Category: Death Notice(s)

Monday

“Then he said to his disciples,

‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore,

to send out workers into his harvest field.’”

~Matthew 9:37-38, NKJV~

The children in the AWANA program last night showed how much they have learned. I am so proud of all of them!

Thanks to all who helped with the spaghetti fund raiser for the youth yesterday. I don’t know how much money was raised, but will let you know later.

Associational VBS Clinic

  • Tuesday, May 6
  • Spring Creek Baptist Church
  • 6:30 – Light Meal
  • 7:00 – Training Clinic
  • Volunteers still needed

Mother’s Day

  • Sunday, May 11
  • Parent/Child Dedication
    • Call the church office is you and your child would like to participate
  • No evening activities

Deacon Hospital Visitation

  • James Miller
  • Harrell Sharkey

Sunday School Leadership Meeting

  • Tuesday, May 13
  • 7:00 P.M.

Pearl Louise Mixon
(March 9, 1923 – May 3, 2008)

Died at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Baton Rouge. She was a native of Bolivar and a resident of Baton Rouge. Age 85 years. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Beulah Cemetery, Tangipahoa. She is survived by her 2 sisters, Norma Varnado, Kentwood, and Agnes Mitchell, Tallulah; 2 nieces, Mary Lee Blanchard, Amite and Carole Frey, Simpsonville, SC; 2 nephews, Michael Varnado and his wife, Barbara, Zachary, and Bill Varnado and his wife, Angela, Springfield. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leslie and Lula Crawford Mixon; brother, Hilton Mixon; sister, Tincie Hayden.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor


A STORY IS told of a man whose wife had deserted him for another man…

She had succeeded in taking away their children. The estranged husband had given into depression and lost his business. Broken hearted and ruined, he became obsessed with the enormity of his troubles and refused every offer of encouragement and hope. The day came when he heard a great sermon on Christ having been “in all points tempted like as we are,” but rather than being comforted he resented the sermon and told the preacher. “Yes, Jesus suffered many things, but he never had a wife and family stolen from him. He was never married, never had children, so that’s suffering he never knew.”

The preacher wisely responded, “You have seen an accomplished violinist play a great variety of music. There are only four strings on his violin, but they can produce both dances and dirges. The same four strings can cover the whole range. No, Jesus did not experience your trials in the same details, but he endured the broad range of disappointment, desertion, grief, pain, and even dying, so that the strings of his heart can vibrate with all the sad songs of life’s bitterest experiences.” (David Pharr)

“For we do not have a High Priest

who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,

but was in all points tempted as we are,

yet without sin.”

~Heb. 4:15~

Saturday Evening

Joan Hagan is doing well. She plans to be back at church in one week.

She asks for us to remember her younger daughter, Rachel O’Brian, in our prayers. Rachel has injured her back.

Helen C. Brumfield

(September 3, 1912 – May 3, 2008)

Died at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite. She was a native and a resident of Amite, LA . Age 95 years. Visitation at First Baptist Church, Amite, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 3 p.m. Monday. Services conducted by Rev. Mike Foster. Interment Amite Cemetery, Amite. She is survived by her son, Tom Ed Brumfield and wife, Irene, Amite; nephew, Earl Cefalu, Jr., Amite; 3 nieces, Mary Helen Lokey, Dallas, TX, Kathy Cefalu, Winston Salem, NC and Martha Lee Palotta, Baton Rouge; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie Lee Brumfield; brother, Earl Cefalu, Sr.; parents, C. Thomas and Nellie Helmers Cefalu. She was a graduate of Amite High School in 1930 as Valedictorian and Class President, a graduate of H. Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University in 1934, received her Master’s Degree from Louisiana State University in 1931 and received her Certification in Special Education from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1962. She taught English and Spanish at Amite High School where she became the school’s first Guidance Counselor. She later worked at Amite Elementary in Special Education and Testing. She retired from Southeastern Louisiana University as Director Emeritus of Testing and Orientation in 1976. She was the longest living member of First Baptist Church of Amite and was a member of the Board of Directors and Secretary of the Florida Parishes Skeet and Gun Club for over 30 years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to First Baptist Church of Amite.

Saturday

Plans go wrong for lack of advice;

many counselors bring success.

~Proverbs 15:22 (NLT)~

From Angela Shockley

Prayer request for all college students who are preparing for finals. Many students in the community begin testing Monday.

Pray for high school and college seniors as they take make plans for next step in their lives.

Joan Hagan is home after having some breathing problems following surgery. Her foot that was injured in fall last week is much better. Please keep her in your prayers.

Felix Estevan Irving Sr.
A resident of Morgan City, he died at 1:07 p.m. Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Thibodaux Regional Medical following a long illness. He was 82, a native of Amite and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, receiving the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon, the Victory and the American Area and Radio Award. Visiting at Jones Funeral Home, Morgan City, on Saturday, May 3, from 8 a.m. until funeral rite at 10:30 a.m., the Rev. Chrispin F. Smith, officiating. The East St. Mary Veteran Funeral Squad will perform at the graveside service. Entombment in Morgan City Mausoleum. Preceded in death by his wife and parents. Survived by his son, Felix II and spouse Betty Irving, of Lawton, Okla.; daughter, Sharon Ann Irving, of Morgan City; brother, Eugene Sr. and spouse Sylvia Irving, of Hammond; sister, Rubie Mae Frazier, of Greensburg; uncle, Leroy “Brother” Tucker, of Amite; two aunts, Helen T. Rankin, of New Orleans, and Jennie T. Morris, of Los Angeles; a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, two grandchildren, a great-grandchild, five godchildren and a close friend, Mozella Triggs, of Patterson. Donations may be made to U.A.E. Comprehensive Center for Prostate Cancer, Office of Development W.T.I., 530 3rd Ave. S., Birmingham, AL 35294-3300.

