There are 12,000 homeless in New Orleans. Louisiana has the most homeless children per capita. Single mothers head 85% of homeless families. Homeless women with children are the fastest growing homeless population. And domestic violence is a leading cause for women becoming homeless. The Baptist Friendship House in New Orleans recognizes the worth and dignity of homeless women and children and for almost 70 years has ministered to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, with love through action and truth as revealed in God’s Word in Matthew 25. They provide ministry for spiritual growth, education, emergency aid, transitional housing (including hot meals, clothing, showers, etc.),  job readiness, and life skills for the ladies in the program.

Because of your generosity, many mothers in our community will have their needs met and will hear the Good News through the ministry of The Baptist Friendship House of New Orleans. Thank you for making a difference!

“I was always taught that I could do all things through Christ. It is something I firmly believe. What no one ever told me was that God has angels that He sends to watch over us and help us in our greatest time of need. I came across such angels at Baptist Friendship House. Not only did they teach me the skills I needed to pass my GED examination, they also encouraged me to do other things. They constantly prayed with and for me, fed and clothed me, and listened to all my poems and stories. The ladies here at BFH have been a constant blessing and I thank the Lord for them all the time. I dropped out of school in the 11th grade, al- though the highest grade I completed was the 9th grade. I was skipped from 9th to 11th grade. Being able to say that I am a high school graduate is a great feeling and it is something I will never forget. I obtained my GED on August 11, 2011.” – Vonetta Taylor

The History of LifeSongs

In 1976 the world had not yet been introduced to Star Wars, but what would become LifeSongs radio was on one man’s mind. Mr. R. Kent Phillips was in school for a Master’s degree at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Having a background in radio, he felt New Orleans would benefit from an educational, Christian FM radio station. Mr. Phillips obtained permission from his school to file construction permits and broadcast paperwork with the Federal Communications Commission. Thus began the journey to LifeSongs radio – with only a used radio console, donated by evangelist Bob Harrington, and a little hope.

It took three full years of applications, rewrites, and compromises before the FCC granted a station license. Finally on February 5th, 1979 WBSN began to broadcast Christian radio to New Orleans on 89.1 FM. Of course the initial station had the broadcast range of a hairdryer – only 10 watts of power made the listening family of WBSN pretty small. By April of 1986, WBSN was broadcasting at 10,000 watts and reaching thousands of families as LifeSongs radio! What started as a record player and a single microphone cobbled together in a library closet has since become a modern multi-studio, computerized digital radio station.

Many staff members have passed through the studio doors, leaving their own unique footprints. There have been changes in music styles and ministry programming, yet LifeSongs has always persevered. Most recently after Hurricane Katrina knocked the station off the air for over six months, WBSN managed to return. Having lost a transmitter, staff, and six months of support, God made a way for WBSN to return and help bring a healing message to Southeast Louisiana. It’s the same message that LifeSongs has been committed to broadcasting since the beginning of February 1979. That message has always been “God is good, all the time.”

Thanks for your continued support for the ministry of LifeSongs, and for taking a trip down memory lane with us!

Contact us:

Mailing Address:
LifeSongs®
3939 Gentilly Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70126

Telephone:
504-816-8000 – Main Number (New Orleans)
888-480-3600 – Main Number (Outside of New Orleans)
855-816-8581 – Request/On-Air Line
504-816-8580 – Fax

Email:
onair@lifesongs.com - Studio
feedback@lifesongs.com - Comments & Suggestions

Find Us:

Frequencies:
New Orleans: WBSN 89.1 FM
Houma: K249DI 97.7 FM
Kentwood: WPEF 91.5 FM
Baton Rouge: KPEF - coming soon!

Directions/Map:

View Larger Map

(We are located on the campus of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, on the second floor of the William Carey Building.)

