple Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church in Ruston have cleared debris from 12 homes in the area through Wednesday, April 15. Two other groups also are assisting: Minutemen Disaster Response, a non-profit response team in McKinney, Texas; and, Samaritan’s Purse, a non-denominational humanitarian aid organization founded by evangelist Franklin Graham. Volunteers also prayed with the homeowners at each site. According to Brandon Rodgers, media and communications director for First Baptist Church in West Monroe, spent much of Wednesday helped remove debris from the Lazarre Park area of West Monroe and also in areas of south Monroe, two of the hardest hit sections from the tornado. Nearly 300 homes were hit in Monroe and Ouachita Parish, and the Monroe Regional Airport received an estimated $30 million in damage. Michael Wood, lead pastor at First West, … [Read more...]

By Message Staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) - Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge recently gave gifts to medical personnel at area hospitals, providing fuel for the body and soul for each recipient. Members distributed 400 snack packs throughout the week of April 13-17 to workers at Women’s Hospital, Our Lady of the Lake and two locations of Baton Rouge General Hospital. Included in each kit were healthy snacks and spiritually-encouraging notes and cards created by adults and children at Istrouma. Terry Bracey, director of missions at Istrouma, said the response was uplifting. “We received replies through text and Facebook messages,” Bracey told the Baptist Message. “We may never truly know just how we touched and encouraged those who received the gifts.“ The effort is one of many ways Istrouma, which averaged around 2,000 in early March at its Baton Rouge and Prairieville, has helped minister to the community. Last week, members filled up a truckload of food for delivery this week to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and to needy families of school children – and they plan to make this an ongoing ministry. “I love how our church thinks outside the box, using creative ideas to minister to and stay connected with … [Read more...]