Connect with us

Mississippi

New Orleans’ Pontilly Coffee team expands their mission with Mississippi retreat space

Published

1 year ago

on

New Orleans’ Pontilly Coffee team expands their mission with Mississippi retreat space


Wooden signs lead the way down a winding dirt road to a 62-acre farm and retreat center in Kiln, Mississippi.

Rows of white residential quarters and at least 300 animals — horses, pigs, goats and chickens — greet visitors who arrive at the Christian-based sanctuary.






Advertisement

Hosing for women and retreat participants photographed at the Bethel Encounters Retreat Center in Kiln, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)



Advertisement


In the five years that New Orleans Pastors Melvin Jones and Mike Smith have operated the site, called Bethel Encounters, they’ve hosted private retreats each year for groups looking to exchange the hustle and bustle of city life for fellowship and nature. 

The retreats are part of the latest business ventures for New Orleans-based Bethel Community Baptist Church that help sustain its larger mission of saving lives by providing housing, jobs, addiction treatment and other services for people in need. 

The church also owns nonprofit businesses Pontilly Coffee and God is Good Car Wash on Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans.

Last year, the church expanded its Mississippi footprint to an even larger space farther down the road. Trinity Trails encompasses 462 acres of green space, trails and a pool overlooking a massive pond fit for swimming or kayaking. The site is a picturesque scene of stillness. 



Advertisement




NO.stables.adv.07.jpg

The pool is cleaned at the Bethel Encounters Retreat Center in Kiln, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)




There, yearlong resident David Harris pulls up in a truck near a set of newly built horse stables. He hops out holding a mineral block that will be used to supplement the horses’ nutrition. Harris has struggled with functional alcoholism since he was 15-years-old, he said, having transferred from the church’s New Orleans treatment center after relapsing.

Advertisement

“They give you a firm foundation to stand on and they give you tools to survive … to go out and live a regular life,” he said.

Less than a year ago, he regained full custody of his son, a major motivator in his recovery.

Jagger Harris, 11, sits atop one of the horses as a Trinity Trails resident himself.

During the school year, the school bus picks him up in in front and drops him off at the end of the day.

“He’s not really broken yet so no one can even get close to him,” Jagger said of the horse named Shorty.

Advertisement

Jagger plans to do the work of breaking the horse on his own.







NO.stables.adv.17.jpg

Jagger Harris, 13, works with Shorty the horse at the Bethel Encounters Retreat Center in Kiln, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)

Advertisement


Smith said it’s not commonplace to allow children to stay with their parents at the center, rather it’s on a case-by case basis.

Harris said he’s been to other treatment facilities, but none were close to what he’s experienced at Bethel.

“It wasn’t quite like this. This is different. In a great way,” he said.



Advertisement




NO.stables.adv.13.jpg

A waterslide leads to a pond at the Bethel Encounters Retreat Center in Kiln, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)




The two properties are an extension of the church’s New Orleans addiction treatment center. Residents live in a separate area for months at a time while working different jobs to maintain the land.

Advertisement

Some are court ordered. Some are there on their own. 

Shortly after Cara Wilhite moved to the south from Kansas to be with her dad, she was let go from her job, fell into the wrong crowd and spiraled into addiction. She heard about the center and chose to get help.

“It helps a lot. It’s out in the middle of nowhere. If I need to take a little walk to the swing and have some alone time or check on the animals, it helps,” she said.

Acquiring the two Mississippi properties fell under the church’s belt by happenstance, Smith said, when a former client he counseled ran into the former owner of Bethel Encounters at a Mississippi gym. The owner recently had a stroke and intended to sell.

After the two parties became connected, Jones and Smith met with the property owner onsite.

Advertisement

“Now, this is where the story gets really crazy,” Smith said.

Before Jones graduated from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2002 and began growing his ministry, he spent years battling addiction himself. In the midst of their discussion, Jones recalled the years he was homeless and how he would rent storage units for shelter at Fontainebleau Self Storage on Tulane Avenue.

When the previous owner disclosed that he too, had experienced a period of homelessness and lived in a Fontainebleau rental unit, the deal seemed meant to be.

“This is unreal,” Smith remembered. “A white guy from Mississippi and a Black guy from New Orleans and y’all connect in this area,” he said.

The church purchased the Bethel Encounters site for $900,000 and acquired the larger site years later for $1 million.

