By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief officials are making preparations now to respond to those directly impacted by the floodwaters of the Red River – and every Louisiana Baptist has a chance to participate. According to Louisiana Baptist state Disaster Relief Director Gibbie McMillan, four areas in north and central Louisiana likely will serve as staging areas when disaster relief teams are activated. Teams will use locations in Shreveport, Coushatta, Natchitoches and Alexandria as ministry hubs to sleep and eat at themselves. It is not certain that feeding for the public will be needed until the assessments are completed. Though trained disaster relief team members will be working, Louisiana Baptists who have not completed official training may also serve, McMillan said. Donations to the response along with prayers also are needed. Those interested in volunteering should call the disaster relief office at 318.448.3402. Donations can be made by going to louisianabaptists.org/disasterrelief or by mailing checks to Louisiana Baptist Convention, Attn: Disaster Relief, PO Box 311, Alexandria, LA 71309. In addition to teams from throughout Louisiana, others from out of state are also … [Read more...]

By Joe Dupree, Message Staff Writer BALL - Summer is upon us and you know what that means ... it's Vacation Bible School time. Kingsville Baptist Church in Ball is one of many Louisiana Baptist churches that are hosting or will host VBS this summer. VBS is considered to be one of the biggest outreach ministries a church has during the year. "Like any other opportunity placed into the life of a church, the importance of VBS depends on the individual church," said David Anderson, Children's Ministry Strategist, Louisiana Baptist Convention. "VBS is still the single largest evangelistic opportunity that the church will have all year long," said Anderson. "We also know that unchurched families will bring their children and engage with the church like no other time during the year." Kingsville wrapped up their VBS festivities last week  averaging 280 kids per day and 130 workers (teenagers and adults). "We have seen a renewed interest in training for VBS as we doubled our registration and attendance at the state wide training this year," said Anderson. Several churches have also requested that GOLA (summer missions program for college students) teams come to their churches to help assist them with VBS. "In … [Read more...]

By Joe Dupree, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Less than a month after Mark Rosier resigned as Louisiana College’s softball coach, Wildcat Athletics Director and head football coach Dennis Dunn didn’t waste time or have to go very far to find Rosier’s replacement. On June 8, Winnfield High School’s Lyn Bankston was introduced as the Lady Cats new head coach. He becomes only the sixth head coach in the softball program’s history and succeeds Rosier, who spent four seasons at LC. Dunn said he's known Bankston for many years and called the hiring "a good move on several levels." "I've known Lyn since he was a player at Louisiana Tech," Dunn said. "Just his grit as a competitor is something I always admired.  So, really, all of this came together like a glove, in terms of fit. He is a great fit for LC.” The opportunity to coach on the college level, especially at a college which has special meaning to him, was just too much for Bankston to pass up. "When you're in my profession and you're extremely passionate about it like I am, the thoughts always come into your mind," said Bankston. "You always want to coach at the highest level." “Louisiana College softball has such a rich history and is full of tradition,” said … [Read more...]

Joe Dupree, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT/BOSSIER CITY - With the floodwaters threatening and already making their way onto the streets in Shreveport and along the lower levels of the riverfront in Bossier City, the Louisiana National Guardsmen have been put on alert and have busy securing the area and bracing for more possible flooding. "Engineer teams have been working nonstop on the construction of an 800 linear ft. HESCO barrier, consisting of two rows on the bottom and one row on the top totaling 2,400 linear feet, to fortify a concrete wall," said Staff SGT Denis B. Ricou. The Guardsmen have been busy hauling assets, assisting with construction efforts, and positioning various teams to affected areas since June 3rd. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SHREVEPORT/BOSSIER CITY – As flood waters of the Red River rise, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams are on alert to respond if needed. According to Louisiana Baptist state Disaster Relief Director Gibbie McMillan, teams originally scheduled to deploy to Oklahoma and Texas are now being kept in Louisiana in case they are activated. McMillan said they could be in areas of the state affected by recent flooding as soon as next week. “We are paused and waiting to see how much damage will take place then the teams will come in,” McMillan said. “It could be next week before we can begin work. We need people to pray for those affected and be ready to respond when the time comes. We will need places for volunteers to stay when they respond.” As of Monday, 84 homes in the Shreveport/Bossier City area were flooded, McMillan said. Streets in the area also have seen floodwater, including a small portion of the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City and near the SciPort museum in Shreveport. Numerous streets also have been closed, including some off and on ramps on and in some sections of lanes on I-220 westbound. Lane Moore, director of missions for the Northwest Louisiana Baptist … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams are responding to an area in Oklahoma devastated by a tornado in Oklahoma and a suburb of Houston, Texas, that saw historic rainfall in late May. Two mudout teams are in Missouri City, Texas, a town located about 18 miles southwest of Houston. East Fork Baptist Church in Kentwood and Coteau Baptist Church in Houma arrived in the area on Tuesday and will remain there until today. Nearly 1,800 homes were underwater in the community, according to Gibbie McMillan, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief state director. McMillan said the response there could take up to a year. Meanwhile, two chainsaw teams are ministering in Poteau, Okla., where a tornado destroyed six homes and damaged another 50 structures, according to LeFlore County’s emergency management. The teams from Sabine Baptist Association left on Thursday and will return the following week. McMillan said Louisiana Baptists wanting to help can do so in three ways – pray, give and go. “In a magnitude of this disaster and with this many people affected, you do what you have to do,” McMillan said. “We will stay until the job is finished.” Scottie Stice, director of Disaster Relief Ministries for … [Read more...]