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CHURCHES FEMA Public Assistance grants are open to Houses of Worship located within presidentially-declared disaster areas (Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis and Vernon Parishes) and typically reimburse 75 percent of eligible costs for Permanent Work—repair, replacement or restoration of certain disaster-damaged facilities. Houses of Worship must have in excess of $3,300 of damages related to Hurricane Laura; produce an IRS nonprofit letter; and, must have received insufficient funding or no funding after applying for a Small Business Administration disaster loan, www.sba.gov/disaster. Time is of the essence (deadline: 9/27/2020), and Houses of Worship do not have to wait for an SBA decision to apply to FEMA, www. LousianaPA.com. Houses of Worship may apply directly to FEMA for Emergency Work—debris removal and emergency protective measures (also 75 percent of eligible costs)—and an expanded area is eligible (Acadia, Grant, Natchitoches, Vermilion, Winn are eligible along with the six parishes above). Call or write state FEMA contact Joe Costello, (225) 339-3724 or joseph.costello@la.gov, for assistance or information. INDIVIDUALS Individuals in Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Caddo, Calcasieu, … [Read more...]

Jeannie Saylor and Jill Morrow, who work for Louisiana Baptists in the central mission office in Alexandria, prepare letters with checks to send to 36 congregations whose facilities were destroyed by Hurricane Laura. The emergency gifts were possible because of donations to the Georgia Barnette State Mission Offering as well as funds given by state convention partners in the South, special offerings from churches and contributions by individuals. Steve Horn, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, said that at the appropriate time he will publicly thank those who made these emergency gifts possible. But he offered an anecdote to the Baptist Message as a way to describe the kindness, generosity and sacrifice that is befitting the whole of the effort to help these churches. “One elderly lady called her pastor to indicate that though she did not have much to give, she had to do something,” he shared. “When that pastor arrived, that which she described as ‘not much’ was $10,000.” … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Weston Lindsay was ordained on August 9 and is the new pastor at Pinehurst Baptist Church, Ball. Stuart, wife Angie, Sasser became the new pastor at Philadelphia Baptist Church at Horseshoe Drive, Alexandria on August 2. Brad Delaughter has resigned as pastor of Satsuma Baptist Church. Brian Hevrin has resigned as pastor of Ida Baptist Church to First Baptist Church Vega, Texas. Joe Stutson is the new pastor to Calvary Baptist Church, Slidell. HOMECOMING Alto Baptist Church, Alto: Homecoming, Sunday, September 27, 10:30 a.m. Speaker: Dianne Abraham will share her testimony. Worship: Brothers In Christ. A barbeque lunch will be served following the service. Music Minister: Jay Ellerman. Pastor: Alan Miller. Wallace Baptist Church, Pelican: Homecoming, October 4, 10:30 a.m. Lunch will … [Read more...]

