By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALBANY -- Nearly 300 people staying at a shelter at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Albany are temporarily stranded. Lonnie Wascom, director of missions for Northshore Baptist Association, told the Baptist Message the church is serving as an American Red Cross shelter. He said it has plenty of supplies for evacuees but accessibility into and out of the church by roadway is next to impossible. “The people there are tired but considering the situation, the volunteers at the church are handling things the best they can,” Wascom said. The historic flooding has shut down many roadways in Livingston Parish, forcing many residents out of their homes and countless rescues of those trapped in vehicles and houses. The Louisiana State Police and Louisiana National Guard are attempting to rescue motorists who have been stranded on Interstate 12 for more than 24 hours. Helicopters are dropping food and water to those trapped on the roadway. Wascom said to call the situation bad is an understatement. “I just completed a recon of part of the western portion of our association and it’s bad,” Wascom said. “And it is worse the further west you go. And there are also those on the east side of … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT – Steve Parr said he is concerned about a growing problem in the church today – a smaller percentage of young adults getting and staying actively involved. Once active in church as teens, the number of young adults no longer plugged in after permanently leaving the confines of home is just 1 in 3. But despite the alarming news, Parr believes he has found a solution to help turn around the statistic in a positive way. Parr shared during Saturday’s Louisiana Baptist Convention ReGroup conference the findings from a survey he conducted in 2015 with fellow Georgia Baptist Convention staff member Tom Crites that identifies why some still remain active in the church into adulthood. Among those reasons are the mother and father of children demonstrate priorities by serving in the church, love the pastor and have a high view of scripture. Parr encouraged those in attendance to become active in an area of service at the church, even if it means losing a member of one’s own Bible study to another ministry. “I believe one of the greatest marks of your effectiveness is not how many are attending your Bible study group but how many you have released to serve in other areas,” … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Five months after historic flash flooding sent nearly three feet of water inside the sanctuary and parsonage of Mt. Nebo Baptist Church in Roseland, the facility has once again been hit by rising floodwaters. At least two feet of water has reached inside the building, according to Cindy Camardelle, the wife of Pastor Randel Camardelle. And the National Weather Service says southeast Louisiana will continue to be pounded by a low pressure system causing additional flooding. Until the latest round of flooding, repairs to the church from the March flooding had progressed and were nearly 75 percent complete. The congregation was two to three weeks away from worshiping in its sanctuary once again. Now, the congregation will have to wait for an undetermined amount of time for their long anticipated return, their spirit will not be broken by more floodwaters. "Pray for God's mercy, for our congregation to not be discouraged and for the Church as a whole to be revived," Camardelle said. Meanwhile, the system had brought flooding to Iberia Parish were two inches of water had gotten into fellowship hall of Highland Baptist Church, New Iberia. Pastor David Denton said they are waiting until the waters … [Read more...]