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1. Courageous – Casting Crowns
2. This Is The Stuff - Francesca Battistelli
3. Trust In Jesus – Third Day
4. I Lift My Hands – Chris Tomlin
5. Glorious Day – Casting Crowns
6. Strong Enough – Matthew West
7. Move – MercyMe
8. The Light In Me – Brandon Heath
9. You Love Me Anyway – Sidewalk Prophets
10. Blessings – Laura Story
11. I Smile – Kirk Franklin
12. Where I Belong – Building 429
13. Your Great Name – Natalie Grant
14. Changed Forever – tobyMac
15. Motion Of Mercy – Francesca Battistelli
16. Children Of God – Third Day
17. Stronger – Mandisa
18. Strong Enough To Save – Tenth Avenue North
19. Hold Me – Jamie Grace
20. My Hope Is In You – Aaron Shust
21. 7×70 – Chris August
22. Love Come To Life – Big Daddy Weave
23. At Your Name – Phil Wickham
24. Remind Me Who I Am – Jason Gray
25. Battle – Chris August
26. Slumber – Needtobreathe
27. Someone Worth Dying For – Mikeschair
28. Listen To The Sound – Building 429
29. The Way – Jeremy Camp
30. Redeemer – Sanctus Real

Congratulations to Barry Davis from Metairie, our WOW grand prize winner! He’s won 2 WOW CD libraries – one to keep, and one to share with a friend!

WORSHIP FULLY: Entering the advent season means entering this season with an overwhelming passion to worship Jesus to the fullest.

SPEND LESS: Consider spending less this Christmas (maybe buying on less gifts). It sounds insignificant, but you may find you are more available to celebrate Christ during the advent season.

GIVE MORE: God’s gift to us was a relationship built on love. So it’s no wonder why we’re drawn to the idea that Christmas should be a time to love our friends and family in the most memorable ways possible.

LOVE ALL: When Jesus loved, He loved in ways never imagined before. Though rich, He became poor to love the poor, the forgotten, the overlooked and the sick. He played to the margins. By spending less at Christmas we have the opportunity to join Him in giving resources to those who need help the most.

Merry Christmas!

To keep stress to a minimum and stay on task, start a notebook and make lists to keep yourself organized and save time. The real key is to get your planning under way ASAP. Here are more helpful holiday tips:

•KEEP A SCHEDULE: List the many things you have to work around: check office and school calendars (will your kids need holiday costumes for school performances?); note when you have to get things in the mail so they’re received on time, when you’re going to decorate the tree, events going on in the community, and service projects for the family, such as adopting a family or volunteering at the food bank.

•GET YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW: Also list who you want to give gifts to; who your kids want to give gifts to and what they want to give; things you want to make vs. things you want to buy; and your Christmas card recipients. (Most experts also agree that this is time to evaluate your budget. Be realistic. You’ll want to be able to stick to it!)

•USE YOUR WAITING TIME: Standing in line? Waiting for a doctor’s appointment or dinner to cook? Take advantage of little chunks of time to plan things, make your lists, or work on little craft projects. You can do this throughout the year but especially during the holiday season.

•GIFT LISTS: Create a list of what you have given people as gifts. That way you don’t risk giving something you’ve already given. While you’re at it, start next year’s gift list. Keep your radar up during the year and make notes, so when it comes time to shop, you have a list of things people want and will enjoy.

•DECORATIONS: Take inventory of your holiday decorations, make a list and identify what box they’re stored in. When you’re boxing them up at the end of the season, sort and store them by room, not by what they are. Then next year, you can decorate from one box at a time, one room at a time, if you don’t have a large block of time to do it all at once.

•GET WRAPPING: Set up a card table in a corner of a room and make that your gift-wrap center, so when you buy something, you can wrap it right away and avoid the last-minute crunch. Stand up rolls of wrapping paper in a wastebasket, or hang in a garment bag. If you buy 30-inch-long rolls of paper, cut them in two — one 18 inches and one 12 inches — then put them in empty aluminum foil boxes for easy dispensing. A desk or wrist tape dispenser releases strips of tape with one hand. And those spindle paper towel holders are great for storing and dispensing rolls of ribbon.

•HOLIDAY HOUSE CLEANING: Houseguests — either for dinner or for weeks at a time — are often a key part of the holidays. But this isn’t the time to clean out the basement or reorganize storage closets. Ultimately, your goal should be that you’re not embarrassed by your home and that everyone will be welcome and have a good time. Back off the big projects and just do those things that pertain to that direct goal.

