Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

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...]