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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Two years after the Maui fires: how follow-up care extended far beyond initial relief

By Craig Webb, Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention LAHAINA, Hawaii (Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention) - On Aug. 8, 2025, we mark the second anniversary of the devastating Maui fires that forever changed the landscape of Lahaina and surrounding communities, displacing thousands of families with fewer than 50 homes rebuilt from the nearly 2,000 destroyed. In the midst of this ongoing struggle, what began as an unthinkable tragedy became the backdrop for an extraordinary ministry of hope and healing. Building on the foundation laid by Hawaii Pacific Baptist Disaster Relief in the first months after the fires, the Maui Fire Caring Ministry, led by Pete and Donna Beal, took the extraordinary step of contacting 748 fire survivors over 14 months. This systematic follow-up ministry communicated the love of Christ, shared the Gospel message, distributed Bibles, and provided practical assistance while building lasting relationships that continue today. In the immediate aftermath of the fires, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers mobilized under the leadership of Hawaii Pacific Baptist Disaster Relief co-directors John and Gay Williams. Send Relief, the Southern Baptist Convention’s compassion ministry arm, played a vital … [Read more...]

FRC, Baptist leaders urge President Trump to stop mail-order abortions

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor WASHINGTON (LBM) – Forty Baptist leaders representing 22 states joined the Family Research Council to send a letter to the White House asking President Trump to stand firm in defending the unborn and to protect women and girls from the dangers of the abortion pill mifepristone. The letter also was sent to the Department of Justice and the Food and Drug Administration. The plea to President Trump comes on the heels of Southern Baptists adopting a resolution this summer calling for federal and state lawmakers to stop the “manufacture, sale, and distribution of the chemical abortion drugs” and to “enforce the Comstock Act prohibiting the mailing of abortion pills.” Meanwhile, the findings of a large-scale study about mifepristone abortions (865,727 data points from 2017-2023) were just released showing “a serious adverse event rate of 10.93 percent,” about 22 times the life-threatening complications reported by the FDA and drug manufacturers (0.5 percent). The leaders expressed appreciation for the president’s “unwavering defense of the unborn during your first term” and asked him to restore “FDA safety protocols for mifepristone, including an ultrasound requirement”, to … [Read more...]