•TACKLE THE BIG MEALS: Holidays are often all about the food. If you’re playing host, do a lot of stuff in advance, and realize that a lot of things can be reheated just before guests arrive. If you’re hosting a casual affair, have your guests contribute a dish or drinks. Afterward, make notes of who you invited, so you’ll remember details such as whether someone is allergic to nuts.

•EVALUATE WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN’T: Immediately after the holidays, ask yourself: — What would you have liked to do this season, but you ran out of time? — Which of those things could you plan to do now or do earlier in the year so you don’t run out of time? — Is your gift list going to change next year? — Were there certain baked goods or foods that people really enjoyed? — What decorations or ornaments would you like to add, exchange or get rid of? — What projects would you like to do next year, and when should you start them?

•THEN WORK AHEAD FOR 2012: With kids, it can be difficult to buy gifts too far in advance — they tend to want something they just saw on TV. But with other people, you can pick things up during the course of the year to save time and money. And don’t forget to take advantage of the after-holiday sales. You can get staples like holiday napkins, cards and gift wrap for a fraction of the seasonal price. Just be sure to write down what you bought and where you have stashed it, so you’re ready to go next year.

Know what 3-1-1 means. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations restrict the amount of liquids you can take on the plane. Each passenger is allowed to fill a single, quart-sized, clear plastic bag with 3-ounce (technically 3.4-ounce) containers of liquids. Exceptions are made for medications, baby food, and breast milk, but these items must be declared.

Pack carry-ons neatly. Use clear zip-top bags to help organize your clothes, pack in layers so screeners can easily see what is inside, and carefully coil electronic cords. If Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) can’t tell what is in your bag from an X-ray, your bags will likely face an extra manual search.

Pack holiday goods appropriately. If you’re flying home for the holidays, don’t wrap gifts since TSOs may have to unwrap them for inspection. Also, liquid and gel-like foods such as cranberry sauce, gravy, and salad dressing will be confiscated, so ship them ahead or put them in your checked bag. Cakes and pies are allowed, but may require additional screening.

Use the exact name on your ID. The TSA Secure Flight program is being phased in and will require that the name on your ID match your reservation exactly, as well as extra information such as date of birth and gender. Although small differences between your ID and boarding pass shouldn’t be problematic right now, consistency will help minimize your time in line.

Schedule enough wait time. Some individual airports offer real-time wait length estimates for security checkpoints on their websites. The TSA also has a Wait Time Calculator that uses checkpoint line history to offer estimated wait times, although it was under construction at press time. Currently, there are a few smartphone apps that can provide you with the TSA’s historic averages, including TripCase (Blackberry, iPhone, and Windows Mobile) and TSAwait (iPhone), although the information may not be up-to-date. Keep in mind these are only approximate times for security lanes, not for check-in lines.

Dress for success. Before you head to the airport, empty your pockets of loose change, wear minimal jewelry, and avoid wearing a belt so you have fewer items to remove for the metal detector. Wear shoes that are easy to slip off and on. And if your travels include someplace cold, try to wear one jacket you can remove easily.

Use a checkpoint-friendly laptop case. Computers don’t need to be removed from TSA-approved bags, saving you time. Acceptable cases must meet TSA standards, which require a laptop-only section that lies flat on the conveyor belt; has no pockets; and has no metal. If your bag is not TSA approved, store your computer in an easily accessible pocket so you can quickly place it on the belt.

Use line time efficiently. Most likely, no matter when you get to the airport you will have to stand in a security line for some time. While you’re waiting, take off your coat and watch, put your phone and loose change in your carry-on, and have your 3-1-1 bag out and ready. This way when you reach the front of the line you can quickly put your items in the bin.

Be polite. Agitated or argumentative passengers are more likely to seem suspicious and may require more screening.

Choose your line carefully. Many airports now offer three lines for travelers: Expert, Casual, and Family. If you’re traveling with little ones or have liquids that must be declared, choosing the latter will help minimize stress. If you’ve followed all the above suggestions, feel free to choose the Expert lane!

