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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Louisiana Baptist DR teams bring Hurricane Ian relief operations

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NAPLES, Florida (LBM) – Less than a week after Hurricane Ian slammed into the southwest Florida coast, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams are on the ground to “give a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name” to those affected by the powerful storm. According to Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team Director John Hebert, a shower (Carey Baptist Association) and laundry unit (District 8 Baptist Convention), feeding unit (Rolling Hills Ministry, Ruston), and incident command unit (Louisiana Baptist Convention) are presently working out of First Baptist Church, Naples and have been there since Oct. 3. Assisting Louisiana were teams from the Texas Baptist Men and Ohio Baptist Convention. The feeding team on Monday cooked 2,100 meals that were distributed to residents impacted by the storm. Hebert said they may serve up to 5,000 meals on Tuesday. Mud out teams are expected to arrive later this week to work in homes that were severely damaged by the storm, which made landfall Sept. 28 near Cayo Costa, a protected barrier island 50 miles north of Naples. Ian brought catastrophic winds of 155 mph (two miles shy of Category 5 strength), rain and an estimated 12-foot storm … [Read more...]

A word of encouragement

By Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. - Acts 13 is a pivotal moment in the Book of Acts. Acts 13 is the place where we see the transition from Peter’s ministry to Paul’s ministry. Starting in Acts 13, the rest of the book focuses on the ministry of Paul. As I read Acts 13 this morning, two things struck me most. First, in the telling of the first missionaries sent from the church, we read, “Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.” (Acts 13:3) The next verse reads, “So being sent by the Holy Spirit . . .” Not a bad combination—being sent by the church and being sent by the Holy Spirit. May we pray that churches are doing the same today. Second, Paul and Barnabas were invited at Pisidian Antioch to speak in the Synagogue with the words, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people you can speak.” Paul took that invitation and starting with the Israelites being in bondage in Egypt shared the message of Jesus. This Gospel appeal finds its climax in verses 38-39, “Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers and sisters, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you. Everyone who believes is justified through him from … [Read more...]

LBDR teams prepping for Hurricane Ian response

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist disaster relief units are marshaling their forces in response to calls for help after powerful Hurricane Ian came roaring ashore Florida Sept. 28. Feeding, shower, chainsaw, mud out, chaplaincy and assessment teams from throughout the state (with assistance from Texas Baptist Men and the Ohio Baptist Convention) will minister for at least four to six weeks in an undetermined site in Fort Myers, which is just east of where the center made landfall Wednesday near Cayo Costa, a protected barrier island. Feeding teams arrive this weekend while the rest is the teams will depart next week. Ian, a Category 4 storm with winds of 155 mph, left more than 2.5 million homes and businesses without electricity in Southwest Florida Thursday morning, according to PowerOutage.us. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says Floridians can anticipate more outages in central and northeastern Florida as the storm continues to make its way north. The National Hurricane Center noted the storm was still expected to produce strong winds, heavy rains and storm surge across parts of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. Ian is moving toward the northeast near 8 mph, with an increase in … [Read more...]