Thursday

“But as for me, my prayer is to You,

O Lord,in the acceptable time;

O God, in the multitude of Your mercy,

hear me in the truth of Your salvation.”

~Psalm 69:13~

 

Mrs. Della McDaniel and Mrs. Parmys Stegall have both fallen. “Miss” Parmys has had surgery and is in St. Tammany Hospital. “Miss” Della did not require surgery and is with Connie. Also, Mr. Bob Stegall is scheduled for eye surgery Monday. Please be in prayer for these special people.

Mrs. Blanch Wheat has been moved to a nursing home in Baton Rouge. Please pray for her as she makes this adjustment.

Mrs. Annie Bell Harrell has had another brief stay at the hospital. Please continue to pray for Mr. Phillip and “Miss” Annie Bell as well as their family and medical teams.

Kathy McDaniel Dyer

Kathy has been diagnosed with colon cancer and will begin treatment soon. Please continue to keep Kathy and her family in your prayers.

Linda Williams

Please update about our revival at Greenlaw Baptist Church. Dr. Victor Walsh will lead us in our revival services, Sunday at 11:00 AM, no Sunday night services. We will have dinner on the ground after the Sunday morning services. Then services again Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday night at 7:00 P.M.
Thank you,
Mary Ann Cutrer

On Mission in Kentwood will begin at 8:00 A.M. Saturday morning at FBC, Kentwood. Come out and join us as we “give back”. You’ll be blessed.

Operation Chirstmas Child is underway at FBC, Kentwood. This is coordinated by Samaritan’s Purse (Franklin Graham). You may contact the church office for information on how to prepare your box. Filled shoeboxes are to be brought to the church by November 16. What an opportunity to mininster to children around the world!

AWANA will have a Bible Character and trunk-or-treat night Sunday. For more information call the church office.

The Georgia Barnett State Missions Offering goal of $7,500.00 stands at about 65%. It’s time to push it past the goal!

Marie Louise Babin Ardillo
Mrs. Marie Louise Babin Ardillo was born on June 24, 1917, and passed away at 11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008, at the D’Ville House Nursing Home, Donaldsonville. She was 91, a native of Morganza, a resident Donaldsonville and a former resident of Amite. She was the daughter of the late Marcel and Florence LeBlanc Babin. Mrs. Marie is survived by a niece, Patsy Babin O’Neal and her children, Scott Jarreau and Monique Renee Jerald, and husband Kendall, and their children, Jordan Guarisco, Patrick, Kellie and Kevin Jerald; another niece, JoAnn Cavaretta Booty and husband, Lindsey; and cousins, Doris LeBlanc Landry, Bernie LeBlanc and Thomas LeBlanc. Also preceded in death by her husband, Gandolfo N. Ardillo; brother, Arthur Babin; and sister, Ora Babin LeBlanc. Her body was donated to science at her request.

Martha Ann “Maw Maw Ann” Swinney
(February 11, 1931 – October 22, 2008)

Martha Ann “Maw Maw Ann” Swinney, a loving mother, grandmother, and friend to many people was born February 11, 1931 and passed away at 1:37AM, Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at the Lakeview Regional Center, Covington. She was 77, a native of Bonham, TX and a resident of Amite for 30+ years. Maw Maw Ann was the daughter of the late Irvin and Daisy Taylor Smith.

She is survived by 2 daughters, Elaine Liuzza, Amite & Kriss Ryals and husband, Terry, Amite; 5 grandchildren, Christopher Liuzza and wife, Connie Rene’, David Liuzza and wife, Stacy, Mellissa Liuzza, Cathy McCallister and husband, Roland, Stacy Herron and husband Randy; 8 great-grandchildren, Lindsey Bennett, Steven Liuzza, Carolyn McCallister, Connor Herron, Keira Herron, Jake McCallister, Cristian Hernandez & Brecca Liuzza; and lifelong friends, Nada Butler & Linda Husser.

Also preceded in death by her husband, F T Swinney.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Friday, October 24, 2008 from 9:00AM until Religious Services at the Funeral Home Chapel at 11:00AM with Deacon Mike Agnello officiating. Interment in the Amite Memorial Gardens.

An-on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W next to Coggins-Gentry Ford.

 

 

Chinese Pastor’s Son Regains Consciousness
By Staff of Baptist Press

BEIJING (BP)–The oldest son of a prominent Chinese house church leader has regained consciousness and has spoken about his severe beating at the hands of government officials, saying he wanted to die if his story would cause people to grasp how shameless the persecution of Christians in China has become.

