Plans were made during a conference call Aug. 29 for Disaster Relief response in Louisiana, two days before Hurricane Gustav made landfall, and while Hurricane Hanna was still charting an uncertain course. ALEXANDRIA – Plans were made during a conference call Aug. 29 for Disaster Relief response in Louisiana, two days before Hurricane Gustav made landfall, and while Hurricane Hanna was still charting an uncertain course. The call included all 40 state/regional convention SBC Disaster Relief directors, American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and the North American Mission Board Disaster Relief leaders. According to notes taken at that meeting, the American Red Cross planned an “initial wave” of 100,000 volunteers to Louisiana, 30,000 to Mississippi and 20,000 to Alabama. “Staging talks have begun with states,” reported ARC’s Scott Meyer. A bit later in the conversation he asked for the feeding unit directors to be onsite at their assigned locations by Aug. 30.  “Sites are picked out and cleared from Slidell to Sulphur,” reported Gibbie McMillan, Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Disaster Relief director. “Donnie Kimbell will be serving with ARC as liaison and will be onsite Sunday. David Abernathy will be Incident … [Read more...]

The Louisiana Baptist Convention communications team in September worked together to produce 10 video/audio reports of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. LBC Communications provided video coverage of Gustav and Ike ALEXANDRIA – The Louisiana Baptist Convention communications team in September worked together to produce 10 video/audio reports of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.  See them at http://www.lbc.org/crisisresponse/.  “The videos brought right to my computer monitor the drama and tragedy of Gustav and of Ike, and the evidence of God’s provision even in the dark times after the storms,” said Karen Willoughby, managing editor of the Louisiana Baptist Message.  “It made me proud to see with my own eyes how Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers got busy serving God by serving people when I saw first-hand – because of the videos – how quickly and effectively our Disaster Relief volunteers get to work after a natural disaster,” Willoughby added. “Viewing these videos even now will be a blessing and inspiration to you.”  Media Production Specialist Danny Nation produced the video segments, with field footage from Missions Media Specialist Stacey Billger, script-writing from Communications Director John Yeats, graphic … [Read more...]

Scores of churches in southern Louisiana have been damaged as a result of hurricanes Gustav and Ike. These churches are in desperate need of assistance to clean-up, fix-up, and in some cases, totally rebuild. To offer assistance to these churches, please contact the corresponding associational office. SOUTHERN LOUISIANA – Scores of churches in southern Louisiana have been damaged as a result of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. These churches are in desperate need of assistance to clean-up, fix-up, and in some cases, totally rebuild. To offer assistance to these churches, please contact the corresponding associational office. The following are preliminary assessments as of Sept. 18 of the major damage to church buildings from hurricanes Gustav – Sept. 1 – and Ike – Sept. 13. The sources of information are from pastors, the respective directors of missions and LBC regional strategists. Bayou Baptist Association, DOM: Joe Arnold 985.868.7352; bayoubaptistassn@bellsouth.net Bayou DuLarge – Massive flooding superficial damage to church buildings, need support Bethel – Roof damage and flooded building, mold and mildew on pews, no insurance Calvary – Sign damaged, roof damage Christ – Significant roof damage with damage … [Read more...]

Bayou Baptist Association Grand  Caillou Baptist Church DULAC – This week, in the aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, 20 volunteers from Grand Caillou Baptist Church served more than 2,200 hot meals from the church parking lot, gave out 700 gallons of bleach, plus several hundred cases of water and ice.  “Many of the people in our community have made great progress at getting all of the mud out of their homes. It is a little depressing to drive down the highway and see all of their furniture and belongings along the roadway,” Pastor Marcel McGee said. “We are expecting the first of the volunteer groups to come into our area to help with mud-out this weekend.  Our church will be a base for work groups for months to come.  “Our church was built for such a time as this,” McGee said. “Our church parking lot, bathrooms, and facilities were constructed with disaster relief in mind. “This has been a great time of ministry for our church. We have given out over 600 New Testament Bibles, tracts, pamphlets, etc.  It has been very encouraging to see some people thumbing through the Bible while they are waiting in the lines to get supplies. “We have listened to people tell their stories about the devastation they have … [Read more...]

Emmanuel Baptist Church in Shreveport will honor Yvonne Douglas for her 50 years of dedicated service as church organist on Sunday, Oct. 12 Organist celebrates 50 years with Emmanuel Baptist SHREVEPORT – Emmanuel Baptist Church in Shreveport will honor Yvonne Douglas  for her 50 years of dedicated service as church organist on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 10:45 a.m.  The service will include special music and tributes to Mrs. Douglas for her contributions during her many years with the church.  She will be honored with a luncheon immediately following the morning worship hour.  Her service includes faithful attendance at the organ,  helping coordinate many weddings, helping with the youth ministries, participating and helping with dramas, and participating in the church’s handbell ministry.   … [Read more...]

