By Message Staff MONROE, La. (LBM)–Louisiana Baptists have continued to help homeowners whose homes were damaged by a tornado that touched down in Monroe-West Monroe Sunday, April 12. Disaster relief teams from Rolling Hills Ministries in Ruston and Cedar Crest Baptist Church in West Monroe, as well as volunteers from First Baptist Church in West Monroe and Temple Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church in Ruston have cleared debris from 12 homes in the area through Wednesday, April 15. Two other groups also are assisting: Minutemen Disaster Response, a non-profit response team in McKinney, Texas; and, Samaritan’s Purse, a non-denominational humanitarian aid organization founded by evangelist Franklin Graham. Volunteers also prayed with the homeowners at each site. According to Brandon Rodgers, media and communications director for First Baptist Church in West Monroe, spent much of Wednesday helped remove debris from the Lazarre Park area of West Monroe and also in areas of south Monroe, two of the hardest hit sections from the tornado. Nearly 300 homes were hit in Monroe and Ouachita Parish, and the Monroe Regional Airport received an estimated $30 million in damage. Michael Wood, lead pastor at First West, … [Read more...]

By Message Staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) - Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge recently gave gifts to medical personnel at area hospitals, providing fuel for the body and soul for each recipient. Members distributed 400 snack packs throughout the week of April 13-17 to workers at Women’s Hospital, Our Lady of the Lake and two locations of Baton Rouge General Hospital. Included in each kit were healthy snacks and spiritually-encouraging notes and cards created by adults and children at Istrouma. Terry Bracey, director of missions at Istrouma, said the response was uplifting. “We received replies through text and Facebook messages,” Bracey told the Baptist Message. “We may never truly know just how we touched and encouraged those who received the gifts.“ The effort is one of many ways Istrouma, which averaged around 2,000 in early March at its Baton Rouge and Prairieville, has helped minister to the community. Last week, members filled up a truckload of food for delivery this week to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and to needy families of school children – and they plan to make this an ongoing ministry. “I love how our church thinks outside the box, using creative ideas to minister to and stay connected with … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews)—Louisiana College is ready for its Preview Day on April 17. But the commute has changed from a drive to the Pineville campus to a reach for the phone. Virtual Preview Day begins at noon with technology effortlessly transporting interested students and parents to the information needed for exploring the award-winning campus, hearing from professors and students, and gathering financial aid information. “Our virtual Preview Day is one among many adjustments we have made in response to the pandemic,” said Louisiana College President Dr. Rick Brewer. “I am grateful for the technology that will enable me to engage with new people and talk about what makes us unique among peer institutions.” Visitors may engage in a live Q and A session via web chat, as well as experience a virtual tour of the campus, gain details about classes and degree majors from professors, and view videos of current students sharing why they chose Louisiana College for their undergraduate degree. “Our students consistently say how much they value personal attention from their professors and the sense of a close-knit family,” Brewer said. “Parents also appreciate our commitment to traditional family … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – The Louisiana State University Baptist Collegiate Ministry has implemented a “Meals to Go” program that provides international students with rice, noodles, cans of vegetables, cans of canned meat, peanut butter, jelly and snacks, to help them during the COVID-19 ordeal. “There are over a million international students attending colleges and universities in the US, including 1,500 at LSU, and many were unable to go home, are stuck in their apartments and are facing financial hardships,” BCM Director Steve Masters told the Baptist Message. “We feel like we should try to help them and are asking other people to join us. We are providing them with food.” The effort began when an international student texted Masters with a plea for help. While the BCM did not have funding to assist individual students, Masters found money to place in an envelope that was picked up eight minutes later outside the BCM building. Masters, his wife, Pam, Associate Director Haley Spell and Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge Director of Missions Tommy Middleton then came up with a plan. Since the effort began on April 7, the feedback has been overwhelmingly … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews)--Responding to pandemic-induced financial strains, Louisiana College will offer free tuition to eligible, incoming freshmen through its newly established Governor Jimmie Davis Scholarship. Louisiana College’s President Dr. Rick Brewer made the announcement on KALB-TV’s Good Day Cenla morning program, April 13. “We recognize the Coronavirus impact has curtailed and even stopped certain activities in our state,” Brewer said in an interview prior to the show. “But we do not intend to stop offering the quality liberal arts education that has typified the College since 1906.” Travel restrictions and social distancing advisories prompted Louisiana College to shift its curricula to online, remote learning on March 30 – a move facilitated by a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Brewer told Good Day Cenla host Mark Hamblen the pandemic accentuates the need “to make a college education accessible and affordable” for families especially in these challenging times. Named in honor of two-time governor of Louisiana, the Governor Jimmie Davis Scholarship honors “our emblematic, most famous alum,” Brewer said. Davis completed his undergraduate degree at … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message, executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)—The Baptist Message has suspended print operations until the state lifts the stay-at-home order that is creating an economic strain on individuals and churches. The decision, announced by Executive Editor Will Hall, was supported by the officers of the Baptist Message trustee board. All subscriptions will be honored by extending the dates of each equal to the length of the suspension of the print edition. Online operations will continue, www.BaptistMessage.com, with updates during the day as news happens. Subscribers may contact Hall regarding any questions or to offer comments, by phone, (318) 449-4348, or by email, Will@BaptistMessage.com. … [Read more...]

By LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews)--These are difficult days for families, businesses, schools, and churches. And Louisiana College has adjusted to meet the challenges. “Louisiana College’s administration, faculty, staff, and students face similar situations as everyone else, and we have employed good sense while praying for God’s wisdom in navigating these waters,” said Louisiana College President Dr. Rick Brewer. “Our people have worked tirelessly to safeguard the health and well-being of our campus family, and my hat is off to all of them,” Brewer said. “Most students have returned home, and only necessary staff remain on campus. Other staff members are teleworking.” In coping with what some are calling the new normal, Brewer summarized in a letter to Louisiana College faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders the measures enacted in response to COVID-19. “Rest assured, Louisiana College remains open. We also remain open-minded in looking for ways to enhance current efforts or add new ones,” Brewer said. Louisiana College postponed its May 9 Commencement to August 8. Other actions include: STUDENT HEALTH On March 30, LC launched Campus.Health, which offers free medical and mental telehealth visits for … [Read more...]

By Message Staff NEW IBERIA, La. (LBM) – Just days before Easter, members of Highland Baptist Church and others in New Iberia have placed wooden crosses in yards to proclaim Christ’s victory over death. Using materials from their homes, participants have constructed the crosses to display in yards and then have shared a photo on Facebook using the hashtag #projectcross. “This has grown far beyond our church family,” Pastor David Denton told the Baptist Message. “We used this to prepare for Easter week and to remain connected. Judging from the comments we have received, Project Cross has been something that everyone has really embraced leading up Thursday evening when we take the Lord’s Supper online.” The effort is one of many ways the church has continued to minister since the Coronavirus Disease 2019 forced congregations to change their methods. They have streamed services for the past four Sundays on Facebook and posted daily devotionals from staff. Additionally, members have met in small groups through Zoom and viewed an adult Sunday school lesson online. Other ministry opportunities have included outreach to families by the deacons and staff, and distribution of more than 250 breakfasts to-go to local … [Read more...]