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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Pastor turns church into disaster relief command center

By Maggie Evans, TAB Media HAMMOND, La. -- When Pastor Tim Moffett heard that Hurricane Ida would likely hit the Lake Pontchartrain area of Louisiana, he contacted Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief to offer up his church for whatever was needed. “We were in contact with the Arkansas Baptist Convention one day after Ida hit,” Moffett said. That’s how Woodland Park became an Incident Command Center that hosts teams from other states as well as other relief organizations. “We’re thrilled to be able to be their resource for our community,” he said. “Most people in this community are taking care of themselves and maybe a family member or neighbor … so we’re incredibly blessed by these people who walk away from jobs and responsibilities and just show up to help.” As of Sept. 14, there were 127 Disaster Relief volunteers staying at Woodland Park. Moffett says the volunteers were largely from Arkansas, but they also had some from Tennessee, Texas, Arizona and Alabama. Chainsaw teams out of this command center are working on more than 600 work orders, and the rainy weather coming in from Tropical Storm Nicholas isn’t helping the volunteers, but it isn’t completely stopping them either. Moffett said, “I’m so … [Read more...]

LC signs articulation agreement with Gateway Seminary

Following chapel, Sept. 14, Louisiana College President Rick Brewer joined Jeff Iorg, president, Gateway Seminary in Ontario, California, in signing a memorandum of understanding between the two institutions that will allow LC students to apply college credits to their first year of studies with this Southern  Baptist Convention supported seminary. … [Read more...]

LC’s C3 to tackle ‘Critical Race Theory’ from biblical perspective

By Sierra Boudreaux, Wildcats Media PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Coach Dale Clayton, a 40-year veteran of college baseball and athletic administration will speak on the “The Biblical Response to Critical Race Theory” Monday, Sept. 20 at the C3 conference. The C3 (Christ, Church, Culture) conference was started by LC President Rick Brewer to discuss today’s issues through biblical truth not only the campus community, but the surrounding communities as well. And there is no bigger topic today than the critical race theory. The theory is based on the idea that race is a social construct that has been embedded in many policies and legal systems instead of it being the product of individual bias or prejudice.” The conference starts at 6:30 p.m. in Guinn Auditorium and the public is invited to attend. Masks must be on worn in the building. “Critical Race Theory as a Marxist construct is problematic on multiple fronts and antithetical to the Gospel,” Brewer said. “As a Christ-centered college built on the truth of God’s Word we view our culture through the lens of Scripture. Coach Clayton will address the fallacies of CRT by offering biblical application and truth. “According to Christopher F. Rufo, founder and director of … [Read more...]

Opelousas sophomore chosen as LC’s president for a day

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...]