By Staff, Louisiana College PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) -- Isabel “Izzy” Armand, a sophomore exercise science major from Opelousas, was selected as Louisiana College’s inaugural honorary student president for the day during the school’s first chapel of the 2021 fall semester. Armand, who is a Wildcat navigator this year, facetiously told a packed Guinn Auditorium she wanted to increase the pay for faculty and cut student tuition as he first order of business. After LC President Rick Brewer explained the reality of her decisions, she said if she really had to choose something that she could do it would be to help her softball team and give them a locker room update. “My illustration of granting Izzy both a PhD and Honorary President role was to demonstrate how someone (Christ) paid the price and placed her in a position of honor (PhD/President) through his (Christ’s) finished work at the Cross,” Brewer said. “All Izzy had to do was to receive the gift and step into her “calling” (putting on the robe, doctoral hood, cap & medallion).” Following chapel, she was feted at a catered luncheon in the President's dining room along with her closest friends and Brewer. Armand said she believes Brewer chose her for the honor … [Read more...]
Massive disaster relief effort comes together to meet needs in Louisiana
By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Thirteen days after Hurricane Ida slammed into the Louisiana coast, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams continue to “give a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name” to those affected by the storm. Disaster relief units from 14 state conventions manned 12 ministry sites around Southeast Louisiana on Monday, Sept. 13. Through Monday morning, SBC feeding units have prepared a staggering 462,350 meals. Other units have assessed 2,033 damaged properties, completed 308 chainsaw jobs, and offered 4,942 showers and have done 3,374 loads of laundry. Teams also have distributed 420 Bibles, shared the Gospel 338 times and seen 93 people profess their faith in Christ. Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief state disaster relief coordinator Stan Statham said he is proud of the effort being put forth by all the teams in-state and from around the country, even as another tropical disturbance threatens areas of the state still recovering from Hurricane Laura and Delta in 2020. According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Nicholas was about 45 miles northeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande River and about 140 miles south of Port O'Connor, Texas. The center of Nicholas is forecast … [Read more...]
Gilbert’s DR experience in Lake Charles an asset at FBNO
By Baptist Message staff NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) - Chad Gilbert has been extremely busy the last 12 months. Not only did he accept the call to move from Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles as associate pastor of missions and evangelism to serve as pastor of First Baptist Church in New Orleans Jan. 3, but he has been instrumental in the coordination of relief responses to three major hurricanes that have hit Louisiana since August 2020. Gilbert was at the forefront of relief efforts following Hurricanes Laura and Delta as Trinity Baptist became a hub for disaster relief in Lake Charles. Then, 10 months after Delta, Gilbert found himself yet again leading another disaster relief response, this time at First Baptist New Orleans. “God knew what was coming to this region and I hope he has used me to be helpful to the community,” Gilbert told the Baptist Message. “I learned so much from Gibbie McMillan, former state Disaster Relief coordinator and present Louisiana Disaster Relief Coordinator Stan Statham, who were in the thick of it at Trinity along with Pastor Steve James and Greg Bath. We went through an intense training program at Trinity and applied it here.” Since opening their campus to DR operations, FBC New … [Read more...]
COVID-19 takes Southside Baptist Pastor Don Hoy
By Message staff DENHAM SPRINGS, La. (LBM) – Don Hoy, pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Denham Springs, died Thursday, Sept. 9 from complications related to COVID-19. Hoy, 63, served in ministry for more than 40 years with the last 10 years at Southside Baptist. Before coming to Southside, he was pastor of Brookstown Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Faith Baptist Church in Livingston, Shady Grove Baptist Church in Hazlehurst, Miss., Clear Branch Baptist Church in Wesson, Miss., and Lucian Baptist Church in Brookhaven, Miss. He previously was music and youth minister at Eden Baptist Church in Denham Springs and youth minister at First Baptist Church in Gretna. Hoy also was involved in ministry away from Southside Baptist as state chaplain for the Civil Air Patrol and chaplain for Bridgeway Hospice. He was preceded in death by his son, Daniel, and is survived by Susan, his wife of 42 years, Susan Avants Hoy; son, Steven (Kayla) Hoy, daughter, Stephanie (Perry) Bayly, and five grandchildren. The family welcomes friends to a visitation Friday, Sept. 17, from 5-8 p.m. at Southside Baptist Church, 7572 Vincent Road in Denham Springs and Sept. 18 from 9-10 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Denham Springs, 27735 Hwy 16 in … [Read more...]
Two Texas volunteers seriously injured by falling tree
By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor COLYELL La. (LBM) – Two volunteer members of a Texas Baptist disaster relief chainsaw crew were seriously injured Friday, Sept. 10, when a tree they were cutting fell prematurely. The incident happened in the Colyell community of Livingston Parish. Presently, there are more than 1,000 volunteers from 14 states assisting with disaster relief in Louisiana. “This is a solemn reminder that the work we are doing is dangerous,” Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team Director John Hebert said Saturday, Sept. 11. “We can’t see inside the tree or know how twisted it has become from the winds of the hurricane. “The injuries to the volunteers are serious but praise God that though their injuries are serious, Mike (Aronson) is okay and Jeff (Smith) is recovering.” Smith sustained the most serious injuries as he broke his leg in three places, suffered damage to his vertebrae and had a brain bleed. He was airlifted to an undisclosed hospital in Baton Rouge. Louisiana Disaster Relief Strategist Stan Statham visited with Smith and his family Saturday, Sept. 11. “Yes, I was able to meet with Jeff and his wife. Jeff is in great spirits and expects to make a full recovery from his … [Read more...]
