NEW ORLEANS – At least three Southern Baptist pastors were rescued from their attics last September by First Responders activated even as Katrina was bearing down on the port city. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor NEW ORLEANS – At least three Southern Baptist pastors were rescued from their attics last September by First Responders activated even as Katrina was bearing down on the port city. The Southern Baptist chaplain at University Hospital was rescued too. And so were countless thousands of members and attenders of the region’s 154 Southern Baptist churches and missions. “Many of our [Louisiana] troopers were separated from their families; some didn’t know where their families had been evacuated to, but they were continually on the line, getting people to a safe place,” said Cherry Blackwell, member at Williams Boulevard Baptist Church, which opened its facilities to First Responders from early September to nearly Thanksgiving. “We even had some National Guardsmen who had just returned from Iraq and were here instead of with their families,” Blackwell said. “We want to say ‘Thank you’ for the personal sacrifices they made.” To say ‘Thank you’ in a meaningful way, Louisiana Baptists … [Read more...]

FERRIDAY – While on a late Saturday afternoon drive I spied a carefully tended church that had a fully-paved parking lot, which made me curious. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor FERRIDAY – While on a late Saturday afternoon drive I spied a carefully tended church that had a fully-paved parking lot, which made me curious. I liked the idea of spending time with folks who were so particular about the appearance of their church, and I wanted to know if some rich person had donated the parking lot, or how did it happen to get paved? So I drove back Sunday morning and was about 30 minutes early for the worship service at St. James Baptist, a rural church not even a stone’s throw from the Frogmore Plantation tourist attraction. Adults were meeting for Sunday School in the worship center; two children’s classes were meeting at opposite ends of the square fellowship hall. The younger class was learning – amazingly quietly even in their vocalizations and rhythms – the importance of being genuine in your praise of God. Children from both classes began to either read or recite what they had learned to adults sitting in church while standing under framed copies of the Church Covenant and the Ten … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE – During the April 3 meeting of the Louisiana College board of trustees, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention presented the institution with a $100,000 gift. PINEVILLE – During the April 3 meeting of the Louisiana College board of trustees, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention presented the institution with a $100,000 gift. “We’re tremendously moved and thrilled at the compassion of the Southern Baptists of Texas and express our heartfelt gratitude,” Louisiana College President Joe Aguillard told the Baptist Message. “The funds are not only greatly appreciated but will be wisely utilized to carry forth the mission of this institution.” Like most Louisiana Baptist churches and entities, Louisiana College has felt the impact financially of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The SBTC awarded the gift to Louisiana College because of “a loss of revenue through the Louisiana Baptist Convention Cooperative Program shortfall and from other sources directly impacted by these natural disasters,” according to a resolution passed by the SBTC Executive Committee during its March 24 board meeting in Grapevine, Texas. “Louisiana College has continued to perform admirable ministry and services through a … [Read more...]

GREENVILLE, S.C. (BP) – Everything Mountain Creek Baptist Church does is connected in some way with the Cooperative Program. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor GREENVILLE, S.C. (BP) – Everything Mountain Creek Baptist Church does is connected in some way with the Cooperative Program. “The Cooperative Program is what being a New Testament church is all about,” said David Shirley, pastor of the Greenville, S.C., congregation. “Acts 2 talks about helping those in need. The better you work together, the more people you can help.... “We want to do our part, but the Cooperative Program doesn’t start with us and it doesn’t end with us,” Shirley noted. “We’re just a part of it, a part of the way God is using Southern Baptists to reach out and touch people around the world.” Mountain Creek gives 11 percent of its members’ undesignated offerings to missions through the Cooperative Program and another 4 percent to local missions through its association. Church members also go on several mission trips each year. In May they’re set to go to Hungary and in June to Thailand. Also in June and again in July, they’ll be going back to New Orleans for the fourth and fifth times to help Iglesia Bautista … [Read more...]

WOODWORTH – Allen Clark remembers all too well the havoc Hurricane Katrina caused to South Louisiana. By Brian Blackwell Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Allen Clark remembers all too well the havoc Hurricane Katrina caused to South Louisiana. Clark’s New Orleans home was left seven feet underwater when the storm flooded the city Aug. 29, leaving him without many necessities. On April 1 at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth, Clark joined 300 other students from Louisiana’s 25 Baptist Collegiate Ministries as they brought hope to Hurricane Katrina victims. The students constructed ten 8 by 10 ft. storage sheds for victims of Katrina in New Orleans as part of a two-day Collegiate Leadership Conference. “This not only was a way to develop and strengthen our leadership qualities, but a way to help Katrina victims like myself,” said Tracy, a senior at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. “And this was a way to show the love of Christ to those in need.” State BCM Director John Moore said the project was different from previous years, which normally included guest speakers and seminars. This year, Moore said the students participated in a hands-on missions project and put their leadership skills into … [Read more...]

