By Message Staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) - Churches may now hold outdoor worship services but still must adhere to proper social distancing guidelines, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Thursday. During his daily news conference, Edwards said tent services also are an option, but warned that flaps must not be released to form an enclosed space. He also emphasized that families should maintain a distance of six feet from others and that masks should be worn at all times; and, he urged anyone with a chronic medical condition and those 65 years or older not to attend. “We again believe that those individuals per the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidance and the department of health guidelines here in Louisiana wear a mask,” Edwards said. “And then we would ask that those churches take special precautions about communing service and other parts of the services that would typically bring people within close proximity with one another and to make alternative arrangements for that.” Edwards said the Louisiana Department of Health and the state Fire Marshal’s Office will provide more guidance on Friday. The announcement came hours after state Attorney General Jeff Landry said he sent a letter asking the … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) -- The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) approved Louisiana College as a “Course Choice Provider” of dual enrollment courses for college credit for eligible Louisiana high school students. “We are pleased with this acknowledgement as a preferred provider for remote learning,” said Louisiana College President Rick Brewer. “We have a growing family of public, private, and homeschools, and this accolade we hope will move others to discover the excellence we offer.” Another advantage is that Louisiana College provides a superior option for high school education if the pandemic provisos continue into the fall semester, Brewer added. Tioga High School (THS) in Tioga is on board for its second stint with Louisiana College this fall. “My interactions with the students have been excellent,” said Kathleen McGinty-Johnston, who is the Louisiana College online instructor for THS. “I taught a hybrid class there, and I saw the students at least once a week.” The COVID-19 pandemic pre-empted McGinty-Johnston’s visits to THS before the spring semester’s end. Visiting the school “lets me get to know the students better as individuals and allows them to see me as a teacher … [Read more...]

By Message Staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Gov. John Bel Edwards has extended his stay-at-home order through May 15, modifying it slightly but not lifting restrictions against public gatherings such as on-campus church services. During a news conference, Edwards announced that starting May 1 restaurants are allowed to permit customers to eat outdoors on patios but that there cannot be any table service. Similarly, shopping malls may operate curbside retail service, but workers who engage with customers must wear masks. Edwards said the decision was based upon data from the Louisiana Department of Health showing that on average new cases and hospitalizations have decreased statewide, but that there were still some areas of concern. Out of the nine regions in the state, Acadiana, Baton Rouge and Monroe have seen an increase in cases, and the Northshore has seen a plateau. Additionally, Baton Rouge and Monroe also have seen increases in hospitalizations and Shreveport-Bossier and the Southwest regions have seen a plateau. “Thanks to the commitment of the people of Louisiana, our state has made progress in flattening the curve and reducing the spread of the novel coronavirus,” Edwards said. “Unfortunately, we still have a little … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Foundation Board of Trustees has announced Jeffrey Steed as the ninth executive director of the organization. “It’s an honor to serve Louisiana Baptists,” Steed told the Baptist Message. “I have a passion for the work of the foundation that partners in ministry with churches and Baptists around the state to help advance the Kingdom.” The announcement followed a unanimous vote by the board of directors after careful consideration of Steed's nomination by a search committee comprised of board members and chaired by Pat LaCour, and a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. Steed succeeds Wayne Taylor, who retires as the foundation’s executive director in May. LaCour said Steed’s qualifications set him apart from a number of qualified applicants. “He has worked for two other Baptist foundations over the past two decades,” she said. “He has a heart for working with churches and for planned giving in support of Baptist causes. We look forward to working with him.” Bill Cunningham, president of the board and a member of Norris Ferry Community Church in Shreveport, added his strong approval. “We are most impressed with … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) — A photo of a woman in apparent pain and being transported by ambulance from an abortion clinic has raised concerns that an abortion clinic in New Orleans is operating despite a statewide ban on non-essential and non-emergency medical procedures. The incident could be further evidence of the need for Act 620, a state law being argued by the Louisiana Attorney General Office before the U.S. Supreme Court, that would require abortionists to obtain admitting privileges with a local hospital in case of complications for the woman patient during or after an abortion. In November last year a woman endured a botched abortion at a Baton Rouge abortion clinic and the complications resulted in her having to undergo a total hysterectomy. Her emergency surgery was cited as evidence in support of Act 620 during oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in March. DISTURBING IMAGE Louisiana Right to Life posted the photo on April 21 and noted that the woman had been taken by stretcher from the Women’s Health Care Center in New Orleans. Ben Clapper, executive director for the pro-life organization, said that ongoing abortions there and at the other two facilities, … [Read more...]

Volunteers from the Washington Baptist Association and Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief, handed out 41 care packages to residents of Westminster Woods apartment complex in Bogalusa on Thursday, April 23. Hygiene products, grocery items, a Bible and information about the Louisiana Baptist Convention prayer line were among the items distributed. The prayer line is operational 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at 800.410.3492. Those who participated were Patrick Magee, pastor at Main Street Baptist Church in Bogulsa and compassion strategist for the Baptist Associations of Southeast Louisiana, and his wife, Rebeca; Greg Whaley, pastor at First Baptist Church in Bogalusa; Mark Morelock, pastor at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Bogalusa; Davey Daniels, youth pastor at Mount Pleasant Baptist; and Keith Sheridan, pastor at Lee’s Creek Baptist Church in Bogalusa. … [Read more...]

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)--Three days after tornadoes and violent thunderstorms wreaked havoc in eastern and northern Louisiana, more tornadoes, swept through these regions, again, damaging buildings and causing one death, Wednesday, April 22. Among the hardest hit areas was Rapides Parish, where the violent weather claimed the life of a woman in Lecompte on Robinson Ridge Road. according to KALB. In this part of the parish, large trees were uprooted, roofs were blown off houses and power lines were downed. On the Louisiana State University of Alexandria campus, high winds destroyed parts of the roof and a section of cinder block wall of a facility which is part of the Agricultural Center. Other nearby buildings were extensively impacted, too. The school posted an update on its Facebook page, saying there was "damage to DeWitt Livestock building and a camper flipped over. The Oaks (apartments) and students are ok, but no power on campus.” AROUND THE STATE The City of Mansfield also experienced a storm-related fatality. KSLA-TV in Shreveport reported that a man was trying to retrieve his garbage can and fell into a flooded canal off Gibbs Street. His body was recovered about 50 yards … [Read more...]