Rapid Response Team Deploys

Following Virginia Tornadoes

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has deployed their crisis-trained chaplains in response to the tornadoes that tore through Virginia on April 28. According to news reports, the tornadoes damaged more than 140 homes and injured at least 200 people. The largest volume of damage is in Suffolk, Va., located in the South Hampton Roads area of southeastern Virginia.

“The deployment will be centered in Suffolk,” said Jack Munday, director of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. “We currently have two chaplains on-site in Virginia and are expecting that the number will increase over the coming days as we seek to meet the needs of those affected by these storms.”

The deployment will be in support of the Emergency Operation Center; the Virginia Department of Emergency Management; and Operation Blessing, based in Virginia Beach, Va.

Once again, the Rapid Response Team will work alongside Samaritan’s Purse, a disaster relief organization also headed by Franklin Graham. “We value our relationship with Samaritan’s Purse,” says Munday. “In most tragic situations like this, there are many needs—physical, emotional, and spiritual. When our two groups work together, it allows us to respond in a comprehensive way to all of these needs.”

This is the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team’s eighth deployment of 2008, following deployments to Jackson and Lafayette, Tenn., and Clinton, Ark., following the deadly tornadoes in the region; Northern Illinois University following the Valentine’s Day shooting of several students; Kenya, Africa (a training deployment educating pastors and church leaders in how to respond to the violence in their country earlier this year); and Piedmont and Delta, Mo., following flooding earlier this month.

Please pray:

* for the survivors of this tragedy
* for the chaplains who will be ministering on the scene
* that many will come to know Christ in the midst of sorrow

I hope you have some time today to read some of these articles.

Baptist Press

FLORIDA–Soldier killed with Bible nearby. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27973

CHINA–Jailed Chinese Christian faces new charges. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27974

TENNESSEE–Urgent action needed against CBS’ ‘Dexter.’ http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27975

TENNESSEE–‘Expelled’ producer pleased with box office. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27976

ARKANSAS–Church lost, 7 killed in Ark. Storms. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27977

NICARAGUA–New homes in Nicaragua show Christ’s love. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27978

TENNESSEE–CULTURE DIGEST: Only 5% of adults tithed last year, Barna says. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27979

LOUISIANA–FIRST-PERSON (Kelly Boggs): Pop culture & teen stars. http://www.bpnews.net/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=27980


I don’t know who wrote this, but it was sent to me by Mr. K.K. Kennedy.


Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
J oy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of “Camp Complaining”
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To “thank” is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We’ll run the race with gratitude
X alting God most high
Y es, there’ll be good times and yes some will be bad, but…
Z ion waits in glory…where none are ever sad!

Be safe!

Anna Lee

Thursday

“And they continued steadfastly

in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship,

in the breaking of bread, and in prayers…

and the Lord added to the church daily

those who were being saved.”

~Acts 2:42-47~

Joan Hagan is hoping to be able to come home today.

Kenneth Birch has had gall bladder surgery and is already home. Pray for him as he recovers.

Mr. Henry Harris continues to be in ICU at North Oaks. Your prayers will be greatly appreciated.

Mike Nason is in Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge. Please remember to pray for him.


This email from my cousin’s wife was sent out yesterday. My aunt and uncle sent it onto me. Please continue to pray for M as she waits to hear about the body scan, as she takes college finals this week, and as she is a mother and wife.

Thank you for praying!

Melinda

I have had several e-mails over the last couple of days so if you are wondering what is happening with me I am unfortunately in a holding pattern. I had my full body scan last Friday which I thought went great. I was in and out very quickly. I have my appointment with the oncologist this coming Monday the 5th to get the results and he will tell me what is next. Please pray that the cancer is contained and has not spread. The worst part right now is just knowing that it is there and no one is doing anything to stop it yet!!!

I am in the middle of finals week at school and cramming like crazy! Please pray I can stay focused on my school work and not think about the cancer….I can not even begin to tell you how hard that is!

Thank you all so much…I love you all and I am strong and positive because I have Jesus and all of you!!!

