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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Looking forward by looking back

By Chuck Kelley On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall near New Orleans, creating the greatest natural disaster in the history of the Unites States. The levees protecting the city were breached, and 70% of the city, including the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, went underwater for weeks. The unprecedented devastation included thousands killed, tens of thousands displaced among all fifty states, countless businesses shuttered, no cell service for weeks, no power and no mail delivery for months. In the blink of an eye, life changed completely for the people of New Orleans and the nearby Gulf Coast. Today a far greater catastrophe has come. The Covid 19 virus has changed life completely for our nation and the entire planet. As of this writing, hundreds of thousands have been infected on every continent. Tens of thousands have died. There is not yet a cure or a vaccine. To limit its spread, public gatherings, sporting events, and activities as basic as children going to school and their parents going to work have been cancelled. A devastating economic impact is rapidly unfolding. This crisis affects us all, everyone in the whole world. As I look back on leading NOBTS through the Katrina … [Read more...]

Edwards extends Phase 2 COVID-19 restrictions another three weeks

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana will remain in Phase 2 to stem the spread of COVID for at least three more weeks, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Phase 2 was set to expire Friday, Aug. 7, but will now be extended beginning that day for another 21 days. All restrictions issued under the current restriction will remain in place. This includes: –a 50 percent capacity restriction for businesses and churches –a statewide mask mandate for anyone eight years or older or with a major health condition –limitations of bars to curbside food service only - and a reduction of indoor social gatherings to 50 people. Edwards, in a news conference, noted the state has seen a recent decline in new COVID-19 related cases and hospitalizations. He asked Louisianans to continue wearing masks and observing proper social distancing measures so the state can move toward Phase 3. “There is a bit of good news,” Edwards said. “The data shows that over the past several days we are beginning to move in the right direction. That gives me hope and encouragement, and it should to everyone. “But I do want to caution everybody that it’s still too early to say that we have changed … [Read more...]