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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Technological innovations position Louisiana College for future success

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message, staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) –Louisiana College President Rick Brewer is upbeat about the technological innovations put in place by his faculty and staff since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, saying the school is well positioned for the future because of their hard work. Last year, LC was awarded a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, and that has helped students finish the semester through remote learning, he said. The move saved the college more than $100,000 in costs to launch Internet classes that are part of the school’s Center for Online Innovation and Development. Faculty are able to learn, train and record lectures from inside the newly renovated Faculty Development Center located in the Norton Library. “We face the most challenging period ever in the history of Louisiana College,” Brewer told the Baptist Message. “We can get there. It’s going to take the Lord’s help. It’s going to Louisiana Baptists’ help. “We are the only college supported by Louisiana Baptists, through the Cooperative Program, and we are pleased to serve,” he added. “We are a place that’s preparing graduates, transforming lives, and we hope Louisiana Baptists will … [Read more...]

Southern Baptist senator urges end of Columbus Day

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor WASHINGTON (LBM) – U.S. Senator James Lankford, a Southern Baptist who previously worked as director of the Falls Creek Youth Camp for Oklahoma Baptists before being elected to Congress, has proposed legislation that would eliminate Columbus Day and replace it with Juneteenth, in recognition of the end of slavery in this country. Juneteenth dates back to June 19, 1865, when Texas recognized the Emancipation Proclamation issued by the United States in 1862, and that date was celebrated as “Emancipation Day.” Since then Juneteenth has been recognized by a growing number of states as a holiday. Lankford submitted an amendment, along with Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., to legislation being offered by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Cornyn’s legislation simply would add Juneteenth as a national holiday. Lankford, on the other hand, wants to end Columbus Day and replace it with Juneteenth, calling it “a second Independence Day,” referring to July 4. He said making the swap instead of just adding another federal holiday would save businesses lost revenue and the federal government added costs of about $600 million in paid time off for federal employees. Lankford did not address the impact on … [Read more...]

Half of new COVID cases among the young, but two-thirds of deaths among elderly, infirm

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Data from the Louisiana Department of Health as well as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate the state is experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases among those who are relatively young adults, but with few deaths resulting in this age group. However, morbidity from the disease is surging among the elderly and those residing in nursing homes. Graphoc: http://ldh.la.gov/Coronavirus/ On Monday, the LDH reported nearly half of new cases affected 18-29 years old. However, the data pertaining to deaths on the LDH website indicate the disease is most profound in its impact primarily among the elderly and infirm. ELDERLY/NURSING HOME RESIDENTS AT RISK In the chart "Additional Data on COVID-19 Deaths in Louisiana" the median age of death is identified as 76 years old. This means half of the deaths caused by COVID-19 occur among those older than 76 years of age. Furthermore, the chart "Cases/Deaths by Age Group" show COVID-19 adds to that information to show that COVID-19 has taken the lives of 2,157 persons age 70 and older, or 68 percent of the 3,170 COVID-19 deaths in the state as of July 3. Moreover, supplemental information on … [Read more...]