By Message Staff KINGWOOD, Texas – Fresh off a three-day disaster relief trip to the Houston suburb of Kingwood, Texas, Kirk Jones took away something valuable he said Louisianans can offer to those residents whose homes flooded. “Show up,” said Jones, pastor of Fellowship Church in Prairieville. “It meant the world to those families we helped that we were there. One homeowner we knew told me how worried he was and when he heard we were coming, he said there’s my Louisiana army. He then knew everything was going to be alright.” Jones spent Thursday evening, Aug. 31, through Saturday afternoon, Sept. 2, alongside fellow members of Prairieville Church helping families gut out their homes so they can in turn begin the process of rebuilding the inside of their home. Two families were connected to Fellowship. One a former member and the other a life-long friend of Jones' whose parents helped start Fellowship Church. In addition to helping gut homes, Jones was able to pray with various homeowners. “Sometimes they got emotionally overwhelmed when I was praying with them,” Jones recalled. “It’s a great reminder that people are not just with you but God is with you. It’s one of those places that you can be Jesus with skin on … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist churches heed Trump’s call for national day of prayer
By Message Staff On a day when President Donald Trump called for a special national day of prayer to remember Hurricane Harvey victims and recovery efforts, Louisiana Baptist churches responded with times of prayer at their worship services Sunday, Sept. 3. “We give thanks for the generosity and goodness of all those who have responded to the needs of their fellow Americans,” Trump said in his proclamation that he signed Sept. 1. “I urge Americans of all faiths and religious traditions and backgrounds to offer prayers today for all those harmed by Hurricane Harvey, including people who have lost family members or been injured, those who have lost homes or other property, and our first responders, law enforcement officers, military personnel, and medical professionals leading the response and recovery efforts. “Each of us, in our own way, may call upon our God for strength and comfort during this difficult time,” continued Trump, who attended a service Sunday morning at St. John’s Church, an Episcopal church in Washington, D.C. “I call on all Americans and houses of worship throughout the Nation to join in one voice of prayer, as we seek to uplift one another and assist those suffering from the consequences of this … [Read more...]
Online, onsite disaster relief training sessions now available for Harvey response
By Message Staff As the floodwaters from what was once Hurricane Harvey recede in the coming days and weeks, Louisiana Baptists State Disaster Relief Director Gibbie McMillan is urging as many people as possible to complete training now. Those who have yet to be trained to serve on a disaster relief team can do so by visiting the disaster relief website. A brief online training session can also be completed there. Several training sessions are scheduled in the state. These include: Chaplaincy training Sept. 5, 8 a.m. to noon Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge office, 10560 Airline Hwy., Baton Rouge. RSVP by email to domstan@basela.org Mud-out training Sept. 6, 9:30 a.m. to noon The New Orleans Baptist Association office, 2222 Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans Chaplaincy training Sept. 6, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The New Orleans Baptist Association office, 2222 Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans … [Read more...]
Prayer service brings Christ’s hope inside Alexandria Mega Shelter
By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA – A group of pastors brought the hope of Christ inside the LSU AgCenter mega-shelter to more than 1,000 Hurricane Harvey evacuees Friday, Sept. 1. Five pastors offered words of encouragement inside the mega-shelter on the campus of LSU-Alexandria while lay people set up booths in the parking lot outside to pray with anyone interested. Held in the lobby of the building, participants also sang and heard from Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy, Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields and Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton. Nathan Martin, pastor of Christian Challenge Worship Center in Pineville, received a call from the Rapides Parish Sheriff's around 4 p.m. Thursday requesting they hold the multi-denominational prayer service. While media and the public were not allowed inside, Martin shared with the Baptist Message that the presence of the Holy Spirit was powerful during the prayer service. “Things began a bit chaotically at the beginning,” Martin said to pastors who participated after the service concluded. “It seemed like we were voices speaking into a waterfall. But as our time went on, more and more people were engaged in what was being shared, and by the end of the service ... well, you … [Read more...]
Noah’s Ark Flood Relief seeks donations to fill trailer for Texas
PINEVILLE – Noah’s Ark Flood Relief, a coalition of 10 central Louisiana churches, is seeking donations to fill up at least an 18-wheeler by Monday for delivery to neighborhoods in Kingwood, Texas. Formed out of a response to help those impacted by last year's historic flooding in Denham Springs, Noah’s Ark Flood Relief is collecting items people may have lost when Hurricane Harvey came through their area. Sheryl Craig, spokesperson for the organization, said they hope the effort is an encouragement to those suffering. “Christ’s commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves,” Craig said. “Today is someone else’s turn to experience difficulties but tomorrow may be my turn. It’s about people coming together to help people in need.” Donations, with the exception of clothing, will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sept. 15 at Trinity Baptist Church, 3905 Trinity Church Road in Pineville. The organization hopes to fill up a second truck by mid-September. For more information on donating items or volunteering with Noah’s Ark Flood Relief, call 201.8218. … [Read more...]
