Louisiana Baptist Message – Page 17

Wednesday

“And may you have the power to understand,

as all God’s people should,

how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.

May you experience the love of Christ,

though it is too great to understand fully.

Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life

and power that comes from God.”

~Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT~

I have appreciated the La. Baptist Childrn’s Home since I was a child, but much more so after some children I knew made their home there.

Children find success at Baptist Children’s Home

Baoptist Message: June 4, 2009

By:Julie Cupples, LBCH Communications

BATON ROUGE – Jennifer was only eight years old when she came to live at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home. She was a broken little girl. She was hurting and she was afraid. The adversity she had already faced in her young life was indescribable.

That was 1998. Today, Jennifer is a lovely young woman of 19. Not only has Jennifer grown physically during the 11 years she has called LBCH home, she has grown emotionally and spiritually as well. Being able to grow up in a stable Christian home with the love and support of Christian Cottage parents changed Jennifer’s life.

On May 14, Jennifer crossed the stage at the Neville High School football stadium to receive her high school diploma. She did it! And her LBCH family was there to cheer her on.

Jennifer’s successes in life haven’t come easy, but they have come. They have come because of God’s undying love shared with her through the ministries of the LBCH.

Every boy and girl in need of the services of LBCH has his or her own story. They each have had their own struggles to overcome.

Jennifer and countless others like her who have come through the doors of LBCH are living proof that with the hope found in Jesus Christ, every individual can persevere and succeed.

LBCH is entering its 110th year of ministry and the adversity children are facing is more difficult than ever. On June 14, the Children’s Home Annual Offering will be received in churches across Louisiana. Your gift during this special time will help children like Jennifer and Jessie and Michael discover hope and success.

Jeremiah 29:11 proclaims, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Some of you may be interested in this.

4 Wheels 4 Him trail ride heads south

Baptist Message; June 4, 2009

By:Philip Timothy, Message Staff Writer

KENTWOOD – Gibbie McMillan believes the same excitement, encountered at a 4 Wheels 4 Him trail ride at Tillou Baptist Church in Northeast Louisiana, can be duplicated in Southeast Louisiana.

New Zion Baptist Church in Kentwood will host the four-wheeler ride on Saturday, June 13. Registration is at 8 a.m. and the ride starts at 9 a.m.

“We believe we have hit upon a way to provide a family with some good, family fun in a Christian setting,” said McMillan, the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Men’s Ministry and Volunteer strategist. “Just like at Tillou, we will present the Gospel and a short plan of salvation.

“We plan on having our block party trailer, inflatables, praise music, door prizes, and a meal for the participants,” McMillan said.

The trail ride, which is being sponsored by Two Rivers Baptist Association, the LBC’s Men’s Ministry and Evangelism Departments, will cover 6-7 miles of rugged piney woods located deep in St. Helena Parish.

The property sits adjacent to New Zion Baptist Church and riders will gather at the church before breaking up – depending upon the number of people who sign up – into groups of 25 to 40 riders.

The layout will be similar to the one used at Tillou.

“If we get 200 to 250 the first year,” McMillan said, “I feel it will be successful. The first year at Tillou 253 attended.

“The idea has really caught on and has been met favorably by all the churches in the area,” McMillan said. “The response has been tremendous. It does my heart good to see this kind of cooperation and participation amongst the churches,” McMillan said.

The eight Baptist churches in Kentwood are providing the bulk of the volunteers for the event but McMillan said the event is even drawing some support from Mississippi.

The ride, which will take an estimated two hours to complete, will start and finish at the New Zion Baptist Church.

Before the ride starts, the participants will be gathered together, where the Gospel will be presented along with a brief plan of salvation.

Riders will then be instructed about the course and safety features before departing on the ride.

Upon their return, around noon, they will be treated to hamburgers, hot dogs and jambalaya. Door prizes, which have been donated by Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, WalMart, and other local businesses will be given following lunch.

The cost is $6 per person and lunch is included. There is also a limited number of t-shirts, so make sure to register early to insure getting one.

For more information, contact Richard Sandberg at 985.514.1171 or McMillan at the LBC, 318.449.4276.

“It is a wonderful, messy day in which a family can get out and enjoy themselves,” McMillan said. “The fellowship, the fun, the good music and the Word of God make for a great deal. So come out and enjoy God’s creation and beauty.”

Crash

OF THE DOZENS upon dozens of funerals that I have conducted, I have never conducted one where the casket was occupied by anyone who had anything in his hand…

And none of the suits wrapped around those bodies required pockets. “You can’t take it with you.”

