By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA (LBM)—Students with three Louisiana Baptist Collegiate Ministries took time out of a holiday weekend and a television schedule full of college football to minister to survivors of Hurricane Harvey. Saturday through Monday, Sept. 2-4, 130 BCM students and leaders from LSU, Louisiana-Lafayette and McNeese State, with assistance from Living Hope Fellowship in Baton Rouge, gutted homes that had been flooded by rainfall from the epic storm. They formed 14 different teams that each worked in one of four areas – Lake Charles, Moss Bluff, Orange, Texas and Port Arthur, Texas. Blake Grundy, BCM campus minister at McNeese, told the Baptist Message that the trip was well suited for college students who have a heart of service. “Many of the students who went on this trip have done mud-out work before, so they know the heartache the destruction causes the homeowner,” he said. “College students have time and the one thing our students love to do with it is to serve. They love to bless people for whom hope seems lost. For them, it’s one aspect of putting faith into action.” Grundy said many of the students indicated their desire to make return trips to the hard-hit areas. He … [Read more...]

By Message Staff ORANGE, Texas - Frank Teat returned "home" Sept. 7-9, bringing his wife, Carol Beth, and three friends from First Bossier to minister to Hurricane Harvey victims in a community where lived and served on North Orange Baptist Church's staff for 21 years. Together, the team gutted out a home and unloaded at North Orange Baptist Church a trailer that members of First Bossier filled Sunday, Sept. 3, with items such as cleaning materials, diapers, food and water that will contribute to the church's supply area for Harvey victims. Teat, connections pastor at First Bossier, was student minister at North Orange Baptist Church during his time in that community. Because available lodging is scarce near Orange, the team stayed at East Texas Baptist Encampment in Newton, Texas, a 50-minute drive from Orange. "Camp Director Andy Narramore provided beds, hot meals at breakfast and supper for work crews, as well as sack lunches," Teat said. "At the end of a day cleaning of this nature, the drive is no issue as you know you are headed to a great hot shower, hot meal and a comfortable bed." He said First Bossier Pastor Brad Jurkovich not only understands his concern for this area based on Teat's tenure here, but sees this as a … [Read more...]

VINTON - Crossroads Baptist Church has issued an immediate call for help providing meals for those affected by Hurricane Harvey, as well as for first responders. Pastor Rob Tibbitts said in an e-mail that volunteers will assist in one of two areas - cooking and serving. Some volunteers are needed to work in an outdoor kitchen, lifting large (often heavy) trays of food and need to be able-bodied. The cooking shifts are from 5 a.m. to noon, and from noon to 8 p.m. Other volunteers will work in the church kitchen, with the help of their Serve Team leaders, to serve meals and clean up the serving area afterwards. The serving shifts are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. To volunteer, call the church office at 337.589.7140 or, if no one answers the phone, call 337.526.0738. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer CALHOUN – Josh Elliff was at a spiritual crossroad in early 2016. He was a staff member for a congregation that was growing, thriving, and reaching their city… but still he was not at peace, believing God was about to move him and his wife. He and Jacqueline were happy at Fielder Church in Arlington, Texas, but he knew he had been called to be a pastor, and that God had him there to prepare for this next step. After a season of prayer, the Arkansas native was offered the possibility of leading a Calhoun, Louisiana, campus of First Baptist Church, West Monroe, which was expanding as a multi-site congregation. “God just put a burden on our hearts,” Elliff said. “He really just broke our hearts for the people here, just the need, the lostness that was in the community.” EXPANDING THE GOSPEL According to local pastors and demographic studies conducted by First West Monroe, roughly 6,900 out of the 7,745 people in the Calhoun zip code do not attend a worship service at any church on Sunday. With a five percent annual population growth rate projection, that number is likely to grow, further solidifying the need for expanding the Gospel there. “The fact is there are some great … [Read more...]

By Message Staff INDEPENDENCE – Churches of the Northshore Baptist Association and the Tangipahoa Parish Fire Department are teaming up to bring some Christian love to Hurricane Harvey survivors in Texas. They are filling up a 20,000-sq.-ft. warehouse with supplies for shipment to multiple locations in Texas, including a fire department in Houston. Already, two shipments have been delivered to the Texas communities of Vidor and Beaumont. Kent Newell, Northshore Baptist Association church planting strategist, said they were more than willing to give back to communities that helped the area during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and more recently the record flooding last year. “The opportunity gives me chills and deeply moves me,” Newell said. “Collecting and delivering these items allows us to be the hands and feet of Jesus.” The warehouse began accepting donations Tuesday, Sept. 5, and has no ending date yet. Water, non-perishable food, bedding items, baby formula, diapers and cleaning supplies are being accepted at this time. Anyone interested in donating should drop the goods off at any Northshore church, which will then make the delivery to the warehouse. … [Read more...]

By Ruth Wisher, Louisiana Attorney General's Office BATON ROUGE – Legislative prayers led by county commissioners at public meetings do not violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, affirmed the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, who filed a brief in support of preserving this aspect of religious freedom, praised the court’s ruling. “This is a victory for religious freedom, and I applaud the court for its decision,” Landry said. “I am proud to have played a part in this affirmation of religious liberty being a fundamental right of all Americans.” By a 9-6 vote on Bormuth v. Jackson County, the Sixth Circuit ruled that county commissioners in Jackson, Michigan did not violate the Establishment Clause by opening their public meetings with a prayer. “From the days when States had established religions, to the period both before and after the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment, to the present day – lawmakers have led prayers at the state and local levels,” Landry said.. “And the governing Establishment Clause test recognizes that prayer practices that have stood the test of time are constitutionally permissible.” General Landry joined an amicus brief … [Read more...]