Louisiana

It has been two years since Hurricane Katrina made her deadly landfall in the Gulf Coast. Since then, churches and Christian organizations have provided Katrina victims with a source of hope and a shoulder to lean on with their steadfast commitment to restore buildings and lives torn asunder by the largely forgotten disaster.

“If it had not been for the Church, we would be in even worse shape than we are now,” said the Rev. Patrick Keen, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in New Orleans, according to National Council of Churches.

Keen spoke during the Ecumenical Work Week, Aug. 19-25, sponsored by the NCC USA’s Special Commission for the Just Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast held in Biloxi, Miss. more >>

This week, Christian students throughout the nation have the opportunity to receive a free youth Bible to give out to a non-Christian classmate.

For the fifth consecutive year, Revival Fires International is teaming up with the American Family Association and American Family Radio to encourage teenagers to distribute “The Truth for Youth” Bibles during a weeklong campaign to counter the ill effect that the liberal agenda is having on young people.

Tim Todd, director of Revival Fires International, was inspired to start up the project after visiting Moscow, Russia, where his parents’ ministry was asked by the Ministry of Education to assist in providing Bibles as textbooks in their public schools. After seeing the success of this program, Todd wanted to have a similar impact on schools in the United States. more >>

A Louisiana school district that has been riddled with religious lawsuits got some backing Wednesday after a panel of judges overturned a decision that had formerly barred them from opening their meetings with prayer.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled that the Tangipahoa Parish School Board – which has had five religious-related lawsuits brought against it in the past 13 years – could not be held accountable for an “offended observer” and has the right to have voluntary prayer at their meetings.

According to attorneys from the faith-based legal group Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), the decision severely undercuts the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has been filing the suits, in their use of the Establishment Clause. more >>

Southern Baptists by region are beginning to crack down on sex offenders by providing local churches services to help protect children.

The Louisiana Baptist Convention recently posted a link on its website directing visitors to Child Guard Systems – a Texas-based company that offers a comprehensive child protection program for churches.

"We want every local church to be a positive experience for every child," said David E. Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, to Baptist Press. "The vast majority of our Louisiana Baptist churches work very hard at assuring that children are protected." more >>