Solomon forces us to face that moment we all tend to ignore — the moment of death. He backs up three spaces and looks at the crash and says, “This is the grievous evil: Those who have clutched can quickly crash.” Put another way, “Those who grabbed and rose to the top will ultimately release and drop to the bottom.”

Can you imagine the scene? I envision a man who hoarded what he had and then lost it through a bad investment. I can see another who fights and wins his way to the top, only to have the bottom drop out of his life as the stock market plunges. And how about the individual who spends himself in a maddening pursuit of some financial goal, who drops dead of a heart attack? It happens every day. In Solomon’s words, he “toils for the wind.” He departs exactly as he entered life…naked and without a thin dime to his name. (Charles Swindoll)

“There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: riches kept for their owner to his hurt. But those riches perish through misfortune; when he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came; and he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away in his hand” (Eccles. 5:13-15).

Looking forward to what God is going to do today at Vacation Bible School.

Anna Lee

Tuesday

Lloyd Alton “Preacher” Carruth
Lloyd Alton “Preacher” Carruth passed away on Monday, April 27, 2009, in Zachary. He was 91, born in Liverpool on Oct. 17, 1917. He graduated from Oakland High School in 1928 and served in the U.S. Army as a corporal during World War II. He was a pipe fitter by trade but held lots of interesting positions until he had to retire due to health reasons. He was a member of Masonic Istrouma Lodge 414. He is survived by his son, Donald Carruth, of Walker; daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Homer Hopkins, of Zachary; grandson, Justin Hopkins and his wife, Brittany, of Zachary; granddaughters, Amber Hopkins, of Zachary, and Jenna Sawyer, of Baton Rouge; and two great-granddaughters, Sophie and Vivienne Hopkins. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Frances Sanders Carruth; parents, Marshall and Georgie Yarborough Carruth; brothers, Thomas, Stewart, Edward, Ransom, Horace, Bill and Marshall L.; and sister, Margaret Frazier. Visitation will be at Charlet Funeral Home Inc., Zachary, on Tuesday, April 28, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a 7 p.m. Masonic service. Visitation on Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. until a 10 a.m. service, conducted by the Rev. Darwin Hall and Dr. Brythel Brantley. Burial will be at noon at the Pine Ridge Cemetery in Kentwood. Lloyd lived a full life. He and his wife got to travel a lot and he loved to spend time with family and friends and especially his great-granddaughters. He treasured those moments. He loved to share stories with such a wonderful memory and so many details of the past. He will be truly missed. Friends wishing to make memorial donations in his name may make them to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Share sympathies, memories, and condolences at www.CharletFuneralHome.com.

This obituary seems to want to be first today. David and I met and enjoyed talking with Cathy Wales’ “Uncle Lloyd” on their back porch. He was indeed a special man.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,

spoke up.

‘There’s a young boy here

with five barley loaves and two fish.

But what good is that with this huge crowd?'”

~John 6:8-9 NLT~

I think this verse reminds us of God’s ability to more than meet our needs!

The Duke’s daughter-in-law, Erin, gave me permission to share this from her blog:

A New Kind of Therapy. . .

I like to call it. . .

Baby Therapy. . .

And, it does the heart good. Just look at Pop’s face. . .

I tell you this kind of therapy is better than any medicine. . .

At least it is with this grandchild loving Pop!

I kept worrying that Erik Daniel might hurt Pop with all of his wiggling, but Pop insisted that he was fine. And, he wanted to be close to this sweet little boy. And, my little boy wanted to be close to his sweet Pop.

Here is my favorite picture of them. . .

Precious.

Now, don’t you think that made him feel a little better?

I do.

As you can see, Erik, Erik Daniel, and I went to New Orleans for the weekend. And, it was an amazing trip for so many reasons!!! So, let me tell you why. . .

I think we were about 45 minutes from New Orleans when Erik received a call from a man who was assessing Mom for admittance into a long term acute care facility. He informed Erik that she had moved her toes on command for him.

What?????!!!!!!????

For the first time, my husband lit up with hope! She had responded to a verbal command. This was huge. HUGE.

We got a little further down the road ~ actually we were on that really long bridge that goes from Slidell to New Orleans ~ when Jason called. He and Erik had previously decided that we would meet at the Praline Connection to eat before Jason had to fly home. But, Jason was suggesting that we meet at the hospital instead. Erik was afraid that going to the hospital first would take too much time and that Jason would be miss his flight. But, then, Jason explained. . .

