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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LCU first-year head softball coach Stine leads by serving

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University alumnus and Sports Hall of Famer Mattie Stine stepped into the role of head softball coach this season, and she said that some of the most important and lasting wins have happened off the field. “Stepping into the head coach role at LCU has been both humbling and incredibly meaningful,” Stine said. “God often places us in new positions to grow us beyond what feels comfortable, and this season has stretched me in all the right ways.” She said that coming back to a place that shaped her as a student-athlete makes this opportunity deeply personal, and she is grateful. “While the title has changed, my heart has not,” Stine said. “My goal has always remained the same: to love these young women well and to keep Christ as the foundation of everything we do. "Wins and losses will come and go, but we are building a culture rooted in faith, love for each other and servant leadership," she continued. "I want our players to know they are valued for who they are, not just what they produce on the field. I want our players to love each other well and to go out and love others well.” Before taking on the role of head coach, Stine was … [Read more...]

PREVIEW (“Overflowing Peace”): The Guiding Staff

By Tara Dew, special to the Baptist Message NEW ORLEANS (LBM) -- This is the fourth of four excerpts Tara Dew has made available to Baptist Message readers from her newly released book, “Overflowing Peace,” a follow-up work to her best-selling book, “Overflowing Joy.”  A shepherd’s staff is used to rescue a lost or entangled sheep, but it is also the tool by which a shepherd affectionately guides his flock. He will place the tip of the crook along a sheep’s side, guiding them to travel along a new path. This is why the Living Bible translates Psalm 23:4, “…for you are close beside me…guiding all the way.” God is often described in Scripture as the Shepherd, guiding His people like sheep, with his staff in hand. Listen to Psalm 78:52-53 which speaks of God leading the Israelites out of Egypt: “He led his people out like sheep and guided them like a flock in the wilderness. He led them safely and they were not afraid.” After they were freed from Egypt, God led them in the desert with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. His visible presence guided them in the wilderness in the same way that a shepherd’s staff would guide the flock! Once the people had crossed through the dry ground of the Red Sea, Moses led the … [Read more...]