By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS public relations NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- When New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Chancellor Chuck Kelley announced his "Different Voices Initiative" in 2018, a top priority involved encouraging students from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds as well as women to pursue a calling to academia. A May 6 workshop, "Faculty Hiring 101," marked a key step toward that goal, offering practical tips for those sensing a call to teach in a Baptist institution. About 25 students from a variety of ethnic backgrounds including African American, Asian and Hispanic attended the event. About a third of the attendees were women, more than half of whom were white. The group included students at all stages of study in the master's and doctoral programs at NOBTS. Most were either master's students considering doctoral work or students in the early stages of doctoral study. Presenters discussed the preparation for academia, the doctrinal expectations of Southern Baptist schools and institutional fit as well as practical matters like developing an academic resume. Informal conversations like these take place between professors and students on a daily basis. Some of the NOBTS academic divisions host … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Hours after a round of powerful storms moved across the state, Louisiana Baptists Disaster Relief crews were on the ground Thursday, May 9. According to Louisiana Baptists Disaster Relief Director Gibbie McMillan, volunteers were assessing 22 damaged homes east of Jonesboro and the Caney Lakes Recreational Area in Webster Parish. The storm also damaged the home of Chad McClurg, the Baptist Collegiate Ministry director at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. According to a Facebook post by LSU BCM Director Steve Masters, McClurg was in his house when the tree fell onto his home in Monroe, but he was not injured. Masters posted that McClurg's homeowners' insurance will cover the damages, but he will have to pay a deductible. Contributions can be made by sending a personal check to 1005 University Avenue, Monroe, Louisiana 71203. A tornado was preliminary reported to have touched down in Jonesboro. Other locations where a tornado possibly touched down included the Panola County, Texas-Caddo Parish, Louisiana line; southeast of Stonewall; near Robeline; and south of Ruston. Additional tornadoes were preliminarily reported north of Marshall, Texas, and Columbia and Union counties in Arkansas. … [Read more...]