DENHAM SPRINGS — Elaine Matherne is “Silent No More” about her abortion. The 52-year-old mother of three grown daughters and grandmother of two young boys is sharing her deeply personal story of pain, regret, forgiveness and healing, because, she said, it is important for women who’ve had an abortion to know that emotional and spiritual healing are possible.

SaturdaySoul Food Feast: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Israelite Baptist Church, 1841 Thomas H. Delpit Drive, sponsored by the Deaconess Ministry. $7.South Louisiana Youth Training Ministry: 11 a.m., Berean Seventh-day Adventist Worship Center, 4555 … Continue reading →

Two handsful of pennies is a small contribution Larry Boudreaux hopes will help reach 1 billion souls for Christ.Boudreaux put pennies on the pews last week at Covenant Community Church in Central. … Continue reading →

The office where Cheryl Yennie works blends in with the Baton Rouge businesses neighboring it, but clients never enter its doors.They all live in Africa.Medical Centers of West … Continue reading →

New Nation of Islam leader Marvin Muhammad says he has learned some lessons on resiliency, courage and humility from President Barack Obama’s display of character throughout a challenging presidency.Muhammad, 61, who describes himself as “The Son … Continue reading →

SaturdayJob Fair: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Greater King David Baptist Church, inner-city location, 7305 Harry Drive.A Taste of Goodness Taste Fair: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., New Freedom Missionary Baptist Church, 388 N. Beck … Continue reading →

New Mormon leaders named in Baton RougeThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has new leaders for its Baton Rouge Temple and missionary work.Severia Baunchand is the new president of … Continue reading →

The church house was rocking, the crowd was cheering and the wheel was spinning.When the wheel stopped on the $100 mark, Vivian Rogers raised her hands in praise and shouted, “Thank you, Jesus!”Earlier … Continue reading →

SaturdayWoman of God Conference: 8:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., Diocesan Pastoral Center-Conference Hall, 2779 La. 311, Schriever, sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.Clothes Give-a-way: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Richardson Chapel … Continue reading →

PINEVILLE — Relational evangelism — person-to-person witnessing about Christ’s impact on an individual’s life — is the trendy approach today, evangelists said this week during a two-day Louisiana Baptist Convention evangelism conference on the campus of … Continue reading →

Two accredited by Sunday school body The Revs. John Sanders Sr., pastor of Second Baptist Church in Wilson, and Perry Jones, Jr., associate minister, have graduated from the Division of Christian … Continue reading →

Andre Anderson and his wife, Natika , got a surprise request when they went to their pastor for marriage counseling about a year and a half ago.After discussing their marital issues, the Rev. Leo Cyrus … Continue reading →

Clinton — After a journey of five years, Camille Carpenter Wood, a recently ordained Episcopal deacon, is settled in as the pastoral presence at the 160–year–old congregation of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.Continue reading →

Clinton — At 60, Camille Carpenter Wood answered a calling to become a deacon in the Episcopal church.“I come from generations of Episcopalians,” Wood said. “The church has always been important to me. I … Continue reading →

SaturdayHealth Fair: 10 a.m. to noon, Greater Hollywood Baptist Church, 2118 Staring Lane, with seminars, screenings, door prizes and healthy food.Bringing to Mind the Qualities of the Three Jewels: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., … Continue reading →

Louisiana Life March scheduled downtownThousands of pro-life advocates from across Louisiana are expected to gather Saturday in downtown Baton Rouge for the Louisiana Life March.The march, a collaborative effort by the … Continue reading →

WALKER — A week before Christmas, Tropical Storm Washi hit the Philippine islands with 56-mph winds and several feet of rain, killing an estimated 1,000 people and causing massive mudslides and property damage.The Rev. … Continue reading →

SATURDAYSPIRITUAL SPA DAY: 9 a.m. to noon, St. Joseph Academy Dining Hall, 3080 Kleinert Ave., with Patti Clement as the presenter. Cost is $35.CLOTHES GIVE-AWAY: 10 a.m., First Unity Church, 6262 McClelland … Continue reading →

Nearly 50 years of leading Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and nearing 80 years old, the Rev. Charles T. Smith is assured of at least one thing.“God has been very good … Continue reading →

At 87, the Rev. C.T. Vivian can still recall the moment, decades after the height of the civil-rights movement.As he stood to conclude a meeting in his Atlanta home, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. joined … Continue reading →

Learn more about the life of Martin Luther King Jr., and commemorate Justice Sunday at 11 a.m. Sunday at the East Baton Rouge Parish Baker Branch Library, 3501 Groom Road.Southern University professor Charles Vincent will present … Continue reading →

SaturdayPrayer Crusade: noon to 2 p.m., steps of New Orleans City Hall, 1300 Perdido St., New Orleans, with choirs, praise teams, soloists and liturgical dancers performing as well as the Rev. Samuel C. … Continue reading →

As Africans were brought to the West to serve as slaves, they were forced to adapt to Roman Catholicism, their owner’s religion.However, these groups found that their traditional native African beliefs … Continue reading →

Solimar Otero, a folklorist and LSU faculty member, does more than study Santeria and teach about it.The associate professor of English at LSU practices this Caribbean faith shared by many in Louisiana.Continue reading →

One prominent pastor stepped down. Another longtime pastor stepped back. And a local organization stepped up its efforts to make a difference.2011 was a year of transition, change, celebration and growth in the Baton Rouge faith … Continue reading →

Ricky Bobby recognizes the Christmas paradox of the all-powerful God coming as a vulnerable child and embraces the image — though with a bit too much enthusiasm.“I like the Christmas Jesus best, … Continue reading →

SaturdayChristmas Before Santa: 4 p.m., Faith Presbyterian Church, 12855 Old Hammond Highway, a service which explores how the legends of Christmas relate to the good news of Christmas.Nativity Pageant: 5 p.m., Broadmoor Presbyterian … Continue reading →

One of the well-known sets of symbols in the Bible’s Christmas story is the gifts brought by the Magi to the baby Jesus: gold, frankincense and myrrh.These were quite valuable gifts. At … Continue reading →