Mom opened her eyes!!!!!!!

She looked at Jason and mouthed the words, “I love you,” to him!!!!!!!

Erik said, “Okay, yes, then we will meet you at the hospital!”

It was a miracle weekend. She didn’t open her eyes again that day, but the next morning she opened her eyes for Erik and mouthed his name. Unfortunately I wasn’t with him!!!! But, later that night I got to see those brown eyes myself!!!!

We went to visit her, and Erik is ruthless, I tell you. He rubs her shoulder and talks loudly in her ear, “Mom, it is Erik. I love you. Erin is here with me. She wants to see your brown eyes. Show her your pretty brown eyes, Mama. Show them to her. Open your eyes, Mama. Open your eyes and look at Erin. She is standing right in front of you. She wants to see your pretty brown eyes. Hey! Hey! Hey, brown eyes, open your pretty brown eyes, Mama. We love you. We’re praying for you. Now, open those pretty brown eyes and look at Erin.” And, finally after the one millionth time he asked her, a little miracle happened, and she ever so slowly, as if her eyelids weighed a ton, with great concentration and inner strength, she opened up her pretty brown eyes and looked at me.

And, I couldn’t help but cheer for her! “Good job, Mom. Good job! You did so good! Thank you for letting me see your eyes! You are so strong! You are getting better every day! Good job, Mom! I love you.”

I can’t tell you the pride that welled up in me when I saw her open her sweet eyes!!!

And, because I need to go to bed, I am going to come full circle and end this post. We went back to see her today. She is in a new hospital, and I didn’t know the rules about babies. So, rather than ask, we just decided to take Erik Daniel and see what would happen.

No one said anything to us. We walked right by several staff members and into Mom’s room.

Erik did his little number where he asks her over and over again to open her pretty brown eyes while he rubs her shoulder with gentle force. He told her that Erik Daniel was with us, so she should open those pretty brown eyes and look at him. Erik Daniel cooed and giggled in my arms. And, I knew she could hear him, and I know what those sounds do to me, and I prayed that they would have the same effect on her. After several minutes of trying so hard to open her eyes, she finally got them about halfway open. So, I held Erik Daniel like superman in the air, so he would be in her line of vision. After that she mouthed a sentence or two that we couldn’t make out for sure, and then, once again, she drifted back into a peaceful sleeping state.

Baby Therapy.

It is a good thing, just ask Pop!

And, speaking of Pop I must throw this picture in. . .

Erik and I bought him this shirt because we think he is Superman, and we love him sooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mrs. Ruby Dillon saw one of her favorite doctors, her nephew Rusty Stevens, yesterday. He said she was doing very well and did not need the procedure he was planning to do for her. While there, the Dillons also got to see Carl Wayne and Nora Stevens. They enjoyed a great meal “Miss” Ruby prepared and shared with them in Hattisburg. Carl Wayne is improving. Thank God for “Miss” Ruby’s and Carl Wayne’s good reports.

Continue to pray for Stan and Bethany Simmons. Your prayers will be greatly appreciated.

Carol Brooke reports her grandson is making wonderful inprovement. Thank God for this!

From Tisha and Dwayne Wison:

Hi, Friends, as I looked at my calendar today, I realized we are leaving for El Salvador (mission trip) in 8 weeks. The time will be here before we know it. I thought of a few prayer requests….

· This Sunday afternoon (May 3^rd) we will have a “team meeting” via conference call with our team leaders and fellow team mates. Please pray for a productive meeting.

· Team unity, health, preparations

· Please pray that we won’t rely on past trip experiences or our own strength but solely on Him

· Creativity and wisdom

· Trust Him to do great things in and through us

· Smooth logistics

· Safe travel

· Open doors and hearts

· Clear presentations of the Gospel at each site, with each group

· Our 4 Little Ones back home while we are away for 10 days and their caretakers

These are just a few things that came to mind today as I thought about our trip. Dwayne and I are currently working on individual presentations that we were asked to prepare to share while we are there. Please pray that we will not procrastinate but get this done and also pray for creativity as we prepare these 3-5 minute presentations.

Thanks for your partnership,

Tricia and Dwayne

Holly K. reports that she is melting in the heat and learning to ride her own little motorcycle. Continue to pray for her as she teaches MK’s in West Aftica.

Update on Don Denton

We are so glad that Monday has finally come.
Don is scheduled for many tests throughout the day.

Don is stable, yet he is not eating or drinking fluids since he got here. He is on allot of pain medication as well to manage the pain.