M


Bobby Lee Kirby
Bobby Kirby died Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at Lakeview Regional Medical Center in Covington. He was 78, a native of Osyka, Miss., and a resident of Greensburg. He worked as a machinist at Exxon for 10 years and worked at Gulfsouth in Ponchatoula for 17 years. Visitation at Amite Church of Christ, Amite, on Friday, May 2, from 9 a.m. until service at noon, conducted by Brother John Fulda. Interment in Greensburg Cemetery, Greensburg. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Myrtle Willis Kirby, of Greensburg; daughter, Carolyn Beth Kirby Blouin and husband Selwyn, of Gurley; daughter-in-law, Kathy Kirby; and four grandchildren, Katie Kirby, Zane Kirby, Lex Blouin and Beau and wife Andrea Merritt Blouin. He was preceded in death by his parents, John V. and Mamie Frazier Kirby; two brothers, Johnny Edward and Zelion Quinn; infant daughter, Madeline Gail Kirby; and son, Timothy Randall Kirby. Pallbearers will be Selwyn Blouin, Beau Blouin, Lex Blouin, Zane Kirby, Dennis Kirby and Bob Harvin. Honorary pallbearers are Carlton Drew, Roger Navarra and Emerson Newman. Bobby Kirby served in World War II as an airplane and engine mechanic in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Amite Church of Christ and on the board of directors of the Amite Church of Christ Daycare. Memorial donations may be made to The Crossroads Youth Ranch, 62300 Russell Town Road, Roseland, LA 70456 or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Share sympathies, condolences, memories at http:// http://www.charletfuneralhome .com.

‘Saw Man’ Shares Jesus After Disasters
By Mickey Noah
VANDUSER, Mo. (BP)–As the guys on the Arkansas disaster chainsaw team — tired after a long day of working a recent Missouri storm — ate their dinner at a local Southern Baptist church, the big, burly man who came in was impossible to miss. Imagine John the Baptist with a Stihl chainsaw.

Dressed in blue denim, with a full, graying beard and huge hands, Tom Stanton dropped by their table and asked if they needed any chainsaws sharpened.

“The Saw Man,” as Stanton is called, didn’t have to ask twice. Any operator of a chainsaw knows that a dull chainsaw is useless, and sharpening chainsaws is a prickly job best left to experts. And The Saw Man is just that.

Stanton’s unique chainsaw-sharpening ministry is valuable to Southern Baptist disaster relief chainsaw teams who respond to ice storms, tornadoes, hurricanes and other disasters.

Stanton, 53, calls Deer River, Minn. — about 100 miles south of the Canadian border — home. Until last October, he pastored a small church there.

Now, his “day job” is running a shear/scissor sharpening business.

Stanton’s disaster relief ministry began 2001 when a major tornado hit Siren, Wis. The following day — after a sleepless night — he felt “called” to go to Wisconsin.

“I had no clue what I was going to do,” said Stanton, who first learned to sharpen chainsaws as an 18-year-old logger in Montana. “My first paycheck was a chainsaw.

“In Wisconsin, I found guys who didn’t know how to file chainsaws. So I volunteered and started sharpening. People came out of the woodwork. I sharpened chains with a file for three days until a preacher got me a 12-volt rotary tool. Then I sharpened for another 10 days.”

That was the beginning of Stanton’s chainsaw-sharpening ministry. He doesn’t know for sure but figures he’s sharpened thousands of chainsaws in the wake of disasters, including Hurricane Katrina. He doesn’t charge a penny.

Financially, how does Stanton cover his expenses? What about $3-plus-a-gallon gasoline for the Ford pickup truck he must drive to disasters? What about tools? Lodging? Food?

“God provides,” Stanton said. “The people are really generous with me.” He said God gave him his sharpening business back home, which provides most of his day-to-day financial needs.

“Through the years, God has provided for me miraculously with a small camper/trailer, a generator and even with my truck, given to me by a Christian friend from my hometown. Last year, someone gave me a GPS so I won’t get lost!”

These days, Stanton is too professional to use files or even his original rotary tool to sharpen saws. Now he uses a Dremel tool.

“Dremel Company now provides me with all my tools. In fact, I was invited to their plant in Racine, Wis., to teach their people how to use their tool.” With the Dremel device, Stanton does not have to remove the chain from the chainsaw to sharpen it, which saves significant time and effort.

During the first two weeks after Hurricane Katrina, someone estimated that Stanton sharpened 2,000 chainsaws in Louisiana and Mississippi. He worked as many as 20 hours a day.

“Since I can leave the chain right on the saw, I can pull up to a bunch of guys and easily sharpen 10 saws an hour,” Stanton said. “When I have someone to hand me the saws, I can do 16 an hour. Hand-filing takes up to 20 minutes apiece. This helps the disaster relief teams get back to work faster.”

Why would a man who’s had both hips replaced — and who last year suffered a heart attack requiring 10 stents — chase natural disasters around the country to sharpen chainsaws for strangers?

“It’s really hard for me to stand back and see somebody else hurting,” Stanton said. “I’ve been crippled up through the years. Since 1997, I haven’t been able to do much physically for people except for chainsaw sharpening. It’s a tremendous need.”

Stanton even has a Bible verse, Ecclesiastes 10: 9-10, that reflects his ministry: “… the one who cuts wood may be endangered by doing it. If the axe is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength….”

“God has allowed me to see many people make professions of faith in Jesus Christ. I go to disasters, sharpen chainsaws and tell people how to avoid the world’s greatest disaster,” which Stanton says is rejecting Christ.

At a disaster site, Stanton witnesses to the public during the day as he sharpens their chainsaws. He gives out tracts and New Testaments from a five-gallon pail he calls the “Bucket of Hope.” At night, he sharpens chainsaws for disaster relief workers, including those from Southern Baptist teams — counseling, challenging and encouraging Christian men in their walks with God.