Advertisement

Now, they’re exploring multiple ways in which it will be used. One avenue Jones has championed is to host retreats for small groups of citified youth.

Jones said kids are different outside of their normal settings and that youth, especially in New Orleans, often have little to look forward to in the city with many rarely having chances to leave.

“Being able to interact with the animals, feed the horses; being able to go into the chicken coop and see where eggs come from … because a lot of kids just think eggs come from the supermarket and the carton and they don’t,” he said.

A few months ago, they held their first overnight retreat for New Orleans students with a group of 30 kids from Bricolage Academy. The students rode horses, went paddle boating and fed the animals. School officials held breakout sessions on various topics.

“For the kids to be able to look up into the night sky and see thousands and thousands of stars,” Jones said. “They don’t see that in the city. And we want to make that experience real for them.”

Advertisement



Source link

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Mississippi

Photos: Touring the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion at Christmas

Published

4 hours ago

on

December 20, 2025

By

Photos: Touring the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion at Christmas


The Mississippi Governor’s Mansion’s 2025 Christmas decorations celebrate Mississippi’s K-12 students and educators with the theme, “A Season of Success.”

“We chose this theme to highlight our state’s historic and nation-leading educational gains that are the envy of America,” a note from the family of Gov. Tate Reeves in a pamphlet explaining the holiday decorations says.

Here is a collection of photos showcasing many of the decorations throughout the mansion.

Two gold nutcrackers stand guard at the entrance to the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A Christmas tree is decorated with the pages of books to represent the importance of literacy in the foyer of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
Pages of books adorn a Christmas tree in the foyer of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Pres
The sounds of holiday tunes fill the room as a pianist plays a baby grand piano near a staircase in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A Christmas tree features a Santa theme in Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A garland on a doorway at the entrance to the Gold Parlor displays ornaments made by students from schools across the state at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
Stockings hang on the chimney in the Gold Parlor at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A Christmas tree stands in the Gold Parlor of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025.. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
The Rose Parlors feature the only live Christmas tree in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., seen here on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
The Rose Parlors feature the only live Christmas tree in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., seen here on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
Garlands featuring magnolias and bookcases decorate the main staircase of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A gingerbread house is seen on the second-floor landing of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
Nutcrackers stand on a stable on the second-floor landing of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A gingerbread house, cupcakes, a train made of sweets and a Santa Claus doll stand on a table on the second-floor landing of the governor’s mansion. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A Christmas tree on the second-floor landing celebrates Mississippi’s musical heritage, surrounded by art pieces made by students at Choctaw Central Middle School, Neshoba Central art classes and the Winston Academy Elementary art class at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. A vintage band uniform stands nearby. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
Artwork made by students displays Mississippi’s diversity, seen here at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
The Green Bedroom features decorations celebrating Mississippi’s colleges and universities, seen here at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
The Green Bedroom features decorations celebrating Mississippi’s colleges and universities, seen here at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A Christmas tree in the Green Bedroom celebrates Mississippi’s colleges and universities, seen here at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
Nutcrackers stand on a mantle in the Cream Bedroom, decorated to celebrate Mississippi’s status leading the nation in 4th-grade math gains and achieving a ranking of No. 16 in the nation in education, seen here in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A Christmas tree in the Cream Bedroom features poinsettias and cards with mathematical equations in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
Literary elements in the Gold Bedroom’s Christmas decorations are a tribute to Mississippi’s historic reading gains, seen here Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
Books and candles adorn a table in the Gold Bedroom of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
Books by celebrated Mississippi author William Faulkner sit on a table in the Gold Bedroom of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A Christmas tree is decorated with open books in the Gold Bedroom of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
The Pumpkin Bedroom’s Christmas decorations celebrate Mississippi’s young learners, seen here in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A glass of milk sits atop a copy of “The Night Before Christmas” on a bed in the Pumpkin Bedroom in the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
A nutcracker stands next to pencils and crayons on a bedside table in the Pumpkin Bedroom of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press
Trees and Christmas lights are visible from the windows of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Miss., on Dec. 4, 2025.. Photo by Ashton Pittman, Mississippi Free Press

Advertisement

Ashton Pittman

Award-winning News Editor Ashton Pittman, a native of the South Mississippi Pine Belt, studied journalism and political science at the University of Southern Mississippi. Previously the state reporter at the Jackson Free Press, he drove national headlines and conversations with award-winning reporting about segregation academies. He has won numerous awards, including Outstanding New Journalist in the South, for his work covering immigration raids, abortion battles and even former Gov. Phil Bryant’s unusual work with “The Bad Boys of Brexit” at the Jackson Free Press. In 2021, as a Mississippi Free Press reporter, he was named the Diamond Journalist of the Year for seven southern U.S. states in the Society of Professional Journalists Diamond Awards. A trained photojournalist, Ashton lives in South Mississippi with his husband, William, and their two pit bulls, Dorothy and Dru.

