By Message Staff PINEVILLE - Larry Cordaro believes his purpose is bigger than winning two conference championships in his first two seasons as head coach of the LSU-Alexandria men’s basketball team. Though Cordaro strives to be successful on the court, the Ruston native is also intent on building better men, God’s way. “I’m wanting my players to be champions in three areas – the classroom, the community and the court,” Cordaro said during his message today at the monthly First@First Business Leaders Lunch at First Baptist Church in Pineville. He added that two of his players have been baptized – one before and one after the most recent season. Cordaro said knowing that some of his team will graduate with a deeper relationship with Christ – whether it be accepting Him as their personal Lord and Savior or gaining wisdom through an assigned mentor from the community – makes his role rewarding. "God has given me a passion for coaching basketball and has put me in a leadership role that I am grateful for," said Cordaro, a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. "My purpose is to equip these young men I am responsible for to enter life after college with Godly values and habits." Since he became head coach at LSU-A in … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message RUSTON – The jobs have faded but the lives touched will never be the same. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief efforts in Louisiana, which were such a godsend in the state’s time of need, are finally starting to wind down. “We, the staff of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, can never say thank you enough to the 30 state conventions that responded and sent volunteers to help our recovery efforts,” said John Hebert, the LBC’s Mission and Ministry Director. “We are very grateful for their partnerships and applaud their commitment to helping people. “Thank you Southern Baptists for caring for Louisiana Baptists in their greatest time of need,” Hebert said. It has been 48 days since Louisiana was ravaged by a historical rainfall and flooding event that left more than 14,000 homes flooded and countless lives affected. Even though more than 85 percent of Louisiana’s DR volunteers were among those affected, churches rallied and rushed to help those in desperate need. The Southern Baptist Convention mobilized and soon DR units from state conventions began making their way into the state to offer their assistance. To those on the front lines, they more than a welcome sight. Unlike other disasters encountered by … [Read more...]

MONROE - The Louisiana Baptist Children's Home has dedicated its first cottage in more than 40 years. Children's Home staff, trustees and others gathered on April 22 for a ribbon cutting at a cottage designed to provide transitional living for women and their children as they prepare for independent living. The HomePlace Cottages at Martin Village provide a place for homeless women and their children to stay for up to one year at no cost to the residents. While there, the women receive a high school equivalency degree, life and employment skills training through the Christian Women Job Corps. Two additional cottages are planned for the near future from proceeds generated by the 12th Annual Roy O. Martin/Brenda Hall Abney Golf Classic. The tournament was created by Roy O. Martin, chairman, and CEO Jonathan E. Martin and his wife, Maggie, in memory of Abney, who passed away in 2005 from a rare form of breast cancer. Abney grew up at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe and attended Louisiana College, where she was figuratively adopted by the Martins in 1983. Over the years, more than $1.7 million has been raised from the golf tournament to support the LBCH.     … [Read more...]

Before the executive board of the Evangeline Baptist Association met on April 18, interim Director of Missions Bert Langley, who is retiring, and former DOM Wallace Primeaux shared a moment with incoming DOM David Carlton. Carlton, a former International Mission Board Missionary who served in various capacities for IMB and was a part of the IMB voluntary retirement initiative program, was the unanimous selection of the executive committee of the EBA on Feb. 22 to become the association’s next DOM. His first official day on the job was April 18 -- the day of the board meeting. Langley (left), Carlton (center) and Primeaux (right) have a combined 140 years in ministry – Primeaux, 69 years, Langley, 46 years, and Carlton 25 years. Primeaux is presently the pastor of Esther Baptist Church.     … [Read more...]

By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees elected a collegiate ministry professor and approved a new graduate certificate in counseling ministry during their spring meeting April 13. The board also approved a $24.3 million budget, elected two faculty members to serve in Leavell College (the seminary's undergraduate program), and approved minor curriculum revisions designed to streamline and update graduate degree and certificate programs. Collegiate ministry Beth Masters, former Baptist campus minister and director of Christian Life and Ministries at Mississippi College, was elected to serve in the seminary's growing collegiate ministry program. She earned the master of divinity degree with a specialization in collegiate ministry, master of theology and doctor of philosophy at NOBTS. During Masters' time in New Orleans, she served as associate metro director of Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) in New Orleans and directed BCM programs at the University of New Orleans and Leavell College. Masters currently serves as a leader in the college ministry program at her church, First Baptist Church in Jackson, Miss. Her wide collegiate ministry experience earned Masters a … [Read more...]

By Message Staff BATON ROUGE – Istrouma Baptist Church has released details for a memorial service honoring long-time Baptist Message freelance writer Mark Hunter, who died on April 24. The church will host the service at 11 a.m. on May 5 with visitation scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. The church’s Facebook page reported Hunter, who has written for the Baptist Message since January 2011, suffered a cardiopulmonary event while worshipping at Istrouma, where he is a member, Sunday morning. Medical personnel in the worship service came to the aid of Hunter and emergency personnel were immediately called to the church. Jeff Ginn, pastor of Istrouma Baptist Church, said in an email Hunter lived a life that honored Christ. Ginn said in addition to his love for serving Christ through writing faith-based articles appearing in the Baptist Message and Baton Rouge Advocate, Hunter was passionate about men’s ministry at Istrouma and throughout Baton Rouge. “Mark died as he lived,” Ginn said. “One moment he was singing a song of praise by faith in our Sunday worship service, the next moment he worshipped by sight in heaven. I remember the last words he shared with me. The day before he died he had written an article about a mission effort … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Don Hill came to Louisiana College with a $100 scholarship. He left in 1964 with a college education that would pave a path to financial success. Though he left for graduate school at Florida State and other endeavors across the U.S., Hill said he never lost touch with the school. When Hill heard of the opportunity last year to become a member of a newly-formed body that would provide scholarships to students of his alma mater, he enthusiastically agreed. Hill was among the 80 members who attended the Board of Visitors first meeting Friday afternoon. “Because of the contribution Louisiana College made to me, I am able to be fairly successful financially and want to contribute back to the school,” said Hill, president of DMH & Associates in Dallas, Texas. “The Board of Visitors allows me to do that and I’m looking forward to meeting some of the students who will benefit from that.” Formed in September, the Board of Visitors is comprised of alumni, business owners and other professionals and friends of LC who are giving between $1,000 and $10,000 annually for four years. During their four-year commitment, the members help the students find internships, network for the … [Read more...]

By Bradley Welborn PINEVILLE – Concentration and an intense focus are the reason Louisiana College’s softball team leads in multiple defensive categories this season. To maintain that edge, it is not uncommon to see some Lady Wildcats with colorful bows in their hair, headbands, sunglasses or eye black which helps to reduce the glare and enables them to see the ball better. Some even apply a little ‘face paint.’ Perhaps no ‘face paint’ is more noticeable than that of Wildcat second baseman Jessica Johnson, who for the past year has drawn a cross on each of her cheeks before every game. “I started doing it last year, and I just put it on my face because crosses are a good reminder for me,” said Johnson. “Before I go up to bat, I draw a cross on the ground because it reminds me no matter what the outcome is, whether I strike out or get a hit, that doesn't determine my identity in Christ. “And when I’m on defense, after every play or maybe even after every pitch, I draw a cross in the dirt,” Johnson continued. “I do it to help me calm down, relax and get rid of any fears or anxieties I might be feeling. I draw a cross to assure me there’s no fear in God and we’re playing for His Kingdom.” Whether by happenstance or not, she … [Read more...]