Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

ARCHIVES: Hurricane Laura coverage

Laura's toll includes 140 Louisiana Baptist churches https://baptistmessage.com/lauras-toll-includes-140-louisiana-baptist-churches/ Sign up for 'Churches Helping Churches' https://baptistmessage.com/churches-helping-churches/ Ready or not? Georgia Barnette Offering makes a difference in disaster relief https://baptistmessage.com/ready-or-not-georgia-barnette-offering-makes-a-difference-in-disaster-relief/ Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief hurricane relief needs https://baptistmessage.com/louisiana-baptists-hurricane-relief-needs/ =====     =====     =====     =====     ===== VIDEO: Audis Dawson, pastor, Comrade Baptist Church, Simpson, shares how ‘God loves people through other people’ VIDEO: Jeremy Blocker, pastor, Maplewood First Baptist Church, Sulphur, talks about joyful neighbors helped by LBDR VIDEO: Lonnie Gothrup, pastor, Houston River Baptist Church, Sulphur, calls for more volunteers to help SW Louisiana Disaster Photos Response Photos Drone Footage of Destruction Feeding Line Videos =====     =====     =====     =====     ===== NOBTS avoids major damage from Hurricane Zeta https://baptistmessage.com/nobts-avoids-major-damage-during-hurricane-zeta/ Zeta is third … [Read more...]

Former LC President Robert Lynn passes away

By Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Robert Lynn, president of Louisiana College from 1975 to 1997, died Tuesday, Sept. 8 in Norman, Oklahoma. He was 88. Born Nov. 19, 1931, in Fox, Oklahoma, Lynn was a faithful servant to Baptists and higher education. Prior to his presidency at LC, Lynn served as a chairman of deacons at First Baptist Church in Shawnee, Oklahoma, vice president for administration at Oklahoma Baptist University, and administrative committee member of the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board), according to archived Baptist Message articles. Lynn, who was the sixth president in school history, succeeded G. Earl Guinn. According to a June 5, 1997 article in the Baptist Message, Lynn instituted a strategic planning process for which the college engaged in for five-year periods. During his tenure, almost 85 percent of the five-year goals were met. Additionally, he led the college to unprecedented financial growth. While he was president, the school was never in the red operationally. Lynn also established the President’s Club to recognize donors who gave $1,000 or more to the school in a calendar year. In a 20-year span, beginning in 1976, almost 6,000 … [Read more...]

Consider using an evangelist to ‘draw the net’ in your church

By Clark Stewart COVINGTON, La. – I have had the privilege over the past two years to be the pastor advisor for the Louisiana Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists. It has been a real blessing for me to get to know these men and women personally. Their love for the Lord and their passion for the unsaved has touched my life. I have used many of these quality evangelists in my church and every time, God has tremendously blessed. In May, we had the president of LACOSBE, Brother Gary Bowlin, preach a Harvest Day Sunday for us. With COVID-19 restrictions still being observed, we had a “drive-in” service where people listen on their vehicle radios. Brother Gary preached with passion in an outside service and extended God’s invitation to come to Christ. At 10:30 that morning, he preached inside our auditorium and had five public professions of faith. Evangelists are a God given gift to His churches (Ephesians 4:11). I would encourage every pastor to use these gifted evangelists in their churches. God desires and delights in the lost being saved. Using these evangelists who are gifted in “drawing the net” will help fulfill God’s desire that “none perish but that all come to repentance.” Clark Stewart is pastor of New … [Read more...]

Disaster Relief efforts foster racial unity

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – While racial tensions continue to claim national headlines, the multi-state disaster relief response to one of the largest hurricanes ever to make landfall in the country is serving as an opportunity to build goodwill between ethnic groups in storm-affected parts of Louisiana. Hurricane Laura came ashore in the state with 150 mph winds and maintained its ferocity far inland, with tropical storm winds of 50 mph, gusting to 85 mph, recorded in Alexandria, about 130 miles north from where the eye of the storm struck the coast. The winds knocked out power to 579,000 homes and businesses in the state, but the total devastation in terms of lost homes and businesses has not yet been tallied. In Central Louisiana, comprising 10 parishes, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief, alone, has received 900 calls for help regarding damaged homes and property during the first week after the storm. The enormous response, especially by a predominately white Southern Baptist Disaster Relief organization, has alleviated many physical needs, but it also has brought some racial healing. MAGNOLIA STATE CONVERT Bob Thomas, a member of Highland Baptist Church in Senatobia, … [Read more...]

After Laura, Horeb Baptist helps rebuild Dry Creek Baptist Camp that hosted them after Katrina

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DRY CREEK, La. (LBM) - The winds still were howling as Hurricane Laura blew through Dry Creek Baptist Camp Thursday morning, Aug. 27,  when Camp Director Todd Burnaman fielded a welcomed phone call from Horeb Baptist Church in Gretna asking how they could lend assistance. Horeb Baptist, a Hispanic congregation that stayed at the camp 33 days when they evacuated during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, was excited about the chance to repay them for their kindness. The group of more than 30, along with staff from a camp operated by Florida College in Tampa, Florida, helped clear trees and other debris on the property during Labor Day weekend. “We’ve remained good friends with Horeb Baptist 15 years later and they have been a part of the Dry Creek family since,” Burnaman told the Baptist Message. “When Pastor David Rodriguez was on the line the Thursday of the storm asking if they could come I didn’t hesitate to tell him to come on.” Emilio Lora, pastor of Horeb’s Chalmette campus, said the members were honored to return. “It was such a blessing to have the opportunity to serve the Lord and the Dry Creek people,” he said. “What a great time we had being with them again.” More than … [Read more...]

Laura’s toll includes 140 Louisiana Baptist churches

By John Kyle, Louisiana Baptist director of communications ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- A little more than a week after slamming the Louisiana coast, it is obvious Hurricane Laura’s 140 miles per hour, Category 4, winds considered nothing sacred, including houses of worship. Numerous reports have shed light on the hundreds of thousands of Louisianans left without power and water. Power companies have indicated it may be weeks, or longer, before power is restored to certain areas. Likewise, many communities remain under a boil advisory and cars are lined up to receive bottled water and ice from the National Guard and various non-profit groups, including Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams. However, perhaps as devastating to the state is the destruction to houses of worship, which often are central to the lives of thousands in a community. According to John Hebert, director of missions and ministries for Louisiana Baptists, approximately 107 Louisiana Baptist churches have sustained damage from minor to catastrophic – and some may not open their doors again. “We’ve seen reports indicating as many as 140 churches sustained damage of some nature, but we’ve been able to address some of those needs which has brought the … [Read more...]