There have been some obstacles to overcome. The hospital is short on nurses and that means mistakes. We have encountered some concerns.

But in saying all of that, we still feel he is in good care.

Don’s parents arrived on Saturday night.

We hope to have some more answers on these tests they are currently conducting by the morning.

Please pray for the following:

Don’s doctors have widsom, and passion about his case.

Don get a private room. They are hard to come by here. He has severe headache pain and when one shares a room with another patient he is subject to TV, etc.

Pray that they will find answers.

Pray for Joshua – the trauma of all of this is hard. Abandonment issues are fears I am always working to assure him that we love him and will never leave him. And there is a fine line there. We don’t know what the outcome of Don will be here. Pray for me for honest assuring, age appropriate words for our little one.

Pray specifically that Don will have a doctor who is passionate about the outcome. A doctor that will be “present with him and us”. I am talking about a neurologist. His neurosurgeon is really good.

Pray for me that I wll have the wisdom and discernment to know when to push and when to stop.

Josha and I are well taken care of here. We are so blessed.

Thank you for being with us. Thank you our family and friends.

Diane

Sidney Wayne Polezcek
(August 14, 1966 – April 26, 2009)

Sidney Wayne Polezcek a loving husband, father, son, and brother was born August 14, 1966 and passed away at 5:43PM, Sunday, April 26, 2009 at the Ochsner Medical Center, Baton Rouge. Wayne was 42, a native of Independence and a resident of Amite.Wayne is survived by his wife Rhonda Seal Polezcek, Amite; 2 daughters, Jamie Polezcek, Independence, Kerri Polezcek, Amite; a son, Virgil Polezcek, Amite; mother, Linda Holden Easley, Amite; father, Sidney Polezcek, Jr. & step-mother, Jeanette Polezcek, Albany; 2 sisters, Tracy Polezcek, Amite & Gadonya Keating, Bogalusa; 2 brothers, Ronnie “Pudge” Polezcek and wife Sabrina, Amite, & Lavon Smith and wife Maria, Jacksonville, FL; a granddaughter, Jazmyne Polezcek, Independence; maternal grandmother, Virginia Birch, Greensburg; mother-in-law, Dorothy Baham, Roseland.

He was preceded in death by maternal grandfather, Murphy Holden, Sr,; paternal grandmother, Della Hardy; paternal grandfather, Sidney Polezcek; step-grandmother, Maudie Roberts; infant brother, Sidney Polezcek, III.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 from 5:00PM until 9:00PM and on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 from 8:00AM until Religious Services at the funeral home Chapel at 10:00AM. Interment in the McMichael Cemetery.

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

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W behind Bond Eye Clinic & Grand Prix Car Wash.

Solitude

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).

Mike Benson, Editor

HE HAD WORK to do…

He was active and involved. But He also knew that He couldn’t do it all without meeting alone with the Father.

He refused to be tyrannized by the immediate and urgent.

He knew that the needs of His disciples and the multitudes would always be there. He knew that even if he went 24/7, people would still beckon. (Steve Farrar)

“Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them.” Luke 4:42; cf. Matthew 14:22-23; Mark 1:35

Wednesday

“And this gospel of the kingdom

will be preached in all the world

as a witness to all the nations,

and then the end will come.”

~Matthew 24:14~

Emily Panter

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Baby Steps

Well, Luke started back to school yesterday. Because of that, and the fact that my strength is growing. I have stayed home alone with all the kids for a few hours at a time. So far no real problems have arisen. I am allowed to lift Sarah, and the older kids have been very helpful when there is a task I don’t think I shoud attempt yet. I have loaded the washer and dryer, sorted clothes, cleaned the kitchen and helped the kids in their rooms some. (And I am not doind these things all of the time so don’t start calling Luke to reprove him.) Luke still bears the brunt of the chores sround here, and since he is also responsible for many other things, it is not always perfect around here (as if it ever was when I was in charge!) But God seems to be using it to help me let go of the things that are not as important as I once thought they were.

It seems that daily I am still running into someone I have not seen since before the hospital, and the conversation inevitably insues about how miraculous my journey has been. I continue to agree whole-heartedly and am amazed that God brought me through something which, for all intents and purposes, I should not have survived. He has healed me very quickly. He has given me the honor of seeing so many of the blessings that have affected peoples lifes, either through their faithfulness to pray, or through the testimony of God’s grace, mercy and undeniable power and soverenty. Last week the door bell rang and I got to it before Luke. I was expecting it to be the kids coming home from school, but it was the paramedic. The first one on he scene; he came back a few days after the insident to check on me and had come again to get an update.