More by Ashton Pittman

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading

Mississippi

Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for Dec. 19, 2025

Published

16 hours ago

on

December 20, 2025

By

Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for Dec. 19, 2025


play

The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 19, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Dec. 19 drawing

06-11-22-30-32

Advertisement

Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 19 drawing

Midday: 1-3-7, FB: 8

Evening: 1-0-0, FB: 9

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 19 drawing

Midday: 3-6-7-5, FB: 8

Advertisement

Evening: 4-2-1-2, FB: 9

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 19 drawing

Midday: 10

Evening: 04

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Advertisement

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Story continues below gallery.

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.

Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:

Advertisement

Mississippi Lottery Corporation

P.O. Box 321462

Flowood, MS

39232

If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.

Advertisement

Mississippi Lottery Headquarters

1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100

Flowood, MS

39232

Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.

Advertisement

When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?

  • Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
  • Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
  • Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
  • Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.



Source link

Continue Reading

Mississippi

Our College Football Playoff picks: Can Oregon reach the National Championship?

Published

1 day ago

on

December 19, 2025

By

Our College Football Playoff picks: Can Oregon reach the National Championship?


With the College Football Playoff finally here, the Oregonian/OregonLive sports staff returns with its final predictions for the 2025-2026 season.

No. 5 Oregon starts its CFP campaign with a matchup against 12-seed James Madison on Saturday, in what will be the first-ever playoff game held at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks are a heavy favorite, and many of our experts predict them to make a deep playoff run after beating the Dukes.

In addition to UO hosting JMU, this weekend’s first-round CFP slate includes showdowns between No. 9 Alabama and No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 10 Miami and No. 7 Texas A&M, as well as No. 11 Tulane and No. 6 Mississippi.

Our staff has made predictions for all playoff games from now until the championship on Jan. 19. Check out the picks below.

Advertisement

No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma

Game details: 5 p.m. PT Friday at Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma

TV channel and live stream: ABC and ESPN

Latest line: Sooners by 1½

Over/under: 40½

Ryan Clarke: Alabama 31, Oklahoma 20

Advertisement

James Crepea: Alabama 28, Oklahoma 21

Nick Daschel: Oklahoma 27, Alabama 23

Aaron Fentress: Oklahoma 27, Alabama 24

Sean Meagher: Alabama 28, Oklahoma 26

Joel Odom: Alabama 27, Oklahoma 20

Advertisement

Bill Oram: Oklahoma 28, Alabama 21

No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M

Game details: 9 a.m. PT Saturday at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas

TV channel and live stream: ABC and ESPN

Latest line: Aggies by 3½

Over/under: 48½

Advertisement

Ryan Clarke: Miami 21, Texas A&M 20

James Crepea: Miami 21, Texas A&M 14

Nick Daschel: Miami 31, Texas A&M 27

Aaron Fentress: Texas A&M 31, Miami 30

Sean Meagher: Texas A&M 35, Miami 24

Advertisement

Joel Odom: Texas A&M 23, Miami 21

Bill Oram: Miami 42, Texas A&M 35

No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Mississippi

Game details: 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi

TV channel and live stream: TNT, HBO Max and truTV

Latest line: Rebels by 17½

Advertisement

Over/under: 56½

Ryan Clarke: Mississippi 35, Tulane 13

James Crepea: Mississippi 35, Tulane 14

Nick Daschel: Mississippi 38, Tulane 24

Aaron Fentress: Miss 40, Tulane 17

Advertisement

Sean Meagher: Mississippi 38, Tulane 21

Joel Odom: Mississippi 35, Tulane 16

Bill Oram: Mississippi 38, Tulane 17

No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon

Game details: 4:30 p.m. PT Saturday at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon

TV channel and live stream: TNT, HBO Max and truTV

Advertisement

Latest line: Ducks by 20½

Over/under: 47½

Ryan Clarke: Oregon 45, James Madison 7

James Crepea: Oregon 35, James Madison 7

Nick Daschel: Oregon 45, JMU 10

Advertisement

Aaron Fentress: Oregon 41, JMU 16

Sean Meagher: Oregon 42, James Madison 17

Joel Odom: Oregon 38, James Madison 19

Bill Oram: Oregon 40, JMU 13

Quarterfinals

Cotton Bowl: Miami-Texas A&M winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State

Game details: 4:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas

Advertisement

TV channel and live stream: ESPN

Ryan Clarke: Ohio State 31, Miami 17

James Crepea: Ohio State 35, Miami 14

Nick Daschel: Ohio State 34, Miami 17

Aaron Fentress: OSU 33, Texas A&M 20

Advertisement

Sean Meagher: Ohio State 35, Texas A&M 24

Joel Odom: Ohio State 31, Texas A&M 21

Bill Oram: Ohio State 31, Miami 24

Orange Bowl: JMU-Oregon winner vs. No. 4 Texas Tech

Game details: 9 a.m. PT on Thursday, Jan. 1 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida

TV channel and live stream: ESPN

Advertisement

Ryan Clarke: Oregon 27, Texas Tech 20

James Crepea: Oregon 28, Texas Tech 21

Nick Daschel: Oregon 30, Texas Tech 24

Aaron Fentress: Oregon 27, Texas Tech 24

Sean Meagher: Oregon 37, Texas Tech 35

Advertisement

Joel Odom: Oregon 30, Texas Tech 24

Bill Oram: Oregon 38, Texas Tech 30

Rose Bowl: Alabama-Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Indiana

Game details: 1 p.m. PT on Thursday, Jan. 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California

TV channel and live stream: ESPN

Ryan Clarke: Indiana 34, Alabama 24

Advertisement

James Crepea: Indiana 35, Alabama 28

Nick Daschel: Indiana 34, Oklahoma 24

Aaron Fentress: Indiana 29, Oklahoma 20

Sean Meagher: Indiana 33, Alabama 23

Joel Odom: Indiana 28, Alabama 17

Advertisement

Bill Oram: Indiana 10, Oklahoma 7

Sugar Bowl: Tulane-Mississippi winner vs. No. 3 Georgia

Game details: 5 p.m. PT on Thursday, Jan. 1 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana

TV channel and live stream: ESPN

Ryan Clarke: Georgia 20, Mississippi 10

James Crepea: Georgia 28, Mississippi 21

Advertisement

Nick Daschel: Georgia 30, Mississippi 7

Aaron Fentress: Georgia 30, Mississippi 22

Sean Meagher: Georgia 28, Mississippi 20

Joel Odom: Georgia 25, Mississippi 22

Bill Oram: Georgia 45, Mississippi 35

Advertisement

Semifinals

Fiesta Bowl: Cotton vs. Sugar winners

Game details: 4:30 p.m. PT on Thursday, Jan. 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona

TV channel and live stream: ESPN

Ryan Clarke: Ohio State 23, Georgia 20

James Crepea: Ohio State 28, Georgia 21

Nick Daschel: Georgia 29, Ohio State 23

Advertisement

Aaron Fentress: Ohio State 27, Georgia 26

Sean Meagher: Ohio State 28, Georgia 21

Joel Odom: Georgia 31, Ohio State 21

Bill Oram: Ohio State 42, Georgia 41

Peach Bowl: Orange vs. Rose winners

Game details: 4:30 p.m. PT Friday, Jan. 9 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia

Advertisement

TV channel and live stream: ESPN

Ryan Clarke: Indiana 30, Oregon 24

James Crepea: Indiana 35, Oregon 24

Nick Daschel: Oregon 31, Indiana 23

Aaron Fentress: Indiana 30, Oregon 23

Advertisement

Sean Meagher: Indiana 27, Oregon 24

Joel Odom: Oregon 34, Indiana 24

Bill Oram: Oregon 30, Indiana 20

National Championship

Semifinal winners

Game details: 4:30 p.m. PT on Monday, Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida

TV channel and live stream: ESPN

Advertisement

Ryan Clarke: Ohio State 25, Indiana 21

James Crepea: Ohio State 28, Indiana 24

Nick Daschel: Georgia 28, Oregon 17

Aaron Fentress: Ohio State 22, Indiana 20

Sean Meagher: Ohio State 33, Indiana 31

Advertisement

Joel Odom: Georgia 30, Oregon 27

Bill Oram: Ohio State 32, Oregon 31



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending