By CLINT DAVIS, LPC
Special to the Journal

This week is the 20^th anniversary of one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history. In the fall of 2005, I was a young National Guard soldier sent into the chaos of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. My unit was deployed to the Superdome, a place the nation only saw in fleeting television shots. It was dark, overcrowded, and filled with desperation. What the cameras could never capture were the untold stories of survival, failure, faith, and fragile humanity that unfolded in those days.

Now, 20 years later, I tell this story not just for myself, but for the men and women I served alongside – the invisible ones no one has ever heard from. We were soldiers, police, medics, and civilians, thrust into a situation no one could have imagined, carrying the burden of a government that faltered and a community left to fend for itself.

The Dome nobody saw

Inside the Superdome, the air was heavy with fear, sweat, and the unrelenting stench of too many bodies trapped together. Thousands had come seeking shelter, only to find themselves stranded without food, water, or hope. Reports swirled of violence, assaults, and deaths. But the truth was far more complex. There was suffering, yes, but there was also resilience.

I remember shining a flashlight into dark corners, praying not to stumble upon someone being hurt. I remember the sound of mothers crying because their children hadn’t eaten. I remember the hollow stare of elderly men and women who had nowhere to go. These were not statistics. They were lives, each one precious, and each one bearing the image of God.

What was hardest was knowing that so much of what happened would never be told. When I returned home, even my own family couldn’t believe the stories I carried. “No one’s talking about that,” they said. “The news says it wasn’t that bad.” But I had seen enough to know the truth could not be minimized.

A Band of Brothers and Sisters

During the nightmare, something beautiful happened. A small band of brothers and sisters, soldiers of Alpha Company 527^th and others I cannot name, rose up. We gave our hearts, our minds, and our bodies to caring for the abandoned. We carried stretchers, guarded doors, shared the last of our rations, and prayed in corners where despair threatened to take hold. We were spit on, threatened, attacked and disrespected.

We didn’t do it perfectly. We were tired, scared, and sometimes angry. But we stood together because the people around us had no one else. That’s the part of the story that rarely gets told. In the face of broken systems and government failure, human beings still reached for each other.

The weight we carried

For many of us, the weight of those days didn’t end when we left the Dome. It followed us home. The memories shoved deep into our unconscious minds resurfaced in nightmares, in anxiety, and in the gnawing sense that no one really understood.

That is why I tell this story now, not for sympathy, but for healing. God has healed me in so many ways that I want to give back and see others find freedom in Christ. As a trauma counselor, I see every day how people carry hidden wounds. The invisible ones are all around us: veterans, first responders, parents, children, neighbors. The scars may not show, but they shape our lives. Telling the story is the first step toward freedom.

Episode 7: Hope in the midst

In episode 7 of my podcast series on Katrina, I shared something that surprised even me after revisiting those memories. Amid the horror, there was hope. I saw strangers become family. I saw faith sustain people when supplies ran out. I saw courage in the eyes of soldiers who kept standing guard when everything in them wanted to collapse.

One of the most powerful lessons I carry from those days is this: even when the world fails, humanity does not have to. God can give us the strength to keep going. He will make beauty from ashes! Systems will break. Leaders will stumble. But ordinary people can still choose compassion over cruelty, courage over fear, and sacrifice over selfishness.

That truth is what encourages me today. We live in a world still filled with disasters – natural, political, and personal. Families are torn apart by addiction. Communities are divided by hatred. Many feel abandoned, invisible, and forgotten. But just like in the Dome, light still breaks through the cracks. People still rise up for each other. God is still at work, redeeming what the enemy meant for evil.

Why I share now

It has taken me nearly two decades to speak these words out loud. For too long, we, the soldiers of Alpha Company 527th, the medics, the guards, the unseen heroes, have been silent. Our silence wasn’t because we didn’t care, but because the weight was too heavy and the world seemed unwilling to listen.

But stories matter. Stories heal. Stories remind us that what we endured was real and that it cannot be erased. And stories remind those who are suffering now that they are not alone.

