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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

A radical proposal to eliminate the harms of COVID-19

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Our state and our nation needs to pinpoint its COVID-19 mitigation efforts to focus laser-like on those vulnerable to its serious effects in order to end the crushing impact of this pandemic on our families, our economy, our education system and our future. A few days ago, I signed a joint letter with other Louisiana Baptist leaders to commit to wearing a mask as a measure for fighting back against the surging disease and to ask other Louisiana Baptists to join us in this simple thing. I truly believe in this initiative as part of the answer to prevent spreading COVID-19 to others. Research shows that wearing masks, socially distancing and sanitizing frequently are good general measures to make a difference in reducing the spread of this disease within the general population. But, I am also convinced by the data from the Louisiana Department of Health that a more aggressive approach is needed to end the hospitalizations, ventilations and deaths in the state – which should be the primary concerns driving public policy in response to the pandemic (and not just the number of cases). In fact, I would argue that the number of cases is only relevant to this … [Read more...]

Louisiana College to hold virtual ceremony in place of rescheuled Aug. 8 commencement

By LCNews Staff PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - Louisiana College President Rick Brewer has announced changes to the rescheduled graduation set for Aug. 8 in response to the ongoing COVID-19 concerns. His statement is published in its entirety below. ----- ----- ----- -----  ----- ----- ----- -----  ----- ----- ----- -----  ----- ----- ----- -----  ----- ----- ----- -----  Following much consideration and the latest announcement by Gov. John Bel Edwards on the resurgence in COVID-19 cases in the state, I have made the decision to cancel Louisiana College 2020 commencement exercises that had been rescheduled for Aug. 8.   This was one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in my time as LC president, and it was made with much prayer and thoughtful consideration for the safety of our graduates and their families, as well as LC faculty and staff. To our graduates, please accept my sincere apologies that your time at Louisiana College ended the way it did.  Don’t let this diminish the many accomplishments you made.   We will hold a virtual ceremony honoring both undergraduate and graduate program students Aug. 8 at 10 a.m. I am asking all graduates to send a photograph in their cap and gown to Jennifer Dykes … [Read more...]

Pence urges use of masks, says reopening schools key to reopening economy

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) - Vice President Mike Pence, in a visit to Baton Rouge Tuesday, pledged continued support from the White House to help the state reopen schools amid a battle with the novel coronavirus pandemic. Gathered inside LSU’s Tiger Stadium with Gov. John Bel Edwards, White House COVID-19 task force members, state educational leaders and Louisiana’s delegation to Congress, Pence praised the state‘s efforts to reopen the economy and schools. “President Trump asked me to be here to send a very clear message to the people of Louisiana,” he said. “We’re with you and we are going to stay with you until we put this coronavirus completely in the past and we open up this economy, open up our schools and we move this state and this nation forward, bigger and better than ever before.” Pence said despite an increase in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the state, he is confident Louisianans can slow the spread like they have done in the past. Furthermore, he said the White House will help ensure the state has enough testing, medicine and Personal Protective Equipment available to help schools reopen. “To open up America we’ve got to open up America’s schools,” he said. “We believe it’s … [Read more...]