Week of April 10, 2006 By Rhonda Havens Section Editor Potpourri LAKE CHARLES – Sale Street church: Testify in concert; April 23, 6: 30 p.m.; Eddie Simmons, pastor. DRY CREEK – Dry Creek camp:  “Be Still and Know That I Am God” ladies’ retreat; April 28, 5 p.m. - April 29, after lunch; Phyllis Elvington, guest speaker; Sandra Gray, music; $50 per person, $35 for commuters, $20 for one day; to register, call (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager. DENHAM SPRINGS – Riverside church:  Dan Holcomb, guest speaker; April 30, 10:15 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Larry A. Hubbard, pastor. PINEVILLE – Pineville Park church: The Harrells in concert; April 23, 5:30 p.m.; Gregory R. Carroll, pastor. MONROE – Loch Arbor church:  “Growing in Grace” women’s conference; April 29, 8:15 a.m.-3 p.m.; Suzanne Grigsby, guest speaker; $25 per person/includes continental breakfast, lunch and child care;  registration deadline April 29; for registration information, call the church at (318) 343-1558 or call Melinda Davis at (318) 366-1768 or Andy Myrick, pastor, at (318) 355-2690. DENHAM SPRINGS – Hebron church: “Redemption- The Power of the Cross” musical; April 23, 6 p.m.; Destry McFearin, music minister; Joe Alain, … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – Master Trooper Chris Maurin brought his two daughters and state trooper girlfriend Karen Billiot to the April 8 First Responders event at the New Orleans Arena hosted by churches in the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor NEW ORLEANS – Master Trooper Chris Maurin brought his two daughters and state trooper girlfriend Karen Billiot to the April 8 First Responders event at the New Orleans Arena hosted by churches in the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. “They invited us to come, and we’ve got other things to do today [in the area] so for us it worked out good,” Maurin said. One of the items on the family’s to-do list was to go to Billiot’s destroyed home to see if anything might be salvaged. During Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and the breaching of levees, Maurin saw his daughters one time in 30 days. His job involved providing transportation assistance for government officials. Billiot coordinated housing, meals and other services for 200 First Responders housed in a school in LaPlace, and others elsewhere. It was for people like these that BAGNO churches put together a six-hour block-party event to say thank you, said … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON (BP) – Herbert Lusk II used to walk the streets of Memphis as a self-proclaimed “angry black man.” Now he stands behind a Southern Baptist pulpit and among fellow advisers to the nation’s president. By Natalie Kaspar Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) – Herbert Lusk II used to walk the streets of Memphis as a self-proclaimed “angry black man.” Now he stands behind a Southern Baptist pulpit and among fellow advisers to the nation’s president. Lusk began his newest role March 16 serving a four-year appointment to George W. Bush’s 20-member Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. “The HIV/AIDS epidemic is the greatest social issue of our time. When I think of the enormity of the problem, I am completely humbled by this appointment,” said Lusk, senior pastor of Greater Exodus Baptist Church in Philadelphia who once was known as the “praying tailback” while with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. Advisory council members, from a range of backgrounds, provide the president advice on addressing the global HIV/AIDS issue, with the secretary of Health and Human Services serving as a liaison. Lusk began Stand for Africa in 2002, an initiative through which U.S. churches and organizations can … [Read more...]

Week of April 10, 2006 Louisiana native named Ouachita’s new president LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (BP) – Bastrop native Rex Horne, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock the past 16 years, has accepted the presidency of Ouachita Baptist University. He will begin his duties May 1. As the 15th president in OBU’s 120-year history, Horne follows Andy Westmoreland, who begins June 1 as president of Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Becky, my wife, and me as we think about this next stage of service to the Lord and to Arkansas Baptists and to all of those who love and call Ouachita home,” said Horne, who once served as pastor of Western Hills Baptist Church in Shreveport. “... What I’m experiencing at this time is a call. It is not a choice I am making but a calling I am following.” Horne earned a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and a doctor of ministry degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Horne and his wife, Becky, have four grown children. Former LifeWay rep voted off ‘American Idol’ HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (BP) – Despite ‘American Idol’ contestant Mandisa Hundley’s departure from the … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Samaritan’s Purse has provided a gift of hope and joy to the children of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary – a new playground. By Gary D. Myers New Orleans Seminary NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Samaritan’s Purse has provided a gift of hope and joy to the children of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary – a new playground. Each year Samaritan’s Purse, led by Franklin Graham, gives Christmas gifts to children around the world through Operation Christmas Child. In like fashion after Hurricane Katrina, Graham wanted to do something special for the children affected by the storm. His plan: build five new playgrounds in the metro area. “We feel this is a little thing just to show the community that life is coming back and that kids are important,” Graham said. “It’s just a little investment in the kids. “If anything it’s a symbol ... a symbol of hope for the kids,” he continued. “As the community comes back to new life ... New Orleans will be changed, it will be different in the years and months ahead.... [A] playground, a little thing like this, can be an encouragement to many people.” With so much destruction and devastation still present in the city, Graham said the … [Read more...]