By Message Staff PINEVILLE – International Mission Board representative Janna Smith challenged students to live with a purpose and that purpose is for Jesus. Smith was speaking at Louisiana College’s weekly chapel which coincided with the opening day of the three-day “Live Out Loud” missions conference September 27. “Jesus said open your eyes to see the harvest,” Smith told the students. “He said the harvest is ready right now. “Others have done the hard work; we are invited to go and be part of the harvest,” she continued. “If you are a follower of Jesus and He has continued to let you live, the purpose of your life is to make Him known.” Smith is among several IMB, North American Mission Board and Louisiana Baptist missionaries who will share how to live on mission during the conference. Keith Manuel, director of evangelism for Louisiana Baptists, John Hebert, director of missions for Louisiana Baptists, George Ross, SEND North America New Orleans representative, and Brad Webb, pastor of Family of Grace Church in Alexandria will share their experiences with students during classes on Friday, September 28. The Love Out Loud conference culminates September 29 with hundreds of LC students mobilizing with four area … [Read more...]

By Louisiana Right to Life A federal appeals court panel has ruled that a 2014 Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital passes constitutional muster. The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals three-judge panel recognized a similar law struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016, but by a 2-1 decision September 26 they said the Louisiana Unsafe Abortion Protection Act (Act 620) does not impose the same "substantial burden" on women as the Texas law. Judges Smith and Clement analyzed the law's impact on Louisiana, separating it from the Texas-based facts presented in the Supreme Court's 2016 Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt decision. The ruling reverses the 2017 ruling of federal district court Judge John deGravelles, who blocked the law. "Louisiana Right to Life celebrates today’s 5th Circuit decision upholding Louisiana’s Unsafe Abortion Protection Act as a victory for women’s health and safety," said Benjamin Clapper, Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life. "Ever since we began working with State Rep. Katrina Jackson (D-Monroe) to introduce HB 388 in 2014, the goal of requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at local hospitals was always … [Read more...]