COMINGS AND GOINGS - Mitchell B. (wife DeAnna) Minson, new as pastor, First Baptist, Lake Providence from Wade, North Carolina. - Noah Langley, new as interim pastor, Teche Baptist, Breaux Bridge. - Dennis Allen, retires as pastor, First Baptist, Baker. - Dusty Carson, new as associate pastor of youth and recreation, First Baptist, Vidalia.  NEEDED - Full-time executive pastor at Parkview Baptist, Baton Rouge. Send resume to PO Box 40712, Baton Rouge LA 70835-0712. - Part-time youth minister and part-time music minister needed at Westside Baptist, Bogalusa. Call 985.516.4081.  ANNIVERSARIES AND CELEBRATIONS - MONTEREY – First Baptist: 55th Anniversary Celebration 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 Fish Fry; 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 5; Jim Twilbeck, speaker; Lowery Herrington, music; Gloria Herrington, guest pianist; covered dish lunch; Gene Lee, pastor. - COVINGTON – New Zion Baptist: Homecoming Celebration 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 5 Dwayne Boudreaux, speaker; Toby Hughes, minister of music; Jake Roudkovski, interim pastor. -JONESVILLE – Ouachita Baptist Association Homecoming Celebration at Utility Baptist 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9; Ken Gilmore, director of missions. REVIVALS - KENTWOOD – First Baptist: … [Read more...]

The Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee unanimously passed a recommendation Sept. 23 giving pre-approval for any SBC entity to transfer funds to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to assist in its ongoing recovery from Hurricane Katrina. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee unanimously passed a recommendation Sept. 23 giving pre-approval for any SBC entity to transfer funds to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to assist in its ongoing recovery from Hurricane Katrina. The action was taken in reference to Article XVI of the SBC’s Business and Financial Plan. New Orleans Seminary President Chuck Kelley told the EC’s Cooperative Program subcommittee earlier in the day that rising costs in insurance and utilities have made recovering from Katrina more costly than initially envisioned. Kelley had requested that the subcommittee recommend approval of a special allocation of $500,000 out of all Cooperative Program overage funds, but the subcommittee declined and instead recommended that any CP overages be distributed according to the regular distribution formula to the entities, who then can decide how much, if any, to give to the seminary. The Executive … [Read more...]

International Mission Board trustees have approved the most extensive strategic changes in a decade to help Southern Baptist missionaries and churches multiply their results in reaching the world’s lost peoples. ATLANTA (BP)--International Mission Board trustees have approved the most extensive strategic changes in a decade to help Southern Baptist missionaries and churches multiply their results in reaching the world’s lost peoples. At their Sept. 8-10 meeting in Atlanta, the trustees revised the mission board’s vision, mission and core values statements – and gave the green light to a major reorganization aimed at maximizing missionary effectiveness, simplifying overseas administration and increasing the direct involvement of Southern Baptists and their churches in missions. “Our world is changing and we must continue to change with it,” IMB President Jerry Rankin said. “Ten years ago we began to formulate a vision of mobilization. Now the passion and commitment of churches to be directly involved in the Great Commission is rapidly expanding and we must leverage this massive response for impacting lostness around the world.” The changes, proposed by a joint trustee-staff task force, will unfold over the next year. … [Read more...]

Besides the mammoth Southern Baptist disaster relief response mounted in Louisiana and Texas after Hurricane Ike, several Baptist state conventions also have deployed volunteers in their own backyards – even as far inland as Ohio. CINCINNATI, Ohio (BP) – Besides the mammoth Southern Baptist disaster relief response mounted in Louisiana and Texas after Hurricane Ike, several Baptist state conventions also have deployed volunteers in their own backyards –  even as far inland as Ohio. “It was the perfect storm here in the Cincinnati area,” said Dennis Holmes, associational missionary for the Baptist Association of Greater Cincinnati. “When the remnants of Hurricane Ike met up with a cold front, it was the perfect condition. It was worse than any ice storm.” Holmes said winds spiked at 84 mph, felling trees by the dozens and knocking power out for more than 1 million people –  800,000 of them in Cincinnati alone. “Most of the wind came through Cincinnati, Columbus, Lebanon and into the Dayton area,” said Duane Floro, ministry evangelism strategist for the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio. “Some are still without power.” Floro said disaster relief chainsaw teams were activated east of Cincinnati and, because recovery … [Read more...]

Every 30 seconds, a child in Africa dies of malaria. HORN OF AFRICA (BP) – Every 30 seconds, a child in Africa dies of malaria. But it doesn’t have to happen. Malaria often can be prevented. When that’s not possible, malaria can be treated. And it can be done simply and inexpensively. In one rural area of the Horn of Africa, Southern Baptists are helping with a project that aims to greatly reduce the number of people who suffer from malaria by using a simple remedy that can be readily available, even in the most remote areas. Drawing on a little more than $10,000 from the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund, local believers and Southern Baptist field partners are distributing starts of Artemisia annua, a plant that has proven effective in treating malaria when its dried leaves are brewed as a tea. Use of Artemisia to treat fever dates back more than 17 centuries to ancient China. “This area has a population of more than 4 million people and one of the highest incidence rates of malaria in the whole country,” said William Arnold, a development worker who is a field partner of Baptist Global Response, a Southern Baptist international relief and development organization. “Because the area is so rural, 60 percent of … [Read more...]