Stanton would like to see his chainsaw sharpening ministry go full-time.

“I’d love to go to fires, ice storms, snowstorms — do it full-time if the Lord opened up the door for it.”

He’s also eager to train others on the fine points of chainsaw sharpening. In fact, he’s taught two classes for the Mississippi Baptist Convention.

“I’d love to teach chainsaw sharpening as an evangelistic ministry to every association — just to equip people to get out there. I’m just praying that God will raise up more people to do what I do.”

Fritz Wilson, Florida Baptists’ director of disaster relief and recovery, has known Stanton for several years, working several hurricanes and other disasters with him. He calls Stanton a “super” Christian with a unique ministry.

“He comes in and sharpens our saws, and then goes out in the community and offers to sharpen anyone’s saw,” Wilson said. “Tom has a unique ministry and uses sharpening to parallel the Christian life and walk. He tells people that we can’t be good tools for Christ unless we stay sharp.”

In 2007 alone, the North American Mission Board tallied thousands of tree-removal jobs performed by disaster relief volunteers throughout the United States. While state Southern Baptist conventions provide the manpower and most equipment, NAMB coordinates multi-state disaster responses and partners with national relief groups like the American Red Cross and Salvation Army to ensure vital services reach the most critical-need areas quickly.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor


AT THE END of her first quarter at the university, Lenora came home and announced: “I am not going to church anymore…!”

Her parents were shocked. “Lenora, what happened?” wailed Mom. “You have all those awards for perfect attendance! And you’ve always seemed glad to worship God.”

“I no longer believe in God; he is a myth,” she replied bluntly. “Dr. Phillips has taught me the truth.”

“How did Dr. Phillips teach you that God is a myth?” asked her dad.

“It really wasn’t hard. He pointed out that apples do not grow in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley.”

“Well?” Lenora’s father was inquisitive.

“Dad.” Lenora was impatient. “That being true, the first story in the Bible, the creation story, is a myth. The Garden of Eden was in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley, so Eve could not have eaten an apple as the Bible says. And if that story is a myth, what not all the others?”

“Hold on a minute, Lenora. Let’s answer three questions. First, do we know the location of the Garden of Eden? No. Second, do we know the nature of the climate in the Garden? No. And third, what kind of fruit was forbidden? The Bible does not say. The myth here is the apple. Did Dr. Phillips read the Scriptures?”

Lenora shrugged her shoulders and walked away. To Lenora, her dad was a good, old-fashioned man. Dr. Phillips was her authority. Facts no longer mattered to her. She had decided that all truth is relative, and what she had come to believe was right for her. Nothing else mattered. (Robert L. Waggoner)

KneEmail: “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” (Heb. 3:13).

Today is the National Day of Prayer. In Kentwood, the event will be celebrated at the City Hall monument at from 12:30 – 1:00 this afternoon. You are invited to attend and bring others with you. You can find more information at http://www.ndptf.org/home/home.html

If you are unable to attend a prayer rally, you can have prayer wherever you are. The main point is to pray for our great nation!

Anna Lee

Tuesday Afternoon

Claudie Mae Harrell
(May 9, 1935 – April 28, 2008)
A loving and dedicated wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was a housewife in Amite County for 30 years and a native of Kentwood, LA for 10 years. She was born May 9, 1935, and passed from this world to the arms of her Savior on April 28, 2008. She was 72 and a member of Line Creek Baptist Church. Visitation at Line Creek Baptist Church, Kentwood, LA on Tuesday, April 29, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitation resumes at the Line Creek Baptist Church on Wednesday from 9 a.m. until religious service at 11 a.m. conducted by Pastor Ken Irvin. Preceded by husband, Robert Lane Harrell, Sr. and grandson, Matthew Harrell. Survived by 2 sons, Robert Lane Harrell, Jr., McComb, MS and Hansel Harrell, Springfield, LA; a daughter, Rachel Harrell, Osyka, MS; 8 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren. Also survived by 2 sisters, Doris Davis, Hillsdale, LA and Pauline Wayne, Amite, LA; brother, J.P. Nobles, Walker, LA; and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Charles Harrell, Joseph Harrell, Jeremy Stewart, Hansel Harrell, Jr., Jason Harrell, Dustin Fair, Kenneth Phillips, and James Dillion. In Lieu of Flowers, please make donations to the Heart and Lung Foundation.

Sunday

People who cover over their sins will not prosper.

But if they confess and forsake them,

they will receive mercy.

Proverbs 28:13 (NLT)

Thanks to all of you who participated in On Mission in Kentwood. It was a very meaningful day for those volunteered and for those whose homes and yards were improved in any way.

Please pray for Glenda Schilling. She has several health issues and still manages to check daily on her mother in the nursing home.

Please pray for Frann Clark, a native of Kentwood.


I have five of my 18 sessions of the prescribed physcial therapy remaining. It has definitely not helped me. In fact, I am not doing as well as I was at my first session. Hopefully, the remaining ones will help me. Please pray for this to happen.