LC football player springs into action to help Harvey victims
By Message Staff A Louisiana College football player has established a campaign to benefit those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Since Wednesday, Zac Barrient, a senior wide receiver from Mandeville, has worked tirelessly to raise money and promote the Wildcat Football Relief Handoff that will benefit families in Katy, Texas. Barrient and four other teammates plan to drive a U-Haul truck filled with donated food and water to Katy Sept. 8, which is during the only bye week of the season for the Wildcats. Donations for food and water will be collected at LC's Sept. 1 and Sept. 4 soccer matches at 3 p.m. and 11 a.m. respectively, as well as during the football game Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. Barrient also is accepting donations at other times of the week until Thursday, Sept. 7. Impacted by last year's rainfall event in south Louisiana, Barrient said he can relate to what residents of Texas are experiencing. "I didn't want to do something that was all talk and no action," Barrient said. "When this situation came up, I was talking with a teammate from Katy who knew many of the people affected. I said if somebody is going to do something, why couldn't I be that someone." For more information about donating to Wildcat Football Relief … [Read more...]
Churches’ ‘pack-a-purse’ drive ministers to women
By Message Staff Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in DeRidder and HIS Church in Pineville are collecting purses packed with toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, baby wipes, insect repellant, feminine hygiene products, brush, comb, shampoo, conditioner, hand sanitizer, lotion, lip balm or lipstick, $5, a personal note from the sender for women impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Since posting the announcement on its Facebook page Wednesday night, Pleasant Hill Baptist has received inquiries from throughout the U.S. Organizer Susan Wilson said the post has reached more than 216,000 by this morning and expects that number to grow. "A woman's purse is where she keeps evidence of her life, similar to a man's wallet but so much more," Wilson said. "A purse not only holds ID and monetary cards but items used to care for herself and others like Kleenex, peppermint, clippers and toys, as well as precious things of life like pictures, tokens of love from others. We are trying to give them a small piece of normalcy back in their life and praying it gives them hope. " The church begins accepting the purses and contents this Sunday and will continue to do so until Sept. 10. They will soon determine exact locations for delivery. Meanwhile, … [Read more...]
Lafayette youngster, family return the love, generosity to Harvey victims
By Message Staff LAFAYETTE - Three-year-old Carter Hornsby spent an unscheduled day off from school Aug. 30 in a special way - delivering bags of pillows to First Baptist Church in Lafayette for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. He was beaming with excitement as he handed the pillows and other items to Pastor Steve Horn. For the youngster, the pillows held a special memory. In late August 2016 the family's Lafayette home was flooded. It was during their first night inside a temporary apartment the family realized they did not have any pillows on hand. His mom, Monica, said the gesture of helping those impacted by Harvey was a great opportunity for Carter and his brother to experience what others did for them in their time of need. "As we were buying supplies to help others, loading pillows into our basket was especially memorable," she said. "To think that many don't have the option of going to the store to get basic needs due to the flooding is heart wrenching. "My boys do not understand the impact of this tragedy, but they do understand the generosity of people and the church meeting needs because of what others did for us and what we are now having the opportunity to do," she continued. "We prayed over … [Read more...]
Louisiana Baptist churches appear to have escaped damage from Harvey
By Message Staff Tropical Depression Harvey appears to have left Louisiana Baptist churches without any structural damages. As of Thursday, Aug. 31, no Louisiana Baptist churches had reported damage from a storm that wreaked havoc on nearly 750 Southern Baptist churches in Texas since Harvey made landfall in the Lone Star State Friday, Aug. 25. However, at least one pastor’s home took in water. Jerry Key, pastor of New Life Baptist Church in DeRidder, reported that his home took in a few inches of water come inside his home off Vernon Lake in Leesville. He said since water got into one room on the lower level, they are staying on the second floor in the house. “We had minimal flood damage but would cherish the prayers for the clean up,” Key said. “Hopefully the water will go down soon so we can begin drying out.” Meanwhile, Vernon Baptist Association Director of Missions Morris Goins was forced to evacuate from his home off Anacoco Lake late Wednesday evening after a Vernon Parish Police Juror knocked on his door and advised him to leave. He stayed the remainder of the night at the association office. “We just gathered up our things and left,” Goins said. “We still had the lights on and are waiting to see what … [Read more...]
Denham Springs church teams up with Cajun Navy for boat rescues of nearly 200 in Texas
By Message Staff HUMBLE, Texas – As Joshua Drummond watched in horror last weekend floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey engulf entire communities in Texas, he couldn’t sit idle. By Sunday, Aug. 27, Drummond and others from Christ’s Community Church in Denham Springs organized a trip to join hundreds of members of the Cajun Navy in rescuing Texans trapped by the raging waters of Harvey. Over the course of their three-day mission, they helped rescue nearly 200 people from a neighborhood in Humble, Texas, including residents of a nursing home. Though they worked long days, Drummond said the effort allowed him to show the love of Christ to those needing hope. “With all of the devastation around, just take a second to watch and you will see the true nature of people,” Drummond said shortly after returning from Texas. “It truly brings out the best in everyone. “The nursing home rescue was amazing,” he continued. “People answered the call in force. When we showed up to the area there was a few boats and by the time we left there were over 100. People were lined up waiting to help transport patients and supplies. With all the chaos it actually went pretty smooth.” The rescues came a year after many volunteers from Texas … [Read more...]
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