Louisiana pressed but not crushed by storms
By Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - Despite difficulties faced in the days after Hurricane Ida, Louisiana Baptists can find encouragement in answered prayers and many who are turning to Christ, Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn said in a video released to the Baptist Message. “It’s hard to be in despair when you see God at work,” Horn said in the video. “Be encouraged today. We might be hard pressed but we are not in despair.” For more information on giving or volunteer opportunities in southeast Louisiana, visit louisianabaptists.org. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jCP5y7Y17GI&feature=youtu.be … [Read more...]
Fuller, Oklahoma team makes return to Louisiana for disaster relief
By Message staff BAYOU VISTA, La. (LBM) -- A year ago, Dan Fuller was in Lake Charles alongside fellow Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief team members for eight weeks as they helped feed thousands of those impacted by Hurricane Laura. Now, Fuller and his team once again have returned to Louisiana, manning a feeding unit at Bayou Vista Baptist Church where they will feed thousands in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, 40 miles to the east. Fuller, who serves as incident commander center director, said they expect to be at Bayou Vista Baptist for at least eight weeks as they minister to residents and businesses facing the long road to recovery in those two parishes. Fuller asked Louisiana Baptists to keep his team members in their daily prayers as they continue their ministry work. “We’d like your prayer for safety and good weather and good health as we work here,” he said. https://youtu.be/v1c80iKKfyw … [Read more...]
Spared from Ida’s damaging winds, Bayou Vista becomes a hub for ministry
By Message staff MORGAN CITY, La. (LBM) – Nine days ago, Bayou Vista Baptist Church dodged a bullet. While many sister churches, located just 40 miles to the east, sustained heavy damage from Hurricane Ida, Bayou Vista escaped the brunt of Ida which allowed the congregation to step up and serve as a hub for ministry. Since Sept. 5, 30 Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief team members have prepared between 5,000 to 10,000 meals daily that are distributed by the American Red Cross in communities throughout Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team Leader John Hebert said 27 of 32 churches who are members of Bayou Baptist Association which spans those two parishes sustained mold damage. An additional six to eight volunteers have worked in chaplaincy and the incident command center which is located at the church, while another 20 team members have helped remove debris and clean out water-logged homes in the two-parish region. Steven Kelly, pastor of Bayou Vista Baptist and director of missions for Gulf Coast Baptist Association, said around 15 of his members have cleaned showers and bathrooms at the site, modified the church’s outside wiring to accommodate the team’s equipment and … [Read more...]
After major storm cleanup, NOBTS reopens campus
By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College President Jamie Dew announced the reopening of the school’s campus Sept. 7 following Hurricane Ida. The campus has been closed to residents since the Aug. 29 storm knocked out electricity throughout the region. Campus power was fully restored late in the day on Sept. 6 and seminary facilities crews checked every campus residence to assure there were no unit-level electricity problems. After the facilities team assessed each unit, Dew invited residents to return and reoccupy campus housing. “The campus is now open and we are very excited about that,” Dew told the seminary family via a social media video. “I’m excited to see you back on campus to continue the work God put us here to do.” In a video addressed to campus residents, Dew urged returning students, faculty, and staff to buy groceries and fill up with gasoline before entering the city. While many stores are reopening and some supplies are available, there are long lines at grocery stores and gas stations. With power restored to over 75 percent of the residences in New Orleans, Dew warned the basic services could be strained for the next few days … [Read more...]
Disaster Relief cooperation among states ‘a partnership in the Gospel’
By Baptist Message staff NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) – With more than 423,000 south Louisianians still in the dark nine days after Hurricane Ida’s landfall, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams are working hard to repair homes, serve food and share Christ’s love in the region. Through Sept. 6, 14 sites are hosting teams from 13 states. They have prepared 147,517 meals, served 4,790 meals, assessed damaged 504 properties, completed 40 chainsaw jobs, and offered 1,207 showers and 821 laundry loads. Teams also have distributed 101 Bibles, shared the Gospel 68 times and seen 12 people profess their faith in Christ. Among the teams working to restore hope in Louisiana are North Carolina Baptists. Tom Beam, North Carolina Baptist Men/Baptists on Mission coordinator, said that since Sept. 3 team members have prepared 60,769 meals and offered 190 showers and 166 laundry loads at First Baptist Church in New Orleans. “Not only are we here preparing meals for people in need and cleaning out houses, we also have an opportunity to share the Gospel,” Beam told the Baptist Message. “We want people to know that Jesus is the best part of who they are. We already have heard of people asking more questions about the Gospel, asking more … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 99
- 100
- 101
- 102
- 103
- …
- 367
- Next Page »