May 6 I will see an eye doctor to discuss cataract surgery. William Mixon “Bill in Lake Charles” is in the clinic. Unfortunately, he is not the one who does the surgery. Please pray for me, the doctor, and the staff as these plans are made.

Pray for all of us as Riley continues to need more care. I need to be well so I can provide more assistance to him.
thank you for praying
Frann Smith Clark


Gary Virgil Travis died at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, April 25, 2008, at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond. He was 66, a native of Roseland and a resident of Kentwood. Mr. Travis was a class of 1959 graduate of Amite High School. He received a degree from LSU School of Banking. His banking career began at First Guaranty Bank, Amite, in 1966, and spanned 42 years at Central Progressive Bank, Kentwood and First Guaranty Bank, Kentwood, as manager and vice president. He was a member of Amite City Lodge 175, F&AM and was owner of The End of the Lane Mountain Biking Trail, Kentwood. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday and at Roseland Baptist Church, Roseland, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Services conducted by the Rev. John Scaffner, the Rev. Gary Wieborg and the Rev. Neal Barr. Special music will be performed by Denny Barr. Sunset service will be held at Arcola-Roseland Cemetery, Roseland. Survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Gilbert and Susan Travis, Fort Smith, Ark.; nephews, Mark Travis and his wife, Jennifer, Fayetteville, Ark., and James Travis and his wife, Sarah, Fort Smith; great-nephew, Luke Travis, Fayetteville; great-niece, Helen Travis, Fayetteville; longtime family friends, Craig T. Martin, Connie Thomas and Candy Dyson; and man’s best friend and faithful companion, Sweetie. Preceded in death by wife, Joyce Wynn Travis; and parents, Hardy Virgil Travis and Ethel Rutland Travis. Pallbearers will be Mark Travis, James Travis, Chuck Reid, Peyton Travis, Tom Evans, M.D., Advell Ricks, Stan Dameron and William L. Travis III. Honorary pallbearers are Danny Richardson, Wayne Verbene, Ronny Hayden, Mitchell Massey, Frank Broussard and Michael Lofaso. Memorial contributions may be made to Joyce Travis Memorial Scholarship Fund at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Decision Magazine Weekly E-mail Devotional


He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved (Psalm 62:2, NKJV).

A Word From Billy Graham

If you are saved from sin, you are saved through a personal faith in the Gospel of Christ as defined in the Scriptures. Though it may at first seem dogmatic and narrow to you, the fact remains that there is no other way. The Bible says, “I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you. … For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4, NKJV).


Have a wonderful Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Friday Afternoon

Please add Kim Jarreau to the prayor list, she is a lab teck. at Greensburg Hospital.

Gary Virgil Travis
(December 7, 1941 – April 25, 2008)

Died at 9:15AM on Friday, April 25, 2008 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, LA. He was a native of Roseland, LA and a resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 66 years. Mr. Travis was a class of 1959 graduate of Amite High School. He received a degree from LSU School of Banking. His banking career began at First Guarnaty Bank, Amite, in 1966 and spanned 42 years at Central Progressive Bank, Kentwood and First Guaranty Bank, Kentwood, as manager and vice-president. He was member of Amite City Lodge #175, F&AM and was owner of The End of the Lane Mountain Biking Trail, Kentwood, LA. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Sunday and at First Baptist Church, Roseland, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Services conducted by Rev. John Scaffner and Rev. Gary Wieborg. Sepcial music will be performed by Denny Barr. Sunset Services will be held at Arcola-Roseland Cemetery, Roseland, LA. Survived by brother and sister-in-law, Gilbert and Susan Travis, Ft. Smith, AR, nephew, Mark Travis and his wife, Jennifer, Fayetteville, AR, James Travis and his wife, Sarah, Ft. Smith, AR, great-nephew, Luke Travis, Fayetteville, AR, great-niece, Helen Travis, Fayetteville, AR, long time family friends, Craig T. Martin, Conie Thomas, and Candy Dyson. Man’s best fiend and faithful companion, Sweetie. Preceded in death by wife, Joyce Wynn Travis, parents, Hardy Virgil Travis and Ethel Rutland Travis. Pallbearers will be Mark Travis, James Travis, Chuck Reid, Peyton Travis, Tom Evans, M.D., Advell Ricks, Stan Dameron, and Michael Lofaso. Honorary pallbearers will be Danny Richardson, Wayne Verbene, Ronny Hayden, Mitchell Massey, and Frank Broussard. Memorial Contributions may be made to Joyce Travis Memorial Scholarship Fund at Southeastern Louisiana University.

I have known Gary all my life. His family lived around the corner from my family. Please pray for those who cared about Gary and will miss him.

Anna Lee

Monday Afternoon

From Wendy Fowler:

Would you please add the family of Renee Nicholson to the prayer link. Renee was the mother of one of my first grade students. She passed away last night at her home. She was fairly young, so this was a shock to everyone. Elizabeth, my student, is a sweet little girl. Please be in prayer for her as she travels through this difficult time in her life.