As a counselor, pastor, and speaker, my mission today is the same as it was in the Dome: to stand with the hurting, to call the invisible into the light, and to remind us all that we are not defined by disaster, but by the hope we carry through it.

A call to remember

As we mark 20 years since Katrina, my plea is simple: remember. Remember the lives lost. Remember the failures, so they are not repeated. Remember the survivors, whose stories are still waiting to be heard. And remember the invisible ones who carried burdens in silence so others could live another day.

Our community is stronger when we face the past together. Healing begins when the unseen are finally seen, and when the unheard are finally given a voice.

This is not just my story. It is our story. It is a story of pain, yes, but also of courage, compassion, and hope. And it is a story still being written, in every act of kindness, in every choice to serve, in every effort to bring light into the darkest places.

Want to hear the full story? Listen and hear of the devastating things humans are capable of, and the wonderful things God can do through horrible circumstances.

You can find The Asking Why with Clint Davis podcast on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. Here is a link to the YouTube version:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIOrlMLRoBUSpMPAEaDnYow04vI_iQnmN&si=m8EyTVFoNTf0k68b

Clint Davis is a licensed professional counselor, and owner of Clint Davis Counseling. His company has offices in Shreveport, Bossier, and Benton.

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Sheriff Sam Craft of the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office announces recent arrests made by VPSO.

August 25, 2025
Dallas Joanna Nash, age 43, of Leesville, was arrested on an outstanding Bench Warrant. Bond was set at $2,500. Nash posted bond and was released.

August 26, 2025
Kristy Clifford, age 46, of Leesville, was arrested and charged with one count of Unauthorized use of a Motor Vehicle. Bond has not been set and Clifford remains in the VPSO jail. A detainer for the Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole has been placed on Clifford.

August 27, 2025
Bradford Lewis Moyers, age 49, of Rosepine, was arrested on an outstanding Bench Warrant. Bond was set at $1,500. Moyers posted bond and was released.

ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW.

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Stakeholders from Vernon Parish joined community leaders from Beauregard Parish and across the region at the Louisiana Armed Forces Alliance (LAFA) Community Briefing and Military Affairs Dinner held recently in DeRidder.

The event provided an opportunity to exchange information and discuss issues affecting the military community while also serving as a networking platform for parish and regional leaders.

LAFA’s mission centers on coordinating efforts to support the armed forces, the missions of military installations in Louisiana, and the quality of life for service members and their families stationed in the state.

The dinner highlighted ongoing collaboration between Vernon Parish, Beauregard Parish, and other regional partners as they work together to strengthen support for the state’s military presence.

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Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital hosted Yazeed Abdelhq, Military Legislative Assistant to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, during a coordinated visit with Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk leadership.

Hospital leaders provided Abdelhq with an overview of how BJACH supports Soldier medical readiness, training rotations, and healthcare services for families and retirees in the Fort Polk community. The visit emphasized the vital role Army Medicine plays in sustaining operational readiness while continuing to care for the broader military community.

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Byrd Regional Hospital announced that patients can now access their medical records more easily through a new partnership with Verisma. The service provides safe, secure, and convenient options for requesting records electronically.

Through the Verisma Request App, patients are able to submit requests online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from virtually anywhere. The system allows individuals to complete, sign, and track requests electronically, streamlining a process that once required more time and paperwork.

The platform serves as a one-stop shop for medical record needs, including requests for billing, radiology, and mammogram information. Patients can submit their requests by visiting verisma.com/request or by scanning the QR code provided by the hospital.

Hospital officials said the new system reflects Byrd Regional’s commitment to improving patient access and ensuring health information is available in a timely and secure way.

For more information, patients can contact Byrd Regional Hospital at 866-390-7404.

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Leesville Junior High School has released its roster for the 2025-26 boys basketball season. The team will represent the Junior Cats on the court this year with a strong lineup of student-athletes.