1. Being blinded by bargains

“It was 60% off! How could I pass that up?”

Sound familiar? But just because something is a good deal doesn’t mean it’s a good deal for you. With so many discounts this season, it’s easy to fall into the trap of buying something simply because it’s on sale. You may spend more than you normally would have or end up with a closet full of cheap, unnecessary stuff. Stay focused by drawing up a budget and gift list before you head to the stores. Write down everyone you need to buy for, along with the amount of money you’re willing to spend on each person. Then jot down gift ideas for each person on your list. An hour of forethought can save you a bundle in the long run.

2. Forgetting to budget for the extras

Gifts aren’t the only expense this time of year. Don’t forget to factor in the costs of greeting cards, postage, family photos, shipping, décor, entertaining and travel. Even the utility bills for your festive outdoor light display might turn out to be an unpleasant January surprise.

3. Buying on credit

Financial experts say those who shop with credit cards tend to spend as much as 30% more than if they’d shopped with cash. The reason: When you shop with cash, you’re more aware of how much you spend and how much you have left because you can touch it. And once the money’s gone, it’s gone. Plus, if you have to put the purchase on your credit card or sign up for the store’s financing, you simply cannot afford it. Any good deal you thought you were getting will be eroded by the interest you’ll accrue and the time you’ll spend as a debt hostage. About 12 million Americans are still paying off last holiday’s bills, according to Consumer Reports.

4. Not keeping the receipts

Don’t you hate it when you buy something only to find the store puts it on sale the following week? Hang on to your receipts. Many retailers will honor the sale price if you had made the purchase within a few weeks and will refund you the difference. Keep your receipts, also, in case you or a loved one needs to make a return. Without a receipt, you may only get store credit — or your return could be refused altogether.

5. Spending to impress

This is a biggie, especially for young adults who may feel compelled to prove their success and their new independence. Don’t let your gift giving become a larger statement than the gift. Before tossing something in your cart, ask yourself if it’s something the person will really use and if you can really afford it. And the same goes for entertaining. It’s the company of friends that matters, not how much money you spend.

6. Over-giving

It’s wonderful to get caught up in the spirit of giving, but not if that means you’ll break your budget or go insane trying to pull it off. You don’t have to buy something for every single person you know (co-workers, neighbors, newspaper deliverer, that nameless guy you make small talk with at the bus stop). Stick to the people who count most in your life, such as family and close friends. You might even suggest drawing names among groups of co-workers or relatives to whittle your gift list further. Chances are others are feeling the strain, too, and will welcome the idea.

7. Giving in to gift guilt

Don’t let guilt drive you to break your budget or go into debt. You don’t have to spend the same amount of money on every kid on your list, for example. Giving thoughtful, age-appropriate gifts is much better. You also are not obligated to give a gift that has the same monetary value as a gift someone gave you, says etiquette expert Peter Post, or even to reciprocate unexpected gifts. Simply accept the gift and say thank you.

8. Failing to do your homework

That discount looks like a good deal, but do you know if it’s the best value for your money? Remember, inexpensive sometimes just means cheap. Hit the Web before making major purchases to compare prices, read customer reviews and make sure you’re getting a quality item at a good price.

9. Procrastinating

In the frenzy of last-minute shopping, you have no time to give thoughtful presents. So you compensate by spending more. If you’re shopping online, aim to make your purchases by mid-December. That way, you won’t have to pay extra for expedited shipping, and your gifts stand the best chance of arriving on time.

10. Giving fruitcake

And for heaven’s sake, don’t waste your money on a bad gift. You may as well toss your money on a blazing yule log. Here are some common gifting gaffes to avoid:

Gadgets they’ll never use: Golf-ball-finder glasses, battery-powered potato peeler.

Desk clutter: “Gone fishing” plaques, Zen gardens, paperweights.

Overly personal: Nose hair trimmers, weight-loss books.

Thoughtless: Cookies for the diabetic, wine for the recovering alcoholic or the same gift for the same person two years in a row.

Tacky: Holiday apparel, stuffed animals for anyone over age 10.

Clichéd: Snow globes, coffee mugs, Chia Pets and, yes, fruitcakes.