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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LCU athletes score overall 3.04 GPA for academic year

By LCU Sports Information PINEVILLE, La. (LCU Sports Information) – Louisiana Christian University’s varsity student-athletes excelled in the classroom during the 2022-23 academic year, as the school announced the cumulative GPA for student-athletes was 3.04 for the year. “The cumulative GPA of 3.04 of is tremendous,” LCU President Rick Brewer said. “The goal of every college athletic program is a 3.0. LCU returned its athletics program to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in 2021 and resumed granting athletic scholarships after two decades in the NCAA’s Division III, which does not permit grant-in-aid based solely on athletic performance. That change did not hinder the academic excellence of Wildcat student-athletes, Brewer said. “We moved to the NAIA and didn’t lose our stride in the classroom,” Dr. Brewer said. “We should never underestimate the value athletics brings to LCU. This also amplifies our vision to add more athletic programs going forward.” LCU women’s soccer team reported the highest cumulative GPA of any team with a 3.52 GPA, while the men’s golf team’s cumulative GPA of 3.47 was the highest of the five men’s teams. All nine varsity teams reported a cumulative GPA of 2.64 or … [Read more...]

Dew reminds graduates there is ‘gain in loss, life in death’

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS (NOBTS communications) – Jamie Dew, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College, shared with the 254 graduate candidates and their families gathered for graduation May 12 a question that keeps him up at night. Dew said graduation is a celebration but it is also one final moment for him as president to instruct and encourage them. He then cautioned graduates not to allow the things of the world to “consume” them and keep them from fulfilling God’s call on their lives. “I fear, I tremble, I stay awake sometimes at night fearing that the brand of Christianity and the form it has taken in our lives looks less and less like the New Testament descriptions of what Jesus had to say about being a follower … I simply must press on you one more time to remember who you are and what God has called you to do,” Dew said. Drawing from Matthew 16: 13-26, Dew explained that Matthew uses Peter’s confession in verse 16 to make clear who Jesus is and in verses 17-19 turns to promises of blessings for believers. Dew’s fear, he explained, is that “this is where our Christianity stops.” Dew urged listeners to see the “pivot” the gospel writer makes in verse … [Read more...]

Southern Baptists to vote on women pastors at annual meeting

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – The Southern Baptist Convention Credentials Committee reported May 16 that two churches who were disfellowshipped in February for ordaining women pastors plan to appeal the decisions during the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting, which is going to be hosted in New Orleans, June 13-14. This means messengers will vote to decide whether women pastors, now excluded by the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, will be allowed to serve in member congregations. Those two congregations are Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California, and Fern Creek Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky. Meanwhile, Freedom Church, Vero Beach, Florida, intends to appeal its ouster for alleged lack of cooperation in resolving concerns regarding a sexual abuse allegation. The Credentials Committee said it would set aside “a time for miscellaneous business during the afternoon session on Tuesday, June 13, for the consideration of the appeals received.” A representative of each church will be allowed to speak, and a member of the Credentials Committee or Executive Committee will speak. Afterward, messengers will be asked to vote on the question, “Shall the decision of the Credentials Committee and … [Read more...]