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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LCU’s social work dean says faith an integral part of profession

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University’s Dean of Social Work Juanita Moorman practices what she professes. Moorman, who lives in Oakdale, has served as the dean of the School of Social Work since August. She also continues to be a hands-on social worker, in addition to her academic duties at LCU. Moorman said she believes it makes a world of difference—not just to her—but to her students. “I enjoy being allowed to practice clinically and still teach,” she said. “It’s an opportunity at LCU that other schools don’t offer. I think that allows students a unique learning experience—even better than I was allowed in my own studies. It enriches the classroom.” Faculty evaluations done by students echo that sentiment. Students appreciate having a professor who is still practicing what they are teaching them and preparing them to do professionally. Moorman has supervised Drug Court in Vernon Parish for the past 13 years, and does group therapy for Drug Court in Beauregard and Allen parishes from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Saturday. Her work has even helped with recruitment for LCU’s Master of Social Work program. “There’s a shortage of licensed clinical social workers, … [Read more...]

Palmer named vice president for institutional advancement

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University has appointed Beth Palmer as vice president for institutional advancement. Palmer, who will begin her new role March 2, will transition from Louisiana State University of Alexandria, where she has served as assistant vice chancellor and director for the Career Center, with her final day at LSUA set for Feb. 27. In her new role, Palmer will lead LCU’s advancement efforts, including alumni engagement, philanthropic development and strategic partnership initiatives that support student success and institutional growth. This appointment marks both a professional transition and a personal homecoming, as LCU is Palmer’s alma mater and a place that has long shaped her commitment to faith-centered higher education. “We are ecstatic to welcome Dr. Beth Palmer,” said LCU President Mark Johnson. “She is not only a respected leader in higher education, but she is also family. As an alumna of LCU, she understands the heart of this institution, the strength of the Wildcat Nation, and the sacred responsibility we carry to serve both our students and this region. What excites me most is her deep desire to continue serving Central Louisiana, as she … [Read more...]

LBDR repairs damaged roofs at Portuguese camp

By Baptist Message staff PATAIAS, Portugal (LBM) – An Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association Disaster Relief team recently wrapped up a week of work at a Portuguese ministry camp that sustained heavy damage. The team of five worked Feb. 13-21 at Agua de Madei Ros Acampamento Baptista in Patais, Portugal, which is two hours north of the country’s capital city of Lisbon. While there, the team repaired roofs on three buildings and place tarp on three other structures on the campgrounds. According to DR team member Howard Turner, the camp serves as a focal point for the work of the two missionaries use the camp for ministerial efforts including 10 weeks of summer camp, weddings, retreats and other training sessions. Turner said highlights of the trip included conversations with the two missionaries and the more than 100 students who assisted in the clean-up efforts. “It was a wonderful trip all the way around,” Turner told the Baptist Message. “The two missionaries told us once, if not a hundred times, how much impact we had. One of them sent me a text message while we were there and said this was the first time he had seen some of the staff laugh and smile since the storm hit. He said we will never understand the impact … [Read more...]

Compassion Center Bible distribution: Bread of life ‘better than food’ for one

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – Compassion Center staff and volunteers recently witnessed Matthew 4:4 in action when 170 recipients of a food distribution, Feb. 17, were elated to receive Bibles. “We had so many testimonies of people who were happier to get a Bible than they were to get food,” Com[1]passion Center Director Matt Hancock told the Baptist Message. “Many of them just talked about how much it meant to them. We had one lady who kissed her Bible and said, ‘this is better than food,’” evoking allusions to Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” For several months, a staff member had prayed that Bibles would be donated for distribution by the Compassion Center, which is housed in a 16,000-sq.-ft. facility on the campus of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries. The Bible would be in­cluded with food, school supplies, diapers, shoes, new clothing and other life essentials the Com­passion Center provides. Those prayers were answered in early Feb­ruary by a gift from two individuals which was enough to purchase 500 Bibles. Hancock said he expected all the Bibles would be distributed in a week, and … [Read more...]