By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Communications DALLAS -- Consultations with doctors through telemedicine will be available at no out-of-pocket charge for the majority of participants in GuideStone’s health plans in 2019. The popular Teladoc® service provides a consultation with board-certified physicians via phone or computer; participants can have a prescription sent to a local pharmacy for pickup. Prescription co-pays still apply. Additional enhancements include a new diabetic management program, elimination of some inpatient co-pays in comprehensive plans and reduced individual maximum out-of-pocket charges. All of these valuable enhancements were implemented while keeping average rate increases below 3 percent for Group Plans. Personal Plans participants will see rate increases related only to participant ages. These are the lowest rate adjustments GuideStone® has been able to provide in many years, with many groups experiencing no rate change, even with the added benefits. “Our insurance team worked diligently to add significant value to our health plans while mitigating the impacts of medical inflation,” said GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins. “While the impacts of medical inflation due to high utilization and … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer More than a dozen Louisiana Baptist Disaster relief teams and almost a 100 volunteers are working tirelessly to aid the Florida panhandle two weeks after Hurricane Michael dealt a crippling blow to the area. While a large area of the panhandle was impacted by Michael, Louisiana teams have centered most of their efforts in Marianna, Florida, 75 miles north of Mexico Beach which took the brunt of the storm when it made landfall Oct. 10. There have also been several teams from Louisiana working in and around Panama City. As of Tuesday, Oct. 23, the seven Southern Baptist Feeding Units there have served an estimated 243,961 meals. The Rolling Hills Ministry’s feeding unit, which is located in Marianna, has averaged roughly 5,200 to 6,200 meals daily. Louisiana Baptist Convention State Disaster Relief Director Gibbie McMillan said he is thankful for the turn out but there is a great need for even more volunteers to assist the people impacted by the hurricane. “I cannot thank these volunteers enough for what they have done so far but we are still in great need of even more volunteers, especially in the area of feeding,” said McMillan. “These volunteers are being the hands and feet … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – The Rapides Parish Coliseum became a house of prayer and repentance during the Hope4U GO TELL Crusade Oct. 14-17. By the end of the multi-event Harvest effort, 420 new believers had declared Christ as Lord and 401 had made other decisions for a total of 821 transformed lives. The highest attended session was the youth emphasis night Oct. 17, which drew 1,983 people. Hope4U had the support from at least 50 churches in the CENLA Baptist Association as well as congregations from other denominations. The crusade was one of many events held or scheduled this year as part of the statewide Harvest campaign to “pray for every home and share with every person” in Louisiana. “One of the things mentioned over and over was the amazing presence of God’s Spirit and unity among our local churches as we gathered together for this endeavor,” said crusade co-chair Andrew Orr, who also is minister of education and outreach at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville. “I feel like it will be a continuous effort moving forward of community and working together across racial and denominational lines because there was a sweet spirit. It’s been refreshing to watch so many come together … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MOWATA – Veteran church planting strategist Greg Penna has not lived in Louisiana for 22 years, but his wish was to one day return for burial near a church in the state that felt like home. Penna, who died September 1 from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident in Oklahoma, desired to be buried in the Mowata Baptist Church cemetery, alongside many members that he and his wife, Cindy, referred to as their second family. “We would call that our home church,” said Cindy Penna. “The people made it special. It was at Mowata he learned what family was all about. His dad was absent, but there he got to see family the way God intended it to be. They helped teach him what it meant to be a pastor.” Penna accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized at First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana, when he was eight years old. Shortly afterward, Penna moved with his family to Lake Charles. When he turned 17, Penna began his service in vocational ministry as the pastor of First Baptist Church in Bunkie when he was a student at Louisiana College. Penna subsequently served churches in Florida, Louisiana and Oklahoma, and attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Cindy … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Louisiana College honored legendary biology professor Charles J. Cavanaugh with the unveiling of a historical marker in front of the Cavanaugh Hall of Science during its annual Founders Day celebration October 4. “Prof Cavanaugh was a transformational leader who sought the best for his students,” said LC President Rick Brewer. “Though he was not aware of our Vision to Prepare Graduates and Transform Lives, his legacy assuredly lives as a precursor to such vision.” Cavanaugh, who earned his degree from Louisiana College in 1932, began his career in higher education at New York University and Hofstra College in Long Island, New York. While he enjoyed life in New York, Cavanaugh longed to return to Louisiana. Finally, in 1945, Cavanaugh received his long-awaited invitation to teach at Louisiana College as chairman of the biology department. Throughout the next 32 years, Cavanaugh taught thousands of future physicians and other medical personnel. During his tenure at Louisiana College, Cavanaugh developed and directed a pre-med program from which more than 90 percent of students who applied to medical, dental and veterinary schools were accepted. Away from campus, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer DENHAM SPRINGS – Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association has named one of its own to serve as the next director of missions. Richard Blue, the pastor of Walker Baptist Church for the last 20 years, began serving in his new role October 1. While this is his first time to serve as a director of missions, Blue believes his experience at churches and in associational life has prepared him for this next chapter in ministry. “I never would have seen myself in this position 20 years ago,” Blue said. “I am humbled and see this as a tremendous amount of responsibility. The only way to get things done is through Christ who strengthens me. With the Lord’s help and the cooperation of the people, we will be able to get things done to reach people in a changing climate of churches and culture for the next 25 years.” PASSION FOR MINISTRY Blue repented for salvation at age 12 after understanding his need for Christ at a Vacation Bible School held by Levy Street Baptist Mission in Shreveport. Four years later, Blue accepted the call to vocational ministry after several weeks of leading a home-based small group Bible study sponsored by Levy Street Baptist Mission. During the years that … [Read more...]

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA - The Rapides Parish Coliseum became a house of prayer Monday night, Oct. 15. Dozens of people lined the altar after a call to pray for restoration and the lost by evangelist Ken Freeman on the second night of the Hope4U GO TELL Crusade. “We’re running out of time,” Freeman said moments earlier about the need to share Christ. “We’ve gotta get busy.” https://youtu.be/p0mmsi5dcPw Freeman shared his testimony of how he turned from an out of control life to a purpose-driven one anchored in Christ. After accepting a friend’s invitation to attend a church service in 1968, Freeman found Jesus. For more than 30 years, he has shared the Gospel at more than 3,000 churches and seen more than 200,000 individuals make a decision for Christ. He told the crowd Jesus can transform their lives too, if they repent of their sins and turn to Him. “I’m proof,” he said. “God can take a mess and make it His message.” At the invitation, 38 of the 783 in attendance came forward to declare Christ the Lord of their lives and eight made other decisions. The Hope4U GO TELL Crusade continues through Oct. 17 6:30 p.m. at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria. During today’s session, Scott Camp, … [Read more...]