By Baptist Message staff MORGAN CITY, La, (LBM) — Hurricane Francine made landfall as a Category 2 storm Wednesday afternoon in Terrebonne Parish, about 30 miles southwest of Morgan City, according to the National Hurricane Center, and weakened to a Category 1 hurricane two hours after it moved inland. At 4 a.m., Francine was 60 miles north of New Orleans and was headed north toward Jackson, Mississippi, and Memphis, Tennessee. The National Weather Service reported that 4-9 inches had fallen across southeast Louisiana between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesday, prompting flash flood warning to be issued in many areas. A storm surge warning was in effect from Grand Isle to the Mississippi-Alabama border. Recorded wind gusts include 97 mph in Dulac and 105 mph on Eugene Island. More than 388,000 customers in Louisiana were in the dark as of 5:30 a.m. Thursday, according to poweroutage.us. Early reports of damage to churches included Christ Baptist Church, Houma, which lost some of its roof due to high winds; and Celebration Church, Metairie, St. Rose Community Church, and GracePoint Church, Destrehan, which had some flooding inside their facilities. "We're praying for safety for people here in greater New Orleans," Watson said … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – With the Gulf Coast region closely monitoring Francine, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams have activated an incident management team and placed its teams on standby. According to LBDR Strategist Stan Statham, the organization is working with the American Red Cross and Salvation Army to coordinate any needed mass feeding operations and Baptist conventions in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas are on standby to assist Louisiana’s teams. “Pray for that storm to dissipate,” Statham told the Baptist Message. “Obviously, that would be the best thing for everybody involved. Pray, a lot of our own DR volunteers who are in the path of this storm and that makes it even more difficult. Some of our most dedicated folks are in the path of the storm, and the good news is we have a lot of help outside our state available, so that’s a blessing. “Pray for volunteers traveling,” he continued. “And pray that we’re able to secure equipment that we need.” Francine, which formed into a tropical storm Monday morning and the following evening was upgraded to a hurricane, is expected to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane sometime late Wednesday, though forecasters have stressed … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) - The Louisiana Christian University Town Hall meeting scheduled for Sept. 10 in Lake Charles has been postponed because of expected inclement weather associated with Tropical Storm Francine. According to the school's Facebook page, the meeting will be rescheduled for a later date. LCU has hosted Town Hall meetings around the state in August and September to hear from members of the public interested in offering input in the search for the next president and the direction of the school moving forward. The committee continues to receive inputs for the presidential search from a survey developed by LCU’s research department. The survey tool can be accessed at https://lcuniversity.edu/lcu-president-search/. Additionally, the search committee can receive recommendations at: psc@lcuniversity.edu. … [Read more...]

… [Read more...]

… [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff NATCHITOCHES, La. (LBM) – Calvin Phelps, a former Louisiana Baptist Convention president, died Tuesday, Sept. 3. He was 88. A native of Magnolia, Mississippi, Phelps served two terms at Louisiana Baptist Convention president (1988-1989). According to his obituary, Phelps pastored multiple churches during his ministry in Mississippi and Louisiana, including Chalmette Baptist Church; Parkview Baptist Church, Metairie; and First Baptist Church, Winnfield. He also was interim pastor with several churches throughout north and central Louisiana, concluding his ministry at Harmon Baptist Church this year. Phelps was preceded in death by his parents, Talmadge C. Phelps and Faye Louise Simmons Phelps; son, Billy Phelps; and niece, Theresa Phelps. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Katherine "Kat" Burney Phelps; sons, Rusty Phelps (Martha), Benji Phelps, and Jon Phelps (Yukie); grandchildren, Peyton, Walker, Meredith, Kat, Hannah, Emma, and great-granddaughter, Sawyer Ann. He also is survived by his twin brother, Carroll Phelps (Julia Ann). Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of life, Sept. 6 at 1 p.m., at FBC Winnfield. Interment will follow at Garden of Memories … [Read more...]

… [Read more...]