I hope I continue to learn of God’s grace the rest of my life and i pray that I am always useful to Him in His plan. I hope I never again miss an oportunity.

Posted by Emily Panter

A Young Daughter’s Evangelistic Prayers

http://www.baptistmessage.com/articledetail.php?articleID=2c1cda9e1f37f1f6173d7cbbbc1a9124

Baptist Press

January 20, 2009

WASHINGTON–Obama calls for ‘era of responsibility’ at historic inauguration. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29695

WASHINGTON–WhiteHouse.gov now backs abortion rights, ‘gay rights.’
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29694

WASHINGTON–Southern Baptist in Congress express hope. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29696

WASHINGTON–Warren mentions Jesus’ name in invocation. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29697

WASHINGTON–Warren’s inaug. prayer only latest by a Southern Baptist. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29698

WASHINGTON–TRANSCRIPT: Obama’s inauguration speech. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29699

LOUISIANA–NOBTS announces austerity budget. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29700

TENNESSEE–FIRST-PERSON (Art Toalston): An inauguration we will remember. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29701

Mildred Davis Thompson
(February 10, 1921 – January 19, 2009)

Mildred Davis Thompson

“I am now home in heaven, oh so happy and so bright. There is perfect joy and beauty in this everlasting light”

Our beloved Mildred Davis Thompson, was called home at 1:03PM, Monday, January 19, 2009 at the St. Helena Parish Hospital, Greensburg. She was 87, a lifelong native & resident of St. Helena Parish.

Mrs. Mildred is survived by 2 brothers, Huey Davis and wife, Doris, Amite & Wilson Davis and wife, Mary, Amite; also numerous nieces & nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Freddie Thompson; her parents, George & Caroline Reeves Davis; & a sister, Lillie Davis Newell.

Visitation will be at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Thursday, January 22, 2009 from 6:00PM until 9:00PM and on Friday, January 23, 2009 at the Hillsdale Baptist Church after 9:00AM until Religious Services at 11:00AM with Rev. Jim McGriff officiating. Interment in the Hillsdale Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to:

International Mission Board of Southern Baptist Convention for Guatemala Kekchi Indians Food Projects, PO Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230-0767

Contributions may be made locally to the Hillsdale Baptist Church for the same mission fund. Hillsdale Baptist Church Guatemala Kekchi Indians Food Projects, 3621 Hwy 1045, Amite, LA 70422

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.

TARGETED BY GOD

Everybody has difficulty in life, but several years ago, Brian Hise of Provo, Utah experienced more difficulty in one day than many of us go through in a year. First, a water pipe broke in the upstairs apartment above his own and flooded his apartment. So the manager told him to go out and rent a water vacuum.

That’s when he discovered his car had a flat tire. He changed the tire and went inside to phone a friend for help. Standing in the water, the electric shock he got from the phone startled him and he ripped the phone off the wall.

Before he could leave the apartment a second time, a neighbor had to kick down his apartment door because water damage had jammed it tight. While all of this was going on, somebody stole Brian’s car. But it was almost out of gas, so he found it a few blocks away. He then had to push it to a gas station.

That evening, Hise attended a military ceremony at B.Y.U. and he injured himself severely when he somehow sat down on his own bayonet which had been tossed onto the front seat of his car. Doctors were able to stitch up his wounds but no one was able to resuscitate Brian’s four canaries which were crushed to death when wet ceiling plaster in his apartment fell on them while he was gone.

When he got home, he slipped on the wet carpet and badly injured his tailbone. Mr. Hise said he began to wonder if “God wanted me dead but kept missing.”

Ever had days you felt that way? I recall an Old Testament character who felt the same way. After suffering hardship upon hardship, listen to these words of Job spoken to God:

“Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant? If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have you made me your target?” (Job 7:19-20a, NIV)

We know that Job was not “targeted” by God. In truth, God was his source of strength in time of trial and his Redeemer when the story was over. But in the midst of adversity, when everything seems to be going wrong that possibly could go wrong, it’s tempting to feel the same way.

Be assured — God has not made you a “target.” He is, in fact, your source of strength to get through those tough times. May you rely on that today.

“Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!” (Psalm 30:10)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Anna Lee

Monday Addition

The associational WMU meeting will be this morning at FBC, Kentwood @ 10:00. You are invited to attend. The speaker will be Gloria Wheat Thompson daughter of Mrs. Blanch Wheat. She and her husband have served with the North American Mission Board.

http://www.baptistmessage.com/articledetail.php?articleID=898cc8465b5f86c979231bc103bbb656

This article explains the changes being made to “The Baptist Message”. You may be interested in reading the article.

Friday Addition

Louisiana Baptist Message

Louisiana Baptist Convention News

Eight Blessings God Bestowed in 2008

December 25, 2008

Revival in Jena

On Sept. 20 of last year, more than 20,000 people from across the nation gathered in small Jena, La., to protest an outbreak of racial tensions at the local high school, exposing old feelings of racism and hate. On Feb. 17, Midway Baptist Church in Jena began a revival meeting. It caught fire and swept through the small community. The Holy Spirit came into the hearts and souls of hundreds who attended over the course of the series of meetings that lasted nine weeks.

Hurricanes Gustav and Ike

Proving once again that it’s not always New Orleans, Hurricane Gustav roared north from Grand Isle, past Houma and Lafayette on north into Grant Parish. And let us not forget Baton Rouge!

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief feeding units were first on the scene, followed closely by chain saw units. New this year: assessment teams to determine the priority of work orders.

Top priority, of course: people. Sometimes the best help that can be given is a listening ear and a gentle, “oh, no,” as a tale of woe is shared.

Ike followed Gustav, pummeling areas just now recovering from 2005’s Rita, such as Holly Beach, Cameron, Grand Isle. But everywhere that trouble goes, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is close at hand.

Louisiana Ag Missions

Our world is filled with hungry and hurting people, and upwards of 25,000 children die from hunger or hunger-related causes every single day. People who have adequate food have many problems, but those who have no food have only one problem.

Louisiana Baptist Agricultural Missions Fellowship invites people who care about the hungry in the United States and around the world to join together in building awareness of not only what needs to be done but also how best to get it done, in such a way that the the people being helped learn self-sustaining agricultural methods and techniques.

The ag missions group has chosen to concentrate its efforts with the Zapotec Indians of southern Mexico, where a gift of $125 will provide for an egg incubation for a family, and $200, a rabbit project for a family.

Christian Governor

What drives Louisiana’s Governor Bobby Jindal? By all accounts it’s his Christian faith, his wife Supriya and their three children, and the calling of God for him to serve in the public realm.

Born six months after his parents immigrated to Louisiana from India, he converted from his parent’s Hindu faith as a college student after a Southern Baptist friend “intent on converting the world, first introduced me to Christianity by telling me ‘you and your parents are going to hell,’” Jindal wrote in a 1993 article in America magazine, a Catholic publication.

In the photo above, Louisiana Chief Justice Pascal Calogero administers the oath of office to governor-elect Bobby Jindal (The highlight of a summer mission trip by members of the University of Louisiana Monroe Baptist Collegiate Ministry was the baptism of a 97-year-old witch doctor, who made a public profession of faith in front of her entire village. Jeremy Babb of Monroe and Tyler Boyd of Katy, Texas, witnessed to the witch doctor and helped lead her to Jesus Christ. enter) who is flanked by his wife Supriya Jindal, right, holding the Jindal’s well-used family Bible.

Recovery Continues

It was three years before Franklin Avenue Baptist Church (above) returned home after its structure was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, but when more than 4,000 people swarmed the structure on re-opening day, they found it looked exactly the same. For Willie Walker, pastor of Noah’s Ark Baptist Church (below) it was all brand new. His church had been selected by Extreme Makeover and was done in a week.000 people swarmed the structure on re-opening day, they found it looked exactly the same.

Special Baptism

The highlight of a summer mission trip by members of the University of Louisiana Monroe Baptist Collegiate Ministry was the baptism of a 97-year-old witch doctor, who made a public profession of faith in front of her entire village. Jeremy Babb of Monroe and Tyler Boyd of Katy, Texas, witnessed to the witch doctor and helped lead her to Jesus Christ.

Christian Soldiers

All across Louisiana – all across the United States – there are thousands of Southern Baptists serving in our armed services or who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the global war on terror. Their only protection is a thin layer of body armor and a shield of prayers and love from their family and friends.

A Child at Christmas

Samuel hangs an ornament on the tree at Grace Cottage. “Christmas is a wonderful time for our children at the Children’s Home,” said Darrell Washam, LBCH’s director of public relations and development. “For many of our children, it’s a special time they’ve never experienced before.”

As the 2009 year begins, let’s look for the good around us.

Anna Lee