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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Gilbert’s DR experience in Lake Charles an asset at FBNO

By Baptist Message staff NEW ORLEANS, La. (LBM) - Chad Gilbert has been extremely busy the last 12 months. Not only did he accept the call to move from Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles as associate pastor of missions and evangelism to serve as pastor of First Baptist Church in New Orleans Jan. 3, but he has been instrumental in the coordination of relief responses to three major hurricanes that have hit Louisiana since August 2020. Gilbert was at the forefront of relief efforts following Hurricanes Laura and Delta as Trinity Baptist became a hub for disaster relief in Lake Charles. Then, 10 months after Delta, Gilbert found himself yet again leading another disaster relief response, this time at First Baptist New Orleans. “God knew what was coming to this region and I hope he has used me to be helpful to the community,” Gilbert told the Baptist Message. “I learned so much from Gibbie McMillan, former state Disaster Relief coordinator and present Louisiana Disaster Relief Coordinator Stan Statham, who were in the thick of it at Trinity along with Pastor Steve James and Greg Bath. We went through an intense training program at Trinity and applied it here.” Since opening their campus to DR operations, FBC New … [Read more...]

COVID-19 takes Southside Baptist Pastor Don Hoy

By Message staff DENHAM SPRINGS, La. (LBM) – Don Hoy, pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Denham Springs, died Thursday, Sept. 9 from complications related to COVID-19. Hoy, 63, served in ministry for more than 40 years with the last 10 years at Southside Baptist. Before coming to Southside, he was pastor of Brookstown Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Faith Baptist Church in Livingston, Shady Grove Baptist Church in Hazlehurst, Miss., Clear Branch Baptist Church in Wesson, Miss., and Lucian Baptist Church in Brookhaven, Miss. He previously was music and youth minister at Eden Baptist Church in Denham Springs and youth minister at First Baptist Church in Gretna. Hoy also was involved in ministry away from Southside Baptist as state chaplain for the Civil Air Patrol and chaplain for Bridgeway Hospice. He was preceded in death by his son, Daniel, and is survived by Susan, his wife of 42 years, Susan Avants Hoy; son, Steven (Kayla) Hoy, daughter, Stephanie (Perry) Bayly, and five grandchildren. The family welcomes friends to a visitation Friday, Sept. 17, from 5-8 p.m. at Southside Baptist Church, 7572 Vincent Road in Denham Springs and Sept. 18 from 9-10 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Denham Springs, 27735 Hwy 16 in … [Read more...]

Louisiana pressed but not crushed by storms

By Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - Despite difficulties faced in the days after Hurricane Ida, Louisiana Baptists can find encouragement in answered prayers and many who are turning to Christ, Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn said in a video released to the Baptist Message. “It’s hard to be in despair when you see God at work,” Horn said in the video. “Be encouraged today. We might be hard pressed but we are not in despair.” For more information on giving or volunteer opportunities in southeast Louisiana, visit louisianabaptists.org. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jCP5y7Y17GI&feature=youtu.be … [Read more...]

Fuller, Oklahoma team makes return to Louisiana for disaster relief

By Message staff BAYOU VISTA, La. (LBM) -- A year ago, Dan Fuller was in Lake Charles alongside fellow Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief team members for eight weeks as they helped feed thousands of those impacted by Hurricane Laura. Now, Fuller and his team once again have returned to Louisiana, manning a feeding unit at Bayou Vista Baptist Church where they will feed thousands in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, 40 miles to the east. Fuller, who serves as incident commander center director, said they expect to be at Bayou Vista Baptist for at least eight weeks as they minister to residents and businesses facing the long road to recovery in those two parishes. Fuller asked Louisiana Baptists to keep his team members in their daily prayers as they continue their ministry work. “We’d like your prayer for safety and good weather and good health as we work here,” he said. https://youtu.be/v1c80iKKfyw … [Read more...]

Spared from Ida’s damaging winds, Bayou Vista becomes a hub for ministry

By Message staff MORGAN CITY, La. (LBM) – Nine days ago, Bayou Vista Baptist Church dodged a bullet. While many sister churches, located just 40 miles to the east, sustained heavy damage from Hurricane Ida, Bayou Vista escaped the brunt of Ida which allowed the congregation to step up and serve as a hub for ministry. Since Sept. 5, 30 Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief team members have prepared between 5,000 to 10,000 meals daily that are distributed by the American Red Cross in communities throughout Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team Leader John Hebert said 27 of 32 churches who are members of Bayou Baptist Association which spans those two parishes sustained mold damage. An additional six to eight volunteers have worked in chaplaincy and the incident command center which is located at the church, while another 20 team members have helped remove debris and clean out water-logged homes in the two-parish region. Steven Kelly, pastor of Bayou Vista Baptist and director of missions for Gulf Coast Baptist Association, said around 15 of his members have cleaned showers and bathrooms at the site, modified the church’s outside wiring to accommodate the team’s equipment and … [Read more...]