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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Trump, Johnson tour hurricane damage

By Baptist Message staff LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) - Two days after Hurricane Laura devastated parts of Louisiana, President Donald Trump stopped in Calcasieu Parish to assess areas hit hard by the storm. Trump arrived in Lake Charles around noon. He also visited other communities impacted by the storm, which made landfall Thursday in Cameron as a Category 4 hurricane. “I’m here to support the great people of Louisiana,” Trump said during a roundtable discussion with city, parish and state leaders. “It’s been a tremendous state for me. I love the people. We’ve had a great relationship right from the beginning. It’s very important that I was here; and, already I've met some people who have been absolutely devastated. This was a tremendously powerful storm.” Prior to his visit, Trump approved Gov. John Bel Edwards’ request for a major disaster declaration, which grants federal assistance to those in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis Parishes, which were severely damaged from Laura. U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, a member of the First Baptis Chiurch, Bossier City, was among Louisiana’s congressional delegation which accompanied Trump for the visit. “It would be difficult to overstate the scope of the hurricane … [Read more...]

LC to be closed through Wednesday, will continue to update situation

By LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - Louisiana College remains closed for classes through Wednesday, Sept. 2. Essential employees will report to the campus Monday as assigned. College officials are monitoring the situation and will provide an update regarding the status and continuation of classes beyond Sept. 2. Due to widespread power outages remote coursework will be suspended until further notice. Deadlines for work will also be extended, and classes will be made up virtually; however, students will not have to livestream any make-up lectures as they be can viewed on one’s own time. The college’s residence halls remain open only for students who could not evacuate. Residential students will be advised when the campus will be fully operational to allow all residential students to return to campus. All members of the LC “family” are encouraged to check emails, texts, Wildcat Alerts, LC website, and LC social media for frequent updates and information. The college is grateful for the prayer support of our extended college “family” during the challenging days. We ask for prayers for faculty, staff, and students who are dealing with significant damage to personal property. … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists invited to be part of global prayer event

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer WASHINGTON, D.C. – Several Louisiana Baptist churches will simulcast “The Return: National and Global Day of Prayer and Repentance,” a global prayer event planned for Sept. 26 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and their pastors are asking other Louisiana Baptists to join them in this time of repentance and revival, a special need, they said, during a time of division and unrest in the United States. The tentative schedule includes scripture reading, prayer and times of praise and worship, and, the preliminary list of speakers includes: author Ruth Graham Lotz, Gateway Church (Dallas, Texas) Pastor Robert Morris, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson, country music artist Pat Boone, and actor Kevin Sorbo. Dustin Stockstill, pastor of Bedico Baptist Church in Ponchatoula, said his congregation chose to host the event to help their community refocus on God. “A lot of good can come out of it,” Stockstill told the Baptist Message. “Revivals in America always started with a prayer meeting, whether it was a few or a large group of people. They realized the need for repentance and change and … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist churches damaged by Hurricane Laura

(UPDATED Aug. 29, 2020) By Baptist Message staff A number of Louisiana Baptist church facilities have sustained damage from Hurricane Laura, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm Thursday. The list will be updated as additional reports are received: — First Baptist Church in Gillis lost awning and the door on the education building was damaged. — Pine Hill Baptist Church in Leesville sustained damage to its roof and had a few broken windows. — A tree fell onto Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Pitkin, and caused extensive damage to the building. — The steeple at East Ridge Baptist Church in Lake  Charles came off its building and entered the roof. Glass also was blown out and metal carports were destroyed.   — A section of the roof of the main building on the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Lake Charles, was ripped off by high winds. — Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles, suffered moderate damage to the roof, light flooding and windows. A number of trees were uprooted as well. — East Ridge Baptist Church, Lake Charles, lost its steeple. — The roof at the McNeese State University Baptist Collegiate Ministry building was damaged, and the structure lost some siding. — Two trees fell on the roof of … [Read more...]

DR response to Laura ramping up, seeking volunteers

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief leaders want the state to know help is on the way. Initial assessments are being completed Friday in areas hit hardest by Thursday’s powerful storm. Then teams will be deployed over the weekend to begin the task of helping to clear out fallen trees and other debris from damaged homes. Gibbie McMillan, state disaster relief coordinator for Louisiana Baptists, said four locations have been established for feeding and housing volunteers: Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles (manned by Arkansas teams), First Baptist Church, Moss Bluff (manned by Louisiana teams), First Baptist Church, DeRidder (manned by Louisiana teams) and East Leesville Baptist Church (manned by South Carolina teams). McMillan encouraged Louisiana Baptists to volunteer or donate at louisianabaptists.org/disasterreliefdonate or e-mail Kelly.Tam@louisianabaptists.org. Hurricane Laura made landfall as a Category 4 storm around 1 a.m. Thursday near Cameron and had maximum sustained winds as it made landfall. The storm was responsible for four deaths in the state, damaged many structures and knocked out power to more than 579,000 homes and businesses at one … [Read more...]

Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Iota, loses life during Laura

By Baptist Message staff IOTA - Hurricane Laura has claimed the life of James Cart, pastor of First Baptist Church in Iota. He died late Wednesday when a tree fell and struck his home north of Iota, the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s reported. Cart, 68, had served as a bivocational pastor of First Iota since September 2011, according to the Annual Church Profile statistical database. The church averages 45 for Sunday morning worship services. “We are heartbroken to learn of Pastor Cart’s death,” Louisiana Baptists Executive Director Steve Horn told the Baptist Message. “We urge all Louisiana Baptists to pray for his family and his church family.” Bert Langley, director of missions for Acadia Baptist Association, said Cart was a man who loved to tell others about the love of Christ. "He came back to pastor in the town he grew up in," Landley said. "He loved his wife and family. He loved people. He loved his church. He will be missed by all who knew him." … [Read more...]

Louisiana College closed Wednesday-Friday for weather, will continue classes remotely

By LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - Louisiana College continues its preparations for Hurricane Laura. Please note the following regarding course instruction and campus operations. • No in-person courses will be held on campus and offices will remain closed from Wednesday, Aug. 26 through Friday, Aug. 28.   • All course instruction will continue remotely through Friday.   • For residential students, on campus operations including housing and dining services will continue without interruption. LC will follow its Shelter in Place protocols during the course of the storm. The college will continue to monitor Hurricane Laura. Updates will be posted on lacollege.edu and official social media accounts. Information will also be communicated through LC email accounts and the Wildcat Alert system. Wildcat Alerts are sent via email and text message. If you have not signed up to receive emergency alerts, please do so through the MyLC portal. … [Read more...]