Renee Lillie Nicholson

(May 27, 1965 – April 21, 2008)

Died at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, April 21, 2008 at her residence in Kentwood. She was a native of Tacoma, WA. Age 42 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Interment Wales Cemetery, Greensburg. She is survived by her husband, Douglas R. Nicholson; son, Donovan Douglas Nicholson; daughter, Elizabeth Annette Nicholson; mother, Annette Hutchinson and husband, James, all of Kentwood; 2 sisters, Beth Slaven, Newberry, SC and Freida Davis, Kentwood; brother, Willie Lillie, Jr., Kentwood; grandfather, Herbert Grace, Kentwood. She was preceded in death by her father, Willie Lillie, Sr.; grandparents, Percy and Maggie Lillie, Fannie Miller Grace and Mallie McClendon Grace.

 

Leland J. Durbin, Sr.

(September 11, 1922 – April 21, 2008)

Died at 4:00 a.m. on Monday, April 21, 2008 at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite. He was a native and a resident of Amite and a U. S. Army Veteran. Age 85 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 8:30 a.m. until religious services at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday. Services conducted by Rev. David Luce. Interment Montpelier Cemetery, Montpelier. He is survived by his wife, Sadie Holden Durbin, Amite; 2 daughters, Gloria Mobley and husband, Andy, West Monroe and Susan Durbin, West Monroe; son, Leland J. Durbin, Jr. and wife, Jennifer, Amite; step-daughter, Carol Strider and husband, Michael, West Monroe; step-son, David Smith and wife, Jo Ann, Amite; 2 sisters, Myrle Durbin, Hammond and Vera King, Montpelier; brother, Carol Durbin, Hammond; 17 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, Boney and Louise Starns Durbin; twin sister, Lela Mae Durbin; brother, Melvin Durbin.

Sunday

“We know that we have passed from death to life,

because we love other believers.”

1 John 3:14 (GWT)

 

Majel Dean said Jesse is doing better. He still gets tired easily. Please continue to be in prayer for Jesse and Majel.

From Melinda Russell:

I have a personal prayer request I would like you to pray for. I learned from my mother that my cousin’s wife has cervical cancer. Since they do not have insurance she had put off going to the doctor. When she did finally go, the doctor knew she needed surgery. The initial surgery was to remove a mass, but when the surgeon saw it, he did a biopsy. The report that came back last Thursday was not good. PRAY for an oncologist to see her ASAP. She will be going to a public hospital that sees many people. M is in her late 30’s or close to 40, I think. They have a son in college and two little girls, the oldest in elementary school and the other is 4 or 5 years old. They were both born after we came to Romania so I am not quite sure of their ages.

We know our Lord is the God of healing. Pray for his healing hands to touch M. Pray for the whole family to feel God’s loving hands on them during this time. To give them peace, strength, and assurance that he is with them throughout the whole period. Pray they will feel his guidance as they make decisions in regards to her treatment.

Thank you for praying!

Melinda

http://www.rogerlrussellfamily.blogspot.com/

http://www.imbromania.ro


Willie Zane Johnson
(August 31, 1958 – April 19, 2008)

Died at 3:46 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, 2008 at his residence in Bolivar, LA. He was a native of Amite, LA. Age 49 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 10 a.m. on Monday until religious services at 12 Noon Monday. Interment Arcola-Roseland Cemetery, Roseland, LA. Survived by step-daughter, Patricia Parnell, 3 sisters, Beverly Rohnbacker, Bolivar, Carol Bowlin, Baton Rouge, Joy Travis, Leesville, brother, Ronald Joe Johnson, Thomas. Preceded in death by father, Harvey Eugene Johnson, mother, Lillian Elizabeth Husser Johnson, paternal grandparents who raised him, Vern Aubrey Lambert and Willie Mae Lewis Lambert, maternal grandparents, Johnny Mulina Husser and Ozzie Ellen Mulina Husser, brothers, Johnny Aubrey Johnson, Harvey Eugene Johnson, Jr., sisters, Janice Benet’ Johnson, Jill Renee Johnson Seals.

The On Mission Celebration last night was very good and very well attended. If you missed it, you missed something special. If you were there, you know what I was talking about. Thanks to those of you who supported this project in any way. Each of the eighteen churches that participated last night will have missionaries speaking in their church today. I anticipate you will feel a challenge today as they tell us about missions.

Immunity

No matter how hard we try to be good, Franklin Graham reminds us that we all fail to measure up to God’s standards…but we do have hope:

We are all guilty, as far as God is concerned. And the Bible says we’ve all sinned, that we’ve all come short of God’s glory, and that the penalty of sin is death. We want an advocate who can stand before God on our behalf, who can speak on our behalf–24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We want an advocate that will never leave us, never forsake us. That advocate is the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Have you put your faith and trust in Him? If you have, you know that you have immunity.

To learn how to put your trust and faith in Jesus Christ, call us here at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, toll free, at 866-JESUS CARES.


Have a great Lord’s Day! Make sure you give it to Him.

Anna Lee

Friday

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me.”

~Psalm 34:4a~

My family is very much in need of prayers in reguards to my husbands health and our finances everything always seems to come at us at once
Please Pray for us…
Thank You
Lori Singleton

Please continue to pray for Mr.Henry Harrison. Pray for “Miss” Emma, his wife and caregiver too.

Pray for Mr. Bully Schwartz, one of the oldest members of our church.

