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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LCU hosts conversation on AI with education leaders

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Artificial intelligence is not only one of the hottest topics but also one of the most frightening in our world today. Education is one of the sectors of society where changes are already being felt. Louisiana Christian University held its first in a series of online roundtable discussions on AI, July 28. “Guinn Conversations: AI & Education—What AI Can’t Replace” was hosted by LCU President Mark Johnson and included some of Central Louisiana’s education leaders—former LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil, LSUA Chancellor Elizabeth Beard, Rapides Parish School Board President Jeff Powell, and former Central Louisiana Technical Community College Chancellor Jimmy Sawtelle. Johnson said the idea for these conversations came from the fifth president of LCU, G. Earl Guinn and his dedication to engaging with the community and society. The impact of AI on education and today’s society as a whole are significant, Johnson said, and that’s only going to continue to increase. It’s important that we engage with each other on ways to both embrace and tame this power. “It’s important to know the pulse of the community, not just to educate students,” Coreil said. Beard said it is the … [Read more...]

2026 LEGISLATIVE REPORT: Firment, Edmonds, Johnson pushed key bills for churches

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist lawmakers Rep. Gabe Firment, Sen. Rick Edmonds and Rep. Mike Johnson championed critical legislation that offer to significantly enhance the work of Louisiana churches while positively shaping the spiritual culture of the state. CHURCH SELF-INSURANCE All three legislators played vital roles in passage of SB 341 (signed into law as Act 759) that should complete the last legal requirements needed to operate the church self-insurance program under the Louisiana Churches and Nonprofit Religious Organizations Self-Insured Fund that was established by law in 2023. Edmonds, the pastor of First Baptist Church, McComb, Mississippi, and retired pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Shreveport, authored the bill and shepherded it throughout the legislative process in both the Senate and the House, ending his oversight only after the governor’s signature. Meanwhile, Firment, who is a deacon with First Baptist Church, Pollock, offered essential amendments, including the deletion of “joint and several liability” obligations from the program, meaning the cooperative can now offer a viable insurance product that should be attractive to churches. … [Read more...]