By Robert Wright — Minister of Music, New Light Baptist Church Hammond or Piano? How the Musician Decides I play both. Some Sundays the organ carries the whole service and the piano barely speaks; other Sundays I sit at the…
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Our City, Our Community
By Marie Brown Ouachita Parish is currently flooded with yard signs all over the place. The most amazing sights are the number of billboards from various political candidates running for offices. This is a new norm because in the past…
NELA Black voters weighing U.S. Senate options
As November approaches, Black voters across Northeast Louisiana face a critical decision for the U.S. Senate—one that presents two distinct, compelling options and requires a careful calculation of community interest, political leverage, and long-term representation. Option 1: Supporting Principle and…
Building ministry infrastructure to sustain marriages and families: Part Two
By Lisa Wilmore The Essential Question: Why Does Every Church Need a Marriage and Family Ministry? Blessings, Dear Friends, To begin with, in Part One, I discussed why every church needs a Marriage and Family Ministry and highlighted research…
Pastors are not exempt from taxes
Many pastors erroneously believe that because churches are tax-exempt, pastors are too. They are wrong, pastors must pay taxes too. Some innocently believe that they are 1099 employees and should not receive a W-2 like other church staff; they are…
Secret shoppers reveal some stores overcharge unsuspecting customers on sales taxes
While there are no state sales taxes on food to be prepared at home, some local stores charge it anyway. This week, Monroe Free Press secret shoppers bought the same brand of corn from 10 different Monroe stores, and found…
Three Swanson escapees caught, jailed
Dramatic new details have emerged following the capture of three inmates who escaped from the Swanson Center for Youth on Saturday morning, leading Monroe Police officers to a vacant home where all three fugitives were apprehended—including two who attempted to…