Susan Ann Westmoreland Todd
(July 6, 1946 – April 16, 2008)

Susan Ann Westmoreland Todd was released to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at the age of 61. She was the adored wife of James Ora Todd for over 40 years. She was the loving mother of James Madison Todd and his wife, Dana Todd, Huntersville, NC and grandmother of Joshua Todd and Noah Todd. She was the sister of Carol Beyerback, Kenner and Fred Westmoreland, Alexandria and the late Terri Giglio and Mary Brown. She was the daughter of the late Carol Vidross and Fred Westmoreland. A strong woman of faith whose purpose was to see the message of Christ spread throughout the world. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation to be held at First Baptist Church of Arcola on the evening of Friday, April 18, 2008 from 6:00PM until 9:00PM and after 8:00AM until funeral services at 10:00AM on Saturday, April 19, 2008 conducted by Rev. Bob Simpson. Interment will follow in First Baptist Church of Arcola Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Susan wished donations to be made to Baptist Missionary Bibles for distribution.

Ellis Sharpe, Sr.
(May 15, 1929 – April 16, 2008)

Died on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at Ocshner Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA. He was a native and a resident of Independence, LA. Age 79 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 2:00 p.m. Saturday. Services conducted by Rev. Mitch Williams. Interment Durbin Cemetery, Independence, LA. He is survived by his 4 daughters, Cheryl Boudreaux and husband, Larry, Denham Springs, Glenda Sharpe, Denham Springs, Aimie Morehead, Hawaii and Regina Pruitt, Colorado; 2 sons, Ellis Sharpe, Jr. and wife, Marcy, Denham Springs and Roger Sharpe and wife, Ima Jean, Ponchatoula; 17 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pearlie Rodriguez Sharpe; daughter, Faye Marie Sharpe; parents, Esco and Lillie Rainey Sharpe; brother, Joseph Sharpe; sister, Gertrude Rumfola.

William C. Peterson
(August 3, 1933 – April 16, 2008)

Mr. William C. Peterson died at his residence in Independence, La. at 8:09 AM on Wednesday, April 16, 2008. He was 74 years old, a native of Lorraine, Texas and a resident of Independence, La. Visitation at McKneely and Vaughn Funeral Home on Friday April 18, 2008 from 1:00PM until 3:00PM. The family will have Religious Services and Graveside Services on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at the Green Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, Sapulpa, Oklahoma. He is survived by his first wife Tish Fruge’, Gonzales, La., 3 Daughters; Vicki Lentz, Independence, Rhea Sawyer, St. Amant, Diana Peterson, Tulsa, Ok., Son; Lee Peterson, Greenville, S.C., Stepson; Lynn Flurry, Baton Rouge, Sister; Ann Nelson, Kellyville, OK., 8 Grandchildren; Amanda, Shelby, Brittney, Jenny, Corey, Brady, P.J., Allison, 5 Great-Grandchildren; Gage, Bryson, Hayden, Caden, Ryan. He was a member of the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers Union for 20+ years. Preceded in death by; Parents; H.C. and Willie Mae Peterson, 2nd Wife; Libby Flurry Peterson, 2 Sisters; Helen Garner, Frances Holmes and 1 Son; Ashley Durand Hudson.

KOMpray

Kids on Mission Pray

April 18, 2008

“Let the little children come to Me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,” Luke 18:16b

“WORDLESS BOOK”

A 12-year-old boy in Colombia has been hospitalized with a chronic sickness. It is so bad that he needs surgery to get well. Before he went to the hospital, this little boy and his family went to the New Paradise Baptist Church; and the people of the church prayed for him to get well. A missionary met the little boy that day and saw that he was very sick. She encouraged his mom and dad to take him to the hospital. The missionary visited the 12-year-old in his hospital room and told him about Jesus by using the “wordless book.” **

The 12-year-old boy asked Jesus into his heart right then. Both of his parents have also asked Jesus to be their Savior. Please pray for this young boy that he will have the surgery he needs and get better soon. Ask God to help him and his parents to grow in what they understand about Jesus as they read the Bible and pray.

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

Please pray that I can find new friends in my new neighborhood. JACK, age 10 (South Asia)

My best friend is Liza. She plays with me when there’s nobody to play outside. I go over to her house to play too. Lots of times we chase goats and piggies. Animals aren’t kept in cages or anything here, people just let them go wherever they want. At nighttime, people bring them back home. Liza’s mom’s pig just had four babies. Please pray that she can sell the baby pigs to get money for their family. MELODY, age 7 (West Africa)

Please ask God to help my friends and all the other people in the world to believe in God. KM, age 8 (East Asia)

Please pray for my friend, MK. I shared the gospel with her and she pretty much rejected everything I said. I know she wasn’t rejecting me but was rejecting Jesus. Please pray that God will keep working in her heart and that she will see the truth about Christianity. Pray for me to continue to be bold in sharing my faith with her and everyone else I happen to meet. ASHLEY, age 13 (Pacific Rim)

Several times each week, I go with my mom and dad to visit our Hausa friends. My friends and I like to play soccer and play in the sand. My friends have never heard that Jesus loves them. My mom and I sing with them and share Bible stories. My friends like to color a lot, so I share my crayons and we color pictures about the Bible stories. Please pray for my mom and dad as they share Bible stories with our friends. Please pray that my Hausa friends will come to know Jesus. Please pray that my friends will see what a difference God’s love can make. (My mommy wrote this…I don’t know how to write yet.) NOAH, age 2 (West Africa)

** HOW TO MAKE A WORDLESS BOOK

Has anyone every shown you the wordless book? I made one in Vacation Bible School when I was a little girl-that was a long time ago. Even before I was a little girl, a man named C. H. Spurgeon preached a sermon nearly 100 years ago and told the story of the wordless book. I don’t know how old it really is.

