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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Louisiana Baptist DR unit activated to hard hit Kentucky

By Baptist Message staff MURRAY, Ky. (LBM) - A Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief shower unit has begun serving in Murray, Kentucky, one of several communities devastated by a series of tornadoes last weekend. According to Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief strategist Stan Statham, the team from Mt. Olive Baptist Association arrived Dec. 14. They are stationed at First Baptist Church, Murray. The Louisiana Baptist Convention also has donated tarps, furring strips and financial gifts. Statham encouraged Louisiana Baptists to pray and, if led, give financially to help those in a state that has helped with disaster relief efforts in Louisiana. The Associated Press reported that 74 were confirmed dead and another 100 were missing after the tornadoes touched down in the state over the weekend. “The last two years getting hit hard ourselves we know what it’s like in moments of need,” Statham said. “We continue to pray and be sensitive to their needs.” To give to DR efforts in Kentucky visit https://louisianabaptists.org/missions-ministry/disaster-relief/donate/ … [Read more...]

Dew to graduates: Christ, not ministry, is ‘ultimate end’

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS, La. (NOBTS) – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College celebrated 200 graduates Dec. 11 as President Jamie Dew charged them to make service to Christ the true end of all that they do. Eighteen doctoral degrees were conferred during the school’s commencement ceremony, including seven Ph.D.s, a doctor of musical arts, one doctor of educational ministry and nine doctor of ministry degrees. Ninety master’s degrees and 92 undergraduate degrees and certificates were awarded. Dew began his charge to graduates by acknowledging that some might be present in the audience who wondered why their graduate went to the trouble of years’ worth of papers and exams in order to get a degree. While some might see the graduate’s work as the “means” and the degree as the “end,” Dew pointed to the philosopher Aristotle who recognized that “ends” in actuality may be means to yet another end. Dew said the question then becomes, “what is the ultimate end?” “What is that one end, that one good that we seek for its own sake?” Dew asked the audience. “Of all this work that we have done, what is it exactly that we seek? …  It’s important that you understand the answer to that … [Read more...]

Officials focus on Mayfield as recovery and cleanup process begins

By Tom Latek, Kentucky Today MAYFIELD, Ky. (KT) – Search and rescue efforts continue in western Kentucky, where 18 counties were hardest hit by tornadoes Friday night into Saturday morning, continued with at least 50 people reportedly dead. During a press conference in Mayfield on Sunday afternoon, Gov. Andy Beshear broke down some of the fatalities by county. “I know it’s over 10 in Warren County, we’re over 10 and growing in Hopkins County, we have significant loss here in Graves County,” he said. “We’re over 10 in Muhlenberg County, in a town of 100 or so people.  We’re at three to five in Caldwell County.  Those numbers are going to continue to grow, as we’re able to go house to house.” Beshear said they still don’t have an accurate number of casualties at a candle factory in Mayfield, where there were 110 workers when the tornado struck, leveling the building. However, later Sunday, There was some good news that came out. A spokesman for the candle company said eight were confirmed dead and eight remained missing, but more than 90 others had been located. He said many of the employees had gathered in a tornado shelter and after the storm was over left the plant and went to their homes. Of course, the … [Read more...]

Pastors celebrate defeat of Slidell casino

By Baptist Message staff SLIDELL, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist pastors in St. Tammany Parish rejoiced about the resounding vote, Dec. 11, against a proposal that would have brought casino gambling into Slidell. By a margin of 63 percent against (37,664 “nays”) and 37 percent for (22,031 “yeas”), voters rejected a proposal to build a $325 million casino complex in an area east of the I-10 interchange in Oak Harbor. DAVID DEFEATS GOLIATH The Slidell project was proposed by Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, also known as P2E, which owns one of the 15 approved riverboat casinos permitted in Louisiana (for a bankrupt and defunct Shreveport casino that they proposed to move to Slidell). Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was among those who backed the proposal. According to WWL-TV, more than $3 million dollars was spent on advertising to get residents to vote in favor of the casino. Opponents spent $1 million to fight against the proposal, WWL reported. Proponents had promised big returns in terms of jobs, economic development and tax revenue. TROUBLED PAST Three years ago, the Los Angeles-based P2E failed in the legislature in their bid to move their now closed Shreveport riverboat casino to … [Read more...]

Pastor celebrates more than seven decades of ministry

By Norm Miller, Special to the Baptist Message GRAND CANE, LA. (LBM) -- Not many pastors celebrate 14 successive years of ministry at one church, and fewer still do so when 89 years-old. Wayne Roberts first preached at Wood Springs Baptist Church in Grand Cane, Louisiana, in a pulpit supply role 14 years ago, he told the Baptist Message. He’s still preaching and his wife Bobbie, 87, still plays the piano, and they both continue to exude spry spirits as well as a deep love for the Lord’s work and His people. “Wood Springs believes in missions,” Wayne said. “We give to home and foreign missions. Our people gave about $100,000 for the new ministry building at Toledo Bend.” The church also helps people in the community after personal tragedies and sickness, and aids those who are in financial straits. “We use God’s money wisely,” Roberts said. “We may be small, but Wood Springs is probably the most mission-minded church we ever served,” his wife added. The pandemic cut worship attendance in half, but about 25 have remained faithful. “Wayne isn’t a longwinded preacher. That’s why the people like him,” she explained. “About 15 minutes is as long as you can keep anybody’s attention,” he reasoned. “I don’t care … [Read more...]