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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

FBC Lafayette’s Singing Christmas Tree draws more than 4,000

By Message staff LAFAYETTE, La. (LBM) – The worship center of First Baptist Church, Lafayette, recently was transformed into a makeshift Cajun village whose centerpiece was a giant Singing Christmas Tree. During performances, Dec. 9-12, the audiences were treated to music by a choir stationed on platforms on the tree decorated with more than 100,000 lights, along with Christian tunes by an orchestra, local Cajun band and a drama team. The drama included a plan of salvation throughout the production, including an invitation from Pastor James Pritchard to accept Christ at the close of each performance. All who attended were invited to complete a response card for a chance to win one of 20 gift cards from Logan Farms Honey Glazed Hams in Lafayette. According to Minister of Media Dennis Clark, 3,995 attended the four performances at the church while another 700 tuned into the livestream. The most recent performances marked the 19th time First Baptist Lafayette has held the Singing Christmas Tree since the first one in 1985. During that time, it has been held at the church and the Cajundome in Lafayette.   … [Read more...]

Concord-Union churches, Rolling Hills donate $6,000 to trailer park residents impacted by tornado

By Baptist Message staff FARMERVILLE, La. (LBM) – A tornado leveled a trailer park in Farmerville on Dec. 13, injuring two dozen people and leaving 30 residents without food, clothing and other basic necessities. Area churches and Rolling Hills Ministry in Ruston were quick to step in with assistance as the needy individuals from Honduras and Nicaragua received air the following day. According to RHM Director of Ministries John Cowling, RHM Director David Abernathy, his wife, Jerri, and himself were assessing damage the tornado caused in the area when they were directed by local authorities to Alex, who manages the individuals who lived in the trailer park. After a brief conversation, Alex agreed to transport the residents to RHM’s thrift store, where they received clothing, other necessities, and a lunch. Later that evening, RHM also provided supper for the residents at their temporary housing, an apartment complex in Farmerville. Additionally, area churches from Concord-Union Baptist Association upon learning of the storm victims need donated $3,000, with RHM matching the donation. Each resident received $200 during a special prayer service, Dec. 14, at the former Farmerville High School. Cowling said he was … [Read more...]

Kennedy: Louisianians deserve to know how FEMA is raising the price of flood insurance

By Office of U.S. Sen. John Kennedy WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), on the Senate Floor, urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency to explain how it is implementing its new pricing algorithm for calculating flood insurance premiums, known as Risk Rating 2.0. FEMA’s new algorithm has sent the rates of many National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in Louisiana skyrocketing. Despite repeated questions from Kennedy, FEMA has yet to clarify how it determines new rates. “It doesn’t do any good to offer flood insurance if people can’t afford it, and that’s what FEMA’s doing right now,” said Kennedy. “We, in Louisiana, have the highest participation rate in the country, bar none. And despite what some people may think, my people who are buying flood insurance, they’re not multimillionaires. They’re working people. “There is no transparency with Risk Rating 2.0,” he continued. “People have absolutely no idea— members of the United States Congress have no idea—how this algorithm works and how they come up with a specific price for every home in America. But I'll tell you what we do know: All the prices have gone up. “A lot of those levees in Louisiana are paid for by Louisiana citizens. We have asked, ‘How does … [Read more...]