The roster includes: Avonte Jordan, Jessie Williams, Demetris Woods, Caderian Aldredge, Sebastian Betts, Judah Hawkins, Ashton Hackett, Ashtin Martin, Urijah Prozen, Dominic Thomas, Toure (Kaleb) Jones, Kyson Coiller, Nasir Shabazz, Davion Porch, Dillon Martin, Courtney Escoffery, Hakeem Collins, Maddox McArthur, Choun Moody, David Vezia, Kameron Kam, Kalonte Smith, Damari Moultrie, and Ashton Belton.

Team managers for the season are Tommy Martell and Isaiah Simmons.

With a full roster of dedicated players and support staff, Leesville Junior High is looking ahead to a competitive and exciting basketball season.

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Vernon Parish 4-H students brought home top honors from the Louisiana Forest Festival in Winnfield, earning the title of 2025 Louisiana State 4-H Woodsman Skills Champions.

The team competed in the annual woodsman skills contest, showcasing their abilities in traditional logging and forestry events. Their performance secured the state championship title, marking a proud achievement for both the students and the parish.

The victory was made possible with the support of local sponsors, including W/D Chips LLC, Double B Logging, Jeane Logging, A & P Logging, Dowden Logging, and R & D Timber LLC.

The Vernon Parish team’s success highlights both the dedication of the students and the strong backing of the forestry community in the parish.

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Paid Editorial Feature – The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the Journal.

Last month, OnPath Federal Credit Union agreed to buy Heritage Bank of St. Tammany in Covington, Louisiana, a century-old institution with deep local roots. The deal was hailed by OnPath CEO Jared Freeman, who praised Heritage’s “unwavering commitment to the local community.” But what Freeman failed to mention is that the acquisition will rob that community of a critical source of revenue.

Because OnPath is a credit union and thus tax-exempt, the deal means that St. Tammany Parish will lose a reliable stream of tax payments. Those dollars help fund schools, pay essential public servants like police officers and firefighters, and support other vital public services across the parish. Once the acquisition is finalized, that revenue will disappear, and the burden of making up the difference will fall squarely on the shoulders of local taxpayers.

The example of OnPath in Louisiana illustrates a much bigger problem across the country: credit unions are no longer the small, member-focused institutions they were established to be. Many have grown into large financial operations, similar to banks, all while enjoying tax-exempt status. Lawmakers must investigate whether credit unions’ tax-exempt status is still necessary in light of their significant growth, which is ultimately leaching revenue from state and local governments and setting the stage for higher taxes on local communities.

The situation in Louisiana is not the first. Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU) had planned to acquire Sabine Bank and Trust, which is based in Many, Louisiana. Although TDECU ultimately backed away from the acquisition, it underscores the fact that credit unions have strayed far from the original mission Congress envisioned when it exempted them from most federal, state, and local taxes under the Federal Credit Union Act. It’s time for Congress to revisit whether the tax breaks are still justified.

Credit unions like TDECU have grown into large financial institutions by leveraging taxpayer subsidies. Far from its founding mission to serve the residents of Lake Jackson, Texas, TDECU now serves over 380,000 members across the state. Ending 2024 with $4.8 billion in total assets, TDECU’s services have widened to include wealth management investment products through its partnership with LPL Financial, which they even acknowledge as being a conflict of interest. The growth doesn’t stop there. Credit unions are buying community banks at a time when bank consolidation and burdensome regulations are putting extreme pressure on banks’ bottom lines. The current regulatory environment and credit union acquisitions are exacerbating bank consolidation. In fact, data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) shows that the number of community banks dropped by 46% over the last two decades, falling from 7,620 in 2003 to 4,129 in 2023. Credit unions are thriving, and skirting taxes while community banks are getting squeezed.

One negative outcome of tax-exempt credit unions acquiring community banks is that local and state governments lose revenue. This essential tax revenue helps fund local schools, projects, and infrastructure. The state of Louisiana has a bank shares tax that funds local communities, but when a credit union acquires a bank, it eliminates that source of revenue and results in less funding for local services. The shortfall in revenue could compel a parish to raise taxes on households to maintain a balanced budget. According to the Tax Foundation, “since 2011, more than 100 credit union–bank acquisition deals have been announced across the country.” Credit unions get to grow and avoid paying taxes, while American households across the country are getting forced to foot the bill at the end of the day.

Americans expect transparency, safeguards, and a level playing field from banks. These same principles should apply to credit unions. This is not about eliminating credit unions; it is about accountability and ensuring the law matches credit unions’ behavior. In an era where credit unions operate more like large financial institutions and less like community-oriented lenders, Congress should conduct oversight hearings and reexamine whether their tax-exempt status still aligns with their actions today. Louisiana taxpayers, in towns like Many and Covington, and in parishes around the state, should not have to pay more taxes because the law, as currently written, allows credit unions to exploit their tax loophole.

Ken Hale is the President & Chief Executive Officer of BOM Bank

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Leesville welcomed a new business this week with the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Just 4 Him Men’s Haircuts, located at 2414 S. 5th Street.

The shop officially opened its doors to the public on Thursday, offering services including men’s haircuts, beard trims, shampoos, and hot-towel treatments in a sports-themed atmosphere.

Owners expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to become part of the growing Leesville community, noting the hard work and preparation that went into creating a high-quality barbershop experience.

The ribbon cutting marked the start of operations for Just 4 Him Men’s Haircuts, which invites customers to stop in for walk-in service.

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Louisiana CASA held a training session in Lafayette last week for staff from CASA of South Louisiana, CASA of West CenLa, and CASA of St. Landry-Evangeline. The session introduced a newly developed Child Well-being Assessment designed for Region 2 CASA programs.

The training, aimed at staff who supervise CASA volunteers, focused on how to integrate the updated assessment into case management practices and ensure volunteers are prepared to use the tool effectively. Organizers said the goal is to create more consistent and informed advocacy for children in foster care.

The effort is part of Louisiana CASA’s Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Initiative, launched in 2024, which emphasizes evidence-based and data-informed practices. The initiative seeks to strengthen accountability, improve outcomes for children, and ensure their needs and voices are clearly understood.

By providing staff with new tools and training, Louisiana CASA is working to advance child advocacy efforts across the state and support more impactful decision-making on behalf of children in foster care.

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Margaret Virginia Sanders
Services held Aug. 27

Janice Dianne Page
Service: Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 3 pm at the First United Pentecostal Church of Leesville

Wilmer Lee Jeane
Arrangements TBA

George Douglas Brandon D.V.M.
No Service Information Listed

Calvin Bernard “Bibby” Wilson
Service: Friday, August 29 at 10:30 am at New Willow Baptist Church in Leesville. A full military honors service will be held at 12:30 p.m. at the Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery.

Richard Edward Murray
No Service Information Listed

Robert Monroe Rambin JR.
Service: Saturday, August 30 at 9:30 am at Labby Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in DeRidder

Julia Lam McDonald
Service: September 1, 2025, at 12:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Hornbeck

Larry James Leggins
Service: Thursday, September 4 at Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin, Oklahoma.

Rebecca Louise Travis
Service: Friday August 29th, 2025 at 10AM located at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in DeRidder

Angela Mattox “Tinker” Krebs
Service: Friday August 29, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Mitchell Cemetery

Katherine Keys
Service: Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 11 am at Johnson Temple Church of God in Christ

Vernon Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or vpjnewsla@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Deaths shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to vpjnewsla@gmail.com).

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Sheriff Sam Craft of the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office announces recent arrests made by VPSO.

August 25, 2025

James Stewart, age 67, of Leesville, was arrested on an outstanding Bench Warrant. Bond has not been set and Stewart remains in the VPSO jail.

Tracy Scott Bailey, age 51, of DeRidder, was arrested and charged with one count of Illegal Possession of Stolen Things. Bond has not been set and Bailey remains in the VPSO jail.

John Wayne Ciccarelli, age 31, of Dry Creek, was arrested and charged with one count of Simple Arson, one count of Improper Telephone Communications, and one count of Criminal Trespass. Bond has not been set and Ciccarelli remains in the VPSO jail.

Nolan John Myers, age 54, of Leesville, was arrested on an out of jurisdiction warrant from the State of Arizona. Bond has not been set and Myers remains in the VPSO jail.

ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW.

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By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

The phrase “bigger and better” fits the first “Battle on the Bricks” high school football jamboree set for Turpin Stadium Friday and Saturday.

There’s been a Natchitoches jamboree for many years, sponsored recently by Natchitoches Regional Medical Center. The hospital’s support has been steady, and has attracted additional sponsors.

This year, it’s attracted additional teams and gotten a new name, referring to the iconic bricks on Front Street downtown bordering Cane River.

Start with the three local schools – Natchitoches Central, St. Mary’s and Lakeview.

The fan out to two from Vernon Parish, 2024 Class 4A semifinalist Leesville (bringing varsity and junior varsity squads), and a rising Pickering program. (Both Leesville teams play Friday and Pickering finishes the two-day event Saturday at 4.)

Look down I-49 and add Menard and Tioga, then go into the pine trees north of the Red River for Red River, Grant, LaSalle, and Winnfield.

It will provide six games, three each day. Tickets sold at each participating school produce revenue that stays at the school.

Friday’s schedule begins at 4 o’clock with Lakeview meeting the Leesville JV, then an appealing Class 2A clash at 6 between Winnfield and Menard.

Natchitoches Central tangles with Leesville at 8 to wrap up the opening night.

The Wampus Cats will field a junior varsity team that coach Robert Causey promised would be feisty, although probably not nearly as organized as desired. But the varsity squad is ready to tee it up against anybody and especially the Class 5A Chiefs.

“I get asked a question, especially from my Dad. ‘Well, what’s your season gonna be? What you gonna do?’ My response to Dad and to everyone is, ‘Dad, it’s just another opportunity to go compete with another group of kids. The standard is the standard, and it doesn’t really matter about the past. It’s about these current kids and the expectation that we established in 2016 when I was blessed to get this job.

“It’s now their time to continue to grow, to take the expectations of Leesville High School and Wampus Cat football and continue to grow.’ Having the opportunity in this jamboree with the big stadium, the lights and the big stage, for us, it’s the chance to go make memories. Sometimes in athletics it’s about win, win, win, and maybe we forget that it’s bigger than that for us, and importantly for these kids. We’re trying to raise boys to men, create champions for life. When it’s all said and done, when they’re our age, what memories will these kids have to look back upon?

“For us to be part of this jamboree, it’s quite special, because it’s going to prepare us for something bigger. We look at where we want to go, having a chance to play Natchitoches Central, with a great coaching staff, a division above us, they’ve got size, they’ve got speed … and we have a young team with a lot of guys getting their first varsity action. It’s a great learning opportunity for our guys,” said Causey.

Pickering’s program is at the opposite end of the spectrum, patiently developing under coach John Daughtery, who is successfully building on a powerlifting program that has boosted players’ physiques and their confidence.

“I’m very excited for our team to be here, and hopefully both us and St. Mary’s can have a healthy game, something that prepares us for this season,” said Daughtery, who was the NCHS powerlifting coach and assistant defensive line coach for several years before taking the PHS job in 2022.

“It’s a challenge I wanted to be involved with as a coach. We installed discipline and the weight room. We’ve been very successful in powerlifting, and that’s helped our program,” he said. “We have a small program with guys who play both ways. It shows a testament to their work ethic.”

Saturday’s slate kicks off at noon when Tioga squares off against Red River. Grant and LaSalle battle at 2, and St. Mary’s wraps up the two-day jamboree at 4 taking on Pickering.

Teams will play two 12-minute quarters. The regular season begins on the first weekend in September.

Coaches and two players from each school participated in a “Battle on the Bricks” media session Monday at the hospital’s Listach Room.