It’s pretty easy to make one yourself. Find some colored paper-one piece in gold, black, red, white and green. With the help of an adult, cut the paper just the right size-maybe you want a tiny book, so cut the paper 2 ½ x 5 inches; or for a bigger book, cut a regular 8 ½ x 11 inch page in half. Fold each piece in half so you have 2 ½ x 2 ½ inch squares or 4 ¼ x 5 ½ inch booklets. Tape or glue the pieces of paper together (gold to black, black to red, red to white, white to green) so that when you open it the gold is the first full page, black is the second, red third, white fourth, and green is the last page. You can make any kind of cover you would like. Me? I like the idea of a pretty purple cover-that just makes me think of Jesus, our Savior and King.

The story of the wordless book is the same as the evangelistic bracelets many Christians wear. The gold (or yellow) stands for God’s heavenly home, the black for the sin of our hearts that keep us separated from God. The red page reminds us that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead; and if we accept Jesus as Savior, He will make us clean. Yes, that’s the white page-You and me, knowing Jesus, and being forgiven and cleaned from all our sin! Finally, the green page helps us understand how important it is to grow. We want to learn more about Jesus so we need to read the Bible and pray every day. That’s how we grow!

I hope you have time to make a wordless book this week and I am praying you will share the story with your friends.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor


THE BUILDERS OF the Titanic were remiss in several areas and doomed the mighty vessel to the bottom of the ocean…

Their failures mimic our steps to apostasy. Their lessons are ours as we discover how Christians leave the Lord (Hebrews 6:4-6; Hebrews 10:26-31).

First, their pride doomed the ship because they failed to develop contingency plans since they falsely believed it was unsinkable. We face equal peril when we believe we are immune from apostasy.

Second, the self-righteous pride of the owners of the Titanic led them to seek the minimum in safety standards. They did the least or less in every area of safety. Their malfeasance had no justification.

Five decades before the construction of the Titanic, the Great Eastern had scraped on an uncharted rock off the coast of Long Island. It had torn a hole in her skin nine feet wide and 83 feet long. However, she had an inner hull and was able to limp into port. No one was hurt. Inner hulls became more popular but the builders of the Titanic apparently saw it as unnecessary.

They cut many other safety standards. The most famous were the lifeboats. Regulations called for a ship of Titanic’s size to carry enough lifeboats for 962 even though she could carry over 3,500 passengers and crew. They should have been prepared to offer everyone a seat on the lifeboats.

“The owners and operators of steamships had for five decades taken larger and larger risks to save money – risks to which they had methodically blinded themselves.” 1/ This carelessness exacted a heavy price.

Do we trim or skirt safety standards in our Christian lives? Do we try to get by on the minimum? People do this without realizing it.

We reason there is a minimum that we can do and be pleasing to God. We rationalize that attending Sunday morning services and living a moral life are enough. While everyone else are just “super Christians,” they are just fine with what they are doing. Their delusion is disheartening.

The army that seeks the minimum in arming its soldiers will soon find their enemy raining the maximum in destruction upon them. The soldier who fails to properly arm himself because the gear is too heavy, faces grave danger in the battle. Good soldiers are very careful not to cut corners in their battle preparation because they know their lives depend on it.

Discipleship is not about maximums and minimums. Salvation is not meritorious. /2 We require the blood of Christ on our souls in order to be justified before God (Romans 5). We must “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7, NKJV). We are commanded to walk worthy of the “calling with which you were called” (Ephesians 4:1).

Trying to find a minimum, we seek salvation by works, rather than by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is not about attaining the minimum we can accomplish, it is about finding a way to do all we can for Christ (Matthew 22:37).

We cannot attend enough worship services, read our Bibles enough or be moral enough to merit salvation. However, seeking the minimum in the Christian life illustrates that we have little interest in Christ being the Lord of our lives. We can easily slip into the mindset that we want to be a Christian but that we do not want it to change our lives. However, if Christ is not on the throne of our hearts, Satan will fill the vacuum (1 Peter 5:8).

“Disinterested Christians reach the point where they are no longer bearing fruit and will be cut off from the vine (John 15:1-8). Faithfulness indicates allegiance, attitude, and direction in a life filled and flooded with God (Ephesians 3:19). Unfaithfulness leads to apostasy.” /3

Let us seek the maximum for Christ because he deserves it. (Richard Mansel)

1/ http://www.cuug.ab.ca/~branderr/risk_essay/titanic.html
2/ http://tinyurl.com/yrtthj
3/ http://tinyurl.com/3m69ow


“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away,to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame” (Heb. 6:4-6).

Thanks for your prayers for others each day. You mean so much to so many!

Anna Lee