UPDATED 1:47 P.M. JUNE 20 Early Tuesday afternoon, June 20, the National Hurricane Center upgraded Potential Tropical Cyclone Three to Tropical Storm Cindy. The third named storm of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, Tropical Storm Cindy was about 265 miles  south of Morgan City at 12:30 p.m. and had maximum sustained winds near 45 m.p.h., with some gusts higher. Tropical Storm Cindy is expected to approach the coast of southwest Louisiana late Wednesday or Wednesday night, and move inland over western Louisiana and eastern Texas on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said. ORIGINAL STORY By Message Staff The entire Louisiana coast is under a tropical storm warning and is bracing for a “significant rain event Wednesday, Thursday and possibly Friday.” In their latest update, National Weather Service officials said Potential Tropical Cyclone No.3 has become better organized since Monday but still not enough to the point of being upgraded to a tropical storm. "The system could be classified as a tropical or subtropical cyclone later today," the NHC said. Depending on which expert one listens to, projected rainfall totals from the storm could produce three to five inches of rain with locally higher … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer COUSHATTA – Before she attended a Red River Association Crusade in late May, Molly Pickett admits her life was filled with anger toward God. But hearing a Gospel message by evangelist Sam Moore during one of seven evening services of the crusade changed Pickett, and also transformed two of her children. All three of the new believers were baptized at Martin Baptist Church in Coushatta, Sunday, June 4. “I was anxious at first but I decided to give my life to Christ,” said Pickett, whose husband encouraged her to attend. “I was so tired of living with the anger and anxiety, and I was not only surprised that my children accepted Jesus as their Savior that night, but also relieved. Now, I am feeling a sense of calm in all areas of my life.” CRUSADE CONVERTS Pickett and her children were among 19 people who professed Christ as Lord and committed their lives to Him, and were obedient in believer’s baptism at Martin Baptist Church and other churches in the area as a result of the Red River Association Crusade. Richard Kaufman, pastor of Martin Baptist Church, was one of the organizers of the crusade. Preparation included a prayer walk at the Red River Parish Fairgrounds and … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE – You would think someone who has 50 years of memories and relationships accrued while serving on the staff at First Baptist Church in Lafayette would have plenty to tell. But recently Luther Burney was left speechless when asked to recall how he managed to serve for a half decade at one church. “You have to live long enough first,” Burney joked with the Baptist Message shortly after a reception honoring his service to First Baptist Lafayette. “We are in the people business and I love the people. And they in turn have loved me and have let me work here.” Family, friends and others from the community gathered in the church’s fellowship hall April 30 to recognize Burney, who came to the church April 9, 1967 as a music and youth minister. ENCOURAGED TO BE AN INNOVATOR When he first got there, Burney was encouraged by the support of Pastor Perry Sanders who told him to pursue new ideas. “I respected Perry and he respected me,” Burney said. “I was always trying to do new things. Perry said as long as I could pay for it, I had the freedom to do what I felt led to do, and I ran with that.” As the years passed, Burney added new programs that became quite popular in … [Read more...]