“I truly believe this can become something that will be great for not just the local area, but the region. We have great quality teams, great coaches, and a lot of history of friendships throughout the coaching staffs, the players and the communities,” said St. Mary’s coach Kedrin Seastrunk.

NCHS coach Brad Laird said he and assistant coach Pete Townsend, who was the coordinator putting together the jamboree, are modeling it after the longstanding “Bayou Jamb” hosted annually at ULM and involving nearly two dozen north Louisiana teams over a three-day span in Monroe.

“Coming back last year, from Bayou Jamb, Coach Townsend asked, ‘why can’t we do that in Natchitoches? Why can’t we do that in Turpin Stadium? A hundred percent credit to Coach Townsend for the work he’s done since last August to get this going in a much bigger way,” said Laird.

“It’s been great. We have a beautiful stadium. We have Northwestern State. We have a great community to show off to visitors,” said Townsend.

Over and over, coaches and players from outside of Natchitoches Parish expressed their excitement about playing in a college stadium and visiting the NSU campus, while fans can also enjoy spending time in Natchitoches.

“We expect this to be a very good start and we intend to make it bigger and better going forward,” said Laird. “We can’t thank our sponsors enough for making this possible.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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Growing up there’ve been all kinds of jobs I’ve had; some I hated and a few I really enjoyed. As a teenager, I worked part time for a parcel shipping company, a lumber yard, summer baseball leagues, worked two summers for Brown & Root Construction and two summers for the Texas Highway Department.

Each of these jobs taught me different things that would benefit me later in life. So many lessons can be learned through working and holding down a job, especially at an early age.

Today, I want to recognize a group of people who deserve a lot more respect than what they are given — game wardens!

It takes a special person to be a game warden. These men and women who take on the job of policing our land and waterways are a special breed, and in many cases never get the credit they deserve.

Talk about a thankless job, these folks do what very few want to do. It’s their job to enforce the rules and regulations of the hunting and fishing world. They go through intense training and schooling to become a certified fish and wildlife official.

They are constantly dealing with the public, who in many cases are carrying weapons. They must have good people skills allowing them to deal with some of the toughest people on earth, hunters and fishermen.

Most of the time as they approach people on the water or in the woods, they are often met by disgruntled anglers or hunters aggravated about being checked.

They have to deal with people with attitudes, who give one excuse after another why they don’t have the necessary licenses, or decided not to follow the rules and regulations that are in place.

Game wardens too often deal with folks who would rather lie than tell the truth. Many times, the wardens must go above and beyond the call of duty, like being first responders to help and rescue people after a hurricane or any type of natural disaster.

They are the guys who must retrieve our loved ones who may have drowned while fishing or been shot in hunting accident. This is a job very few people would ever want.

Growing up in East Texas and now living in Louisiana, I’ve been blessed to get to hunt and fish all across this great country. Hunting and fishing are privileges, not rights, and these men and women we call game wardens do a great job at making sure we are safe.

Today, I want to salute those who carry the badge while patrolling our lakes and waterways making sure the rules and regulations of the hunting and fishing world are enforced.

The next time you see or have some kind of interaction with a game warden, make sure to tell them, “Thank you,” and share that you appreciate the job they do. They’re not the enemy and are not out there just to write tickets. They are out there to keep you safe and enforce the law.

‘Til next week, good luck and stay safe while hunting or fishing. Make sure to follow the rules and regulations set by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in your state.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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The survey was conducted from August 11, 2025 to August 15, 2025 at 7 p.m. Friday.

The survey aimed to gather feedback from our readers in North and Central Louisiana to the Parish Journals (Parish Journal of Louisiana) regarding their plans to purchase a vehicle in the next four (4) months

SURVEY: How likely are you to purchase a new or used vehicle in the next 4 months?