Zhang Jian, the son of “Pastor Bike” Zhang Mingxuan, chairman of the Federation House Church movement, was beaten by officers of China’s Public Security Bureau Oct. 16. The next day, he was able to speak with staff from China Aid Association, a human rights organization based in the United States.

China Aid reported that Zhang Jian’s right eye is severely wounded and doctors are unsure whether he will regain sight. His nose bone and eye bone are broken, and doctors have recommended further CAT scans and surgery. Despite his serious condition, the pastor’s son left the hospital because PSB officials were watching him there and he feared for his safety, China Aid said.

“I could not believe human beings could be so evil,” Zhang Jian told China Aid by phone. “Where is law, where is justice? I was crying out to the Lord. I felt I was dying and told the Lord, ‘Lord, please take my life as a martyr.

“‘Maybe this is the only way to awaken the conscience of the world and for the Chinese to open their eyes to see clearly that this is the religious freedom in China,'” Zhang Jian added. “‘I would like to die if my life could be used as a wakeup call and could help Chinese brothers and sisters further more freedom to worship the Lord freely — to demonstrate the darkness here in China.'”

Zhang Jian explained that his mother called him around noon the day of the beating and asked him to come to her apartment because plainclothes officers “along with hired thugs” had broken in and were throwing her belongings onto the street.

“When I got there, I saw my mom lying on the ground, being knocked down by these thugs who were led by a man who claimed to be the cousin of the property owner with whom my parents had signed two-year rental contract less than a month ago,” Zhang Jian told China Aid. “My younger brother Zhang Chuang was badly beaten up already with his mouth swollen bleeding.

“I asked, ‘How can you guys throw other people’s private items on the street?’ I tried to use my body to protect my mom from being hurt by them. Then this group of 15 officers and thugs immediately surrounded me and started beating my head and body with iron bars and said, ‘You are the one. We need to teach you a lesson as troublemaker.’

“I was very angry and upset in the beginning,” Zhang Jian said. “How could this happen in the daytime? My parents do not deserve to be treated like this just simply being preachers of the Gospel. My blood ran over from upstairs to the downstairs until I lost consciousness.”

Zhang Mingxuan, the pastor, was traveling in Yunnan province at the time and was unable to be contacted. Once Zhang Jian lost consciousness, his younger brother called 110, the Chinese equivalent to 911, but police did not arrive for more than an hour, Zhang Chuang told China Aid. Chinese law requires the police to arrive within 10 minutes of a call, and the PSB office is in close proximity to the Zhang residence.

“Ironically, seeing the police arrive, one of the guys who beat up my brother pretended to fall down, claiming he was beaten up by my brother Zhang Jian,” Zhang Chuang said. “Then the police even called in the ambulance to help that guy who was not hurt or wounded at all. But the ambulance refused to come to rescue my brother whose clothes were soaked with his blood all over after our repeated plea to 110. How could he or how dare he fight back when surrounded by 15 strong guys with iron bars? It’s very evil and is a joke to claim he could beat others at that time.”

Zhang Jian told China Aid that the doctors wanted him to have surgery to correct some of his wounds, but his family did not have the appropriate funds.

“I want to see some justice to be done and I want my father to be back home,” he said. “Where can we find a place to stay? No one in Beijing is able to host us. Pray for us, especially for my mom. She is exhausted.”

Chinese officials also have attempted to shut down the house church where Zhang Mingxuan preaches. On Oct. 10, police sealed the door of the church and blocked it with two truckloads of garbage. Officials were not letting anyone enter the church and had cut off electricity, even though the government just weeks earlier had given the church permission to meet, China Aid said.

“The physical assault on Zhang Jian is the most serious of the recent attacks on Zhang Jian and his family. During the past 22 years, Zhang Jian’s father, Pastor Bike, has been arrested 26 times, beaten and evicted from his home numerous times because of his faith,” the human rights group said. “Despite the persecution, this family continues to boldly preach and help the house church Christians.”

China Aid is assisting Zhang Jian and his family with medical expenses, legal help and other needs, the association said, and concerned citizens are urged to contact the Chinese Embassy by writing to 2201 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20007 or by calling 202-338-6688.

Compiled by Baptist Press staff writer Erin Roach.

Be thoughtful and prayerful of these needs this Thursday.

Anna Lee