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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

By Message staff NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) – Southern Baptist Convention President Ed Litton and North American Mission Board Send Relief President Bryant Wright visited Louisiana Baptist churches, Sept. 6,  who are hosting disaster relief teams in areas hit hard by Hurricane Ida. Joining them on the tour were Litton’s wife, Kathy, other Send Relief staff, Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team Leader John Hebert and his wife, Kitty, and Louisiana Baptist Convention President David Cranford. They stopped at First Baptist Church, LaPlace, First Baptist Church, New Orleans, First Baptist Church, Ponchatoula, and Woodland Park Baptist Church in Hammond. “We are really here not only seeing what has occurred but hopefully helping others know how you can be of help to churches like this in LaPlace Louisiana,” Wright said during a visit to First Baptist LaPlace. Litton led prayers with Pastor Shane Newton and members at First Baptist Church, LaPlace. He also prayed with Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief team members who are working out of Woodland Park Baptist Church in Hammond. “You love people,” Litton told the Arkansas team. “You don’t ask people what their politics are before you feed them. You don’t ask their skin … [Read more...]