Total number of surveys submitted:	6,285
Less the number of surveys removed due to irregularities (See Below):	727
TOTAL SURVEYS COMPLETED USED IN THIS ANALYSIS:	5,558
Number of surveys stating they will buy a car or truck within the next 4 months:	993
Number of surveys stating they will pay cash:	270
Number of surveys stating they will need financing:	480
Number of surveys stating they have not decided:	243
Number of surveys stating they will buy a new car (gas)	165
Number of surveys stating they will buy a new truck/SUV (gas)	315
Number of surveys stating they will buy a used car (gas)	225
Number of surveys stating they will buy a used truck/SUV (gas)	288

Irregularities

Outside the State of Louisiana – Entries outside the State boundaries were excluded from the survey based on IP addresses.

Duplicate entries – Entries with the same IP address and MAC address were removed.

Masked/Hidden entries – Masked or hidden IP address entries were deleted.

Editor’s Note: Historically, some participants have attempted to influence our survey results. By removing irregularities, we attempt to ensure that uncaught entries with irregularities remain statistically insignificant. 

This survey provides an overview of Parish Journal readers in the State of Louisiana. It is not a scientific survey.

Parish Journals: Avoyelles, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, DeSoto, Grant, Jackson,  LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, Vernon, Webster and Winn

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If you’ve ever tried to order at a fast food drive-thru with a speaker that sounds like it was built during the Tower of Babel incident, you know the struggle. You pull up, hungry and hopeful, only to be greeted by a garbled voice that sounds like it’s speaking in tongues—but not the kind Paul was talking about.

“Whaaaat can Iiii get foooorrrr youuuuu todaaaay?”

You squint at the menu like it’s Leviticus, trying to decipher what’s actually available. You speak clearly, slowly, and with conviction: “I’d like a number three with no onions, a medium fry, and a Coke.”

There’s a pause. Then the voice replies, “So that’s a number two, extra onions, large fry, and a Diet Dr. Pepper?”

You sigh. “No, that’s not what I said.”

And suddenly, you realize this feels oddly familiar. Like prayer. Like trying to hear from God.

Let’s be honest—sometimes hearing from God feels like trying to decode a drive-thru speaker in a thunderstorm. You pray with all your heart, asking for guidance, clarity, maybe even a sign. And what you get back feels… fuzzy.

You ask, “Lord, should I take this job?”

And you hear, “Take the jog.”

Jog? Is this about exercise? Is this metaphorical? Is God telling me to run away from the job? Or toward it? Is this a Jonah moment or a Joshua moment?

You start Googling biblical references to jogging. You ask three friends, your pastor, and maybe even your dog. Still unclear.

Drive-thrus are designed for speed but rarely deliver clarity. Similarly, we often approach God like He’s a spiritual vending machine. We want fast answers, clear signs, and instant peace. But God’s not in the business of fast food theology.

He’s more like a slow-cooked brisket—rich, layered, and worth the wait.

Sometimes we get frustrated because we think we’re doing everything right. We’re praying, reading Scripture, even fasting (which, ironically, makes the drive-thru even more tempting). But God’s voice isn’t always loud or obvious. Remember Elijah? God wasn’t in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire. He was in the whisper.

And let’s be real: whispers don’t work well through drive-thru speakers.

The key difference? God’s not garbled. We are.

The static isn’t on His end—it’s on ours. We’ve got spiritual interference: anxiety, distractions, expectations, and sometimes, just plain hunger. We’re trying to hear divine direction while scrolling Instagram, binge-watching Netflix, and mentally calculating how many calories are in a Chick-fil-A milkshake.

But God’s voice requires quiet. Stillness. Intentional listening. It’s not about shouting into the speaker and hoping for the best—it’s about pulling forward, parking, and spending time in His presence.

So next time you’re in a drive-thru, waiting for your order and wondering if they got it right, take a moment to laugh—and reflect. Hearing from God isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. He’s not a fast food employee trying to rush you through. He’s a loving Father who wants relationship, not just requests.

And unlike the drive-thru, He never gets your order wrong.

So breathe. Listen. And maybe skip the onions. Just in case.

Doug de Graffenried is the Senior Pastor of Trinity Methodist Church in Ruston, Louisiana. You can reach Doug at his email: DougDeGraffenried

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