By Rubin Weaver FARMERVILLE, La. – There aren’t many people in this world who pass and the world feels like it’s immediately a worse place because of their absence. ­ This was my first thought the day I got the call Paul Carter had stepped into eternity. “Preach”, as he was known by those close to him, stepped into heaven while on a trip with his family to visit his son. He was a family man, husband of 62 years to Mrs. Audie, a father second to none to his 3 sons, a minister of the gospel for 65 years, a mentor, a pastor, and a friend to all. He was an outstanding gospel preacher. I heard a funeral outline once that said “He Lived. He Loved. And He Left.” He pastored numerous churches in our area. He served in evangelism in states all over our country. God used him to start churches as near as Rocky Branch, La., and as far as Wasilla, Alaska. He served in various leadership roles in our state, our convention, and each association he was a part of during his pastorate. He was also a commercial fisherman. ­This was how he often made his living pastoring bi-vocational Churches, starting new works, or in seasons of full time evangelism. He was a tremendous fisherman who fi shed for fun, fished for a living, and fi shed … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, Baptist Message correspondent LAKE CHARLES, LA. (LBM) — When a hurricane leaves town, the ensuing days evoke whirlwinds of activity for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles is a hub of such ministry, reaching into the community with clean up efforts, 20,000 meals a day, tons of food and other life necessities, and sharing the gospel. As of September 10, the site had registered 115 professions of faith. Food, cleaning supples, personal hygiene items, diapers, paper towels, pallets loaded with cases of water, flashlights, bug spray, tarps are among the needs donated by church members and the community. “Just about as quickly as we can get it, it empties out,” said Trinity member Amy Langley. “The halls are full right now, but by the time we leave today, it all may be gone.” Amy’s husband Keith is Trinity’s director for buildings and grounds. “Donations to this ministry have been just as intense as the hurricane — even more,” said one worker who preferred anonymity. “The people share their stories as we help them, and that gives us the chance to pray with them and offer them the hope of Jesus. Just make them feel like they’re loved and that we’re walking … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana officially has headed into the next phase of reopening the state’s economy -- with the exception of New Orleans. Gov. John Bel Edwards, during a news conference Friday, said while the mask mandate will remain in place in Phase 3, businesses and churches will be allowed to operate at 75 percent capacity, an increase from 50 percent under Phase 2 that expired earlier in the day. The new order will remain in effect until it expires Oct. 9. Under the new guidance issued jointly from the Governor's office with the state fire marshal and the Department of Health, indoor social gatherings like weddings and birthday parties can operate at 50 percent capacity, up to 250 people, and sporting event venues can open at 25 percent capacity. Nursing home visits still are not allowed in Phase 3, although the LDH soon will start a pilot program for some nursing homes in parishes which experience no new cases of COVID-19 for two weeks. Parishes without high case numbers also will be included in the trial run. “We have seen some improvement in decreased COVID-like illness, new COVID cases and hospitalizations in recent weeks, as our strong mitigation measures are working,” Edwards … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff HAMMOND, La. (LBM) – Lonnie Wascom, director of missions from Northshore Baptist Association from 2011-2018, died Thursday, Sept. 10. He was 72. Born in Baton Rouge, Wascom was baptized at New Bethlehem Baptist Church near Live Oak when he was nine years old. When he turned 15, he began his service in vocational ministry as the assistant music director at Judson Baptist Church in Walker. During the years that followed, Wascom served churches in California and Louisiana, and earned degrees from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, California State University in San Francisco, California, and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, California (now Gateway Seminary in Fremont, California). After 40 years of serving churches, he was called as the director of missions for Chappapeela, LaTangi and St. Tammany Baptist Associations in 2004. Seven years later, the three associations voted to merge. Two months after his Oct. 1, 2018, retirement, Wascom became pastor of Walker Baptist Church. Wascom said in a Sept. 7, 2018, article in the Baptist Message he wanted to finish strong in his faith journey after his retirement. “If God favors me, He’ll let me go out like … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Robert Lynn, president of Louisiana College from 1975 to 1997, died Tuesday, Sept. 8 in Norman, Oklahoma. He was 88. Born Nov. 19, 1931, in Fox, Oklahoma, Lynn was a faithful servant to Baptists and higher education. Prior to his presidency at LC, Lynn served as a chairman of deacons at First Baptist Church in Shawnee, Oklahoma, vice president for administration at Oklahoma Baptist University, and administrative committee member of the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board), according to archived Baptist Message articles. Lynn, who was the sixth president in school history, succeeded G. Earl Guinn. According to a June 5, 1997 article in the Baptist Message, Lynn instituted a strategic planning process for which the college engaged in for five-year periods. During his tenure, almost 85 percent of the five-year goals were met. Additionally, he led the college to unprecedented financial growth. While he was president, the school was never in the red operationally. Lynn also established the President’s Club to recognize donors who gave $1,000 or more to the school in a calendar year. In a 20-year span, beginning in 1976, almost 6,000 … [Read more...]

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