The Southern Baptist Convention's WMU Mission Celebration/Annual Meeting got underway Sunday in the Ferrara Theater at America's Center in St. Louis. Here are some photos of Louisiana Baptists who were in attendance. Look for more photos and videos of Louisiana Baptists sharing what they thought of the meeting later today. … [Read more...]

By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS communications Finished. Today we wrapped up the 2016 Tel Gezer Water System Expedition. We removed the last few buckets of dirt and pottery from each of the excavation area and began the clean-up process by 10:30 a.m. yesterday. Today we took final photos of each area, took down the dig tent, and packed all the tools and equipment for storage. This was a great dig season – with important finds that we cannot mention and new questions to answer. Each year we are inching closer to a firm answer about the date of the water system – the primary question we are looking to answer. We collected countless pottery sherds, charcoal samples and ancient material items. Much study will take place in the months to come. Databases of pottery information were created and will be studied closely. The pottery evidence is the most important aspect of our research – the pottery will help us determine the date of the system and who built it. Experts in archaeology have developed finely tuned typologies of pottery in Israel – these experts (like Dr. Eli Yannai) can date a piece of pottery within a 100 years or less. Even with all the research left to close out the books on this season’s dig, before we left the tel today, … [Read more...]

By Gary D Myers, NOBTS communications You may have noticed that the blog has been less active this dig season and especially less active this last week of the dig. There are several reasons – the addition of a third digging location makes this our busiest dig season at Tel Gezer. More people, more pottery, more contemplation, more paperwork, and more work. The extra work leaves us ready for bed much earlier than usual. Another reason for the lack of blogs is the complicated and theoretical nature of our work this season. We are trying to answer complicated questions regarding the dating of the water system construction and we are trying understand the relationship between the water system and fields C and D. It was much easier to blog when we were only focused moving dirt from the tunnel. Once we broke through all the fill material in the tunnel several years back, even the discussions of our progress in the water system became more complicated. The main reason for the lack of blogs is the wonderful season we are having. We have made our best finds to date at the Tel Gezer Water System Expedition. We would love to tell you all about the finds, but we can’t until each has been studied and published. The team is well and we are … [Read more...]

By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS communications NEW ORLEANS—The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustee executive committee approved a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) major in apologetics and elected three new faculty members during their June 7 meeting. “Apologetics is an area of strength at NOBTS,” said NOBTS Provost Steve Lemke, adding that the Ph.D. major builds on the school’s three master degrees in apologetics and has generated “great student interest.” “In our postmodern, post-Christian culture it is simply irresponsible for Christian ministers not to be equipped apologetically,” said Robert Stewart, director of the NOBTS Institute of Apologetics. “This means that our seminaries have to be on the leading edge of academic work in stating, defending, and providing reasons for the faith once delivered to the saints. This major is just one part of responding to this need.” The board elected David Odom to the graduate faculty and Karla McGehee to the Leavell College faculty. In a presidential appointment, Adam Hughes was named Dean of the Chapel. Odom was elected associate professor of student ministry and director of the NOBTS Youth Ministry Institute. With experience in youth ministry at the church level, Odom served two … [Read more...]

  By Norm Miller, LC News PINEVILLE - As Louisiana College’s spring semester drew to a close recently, 13 professors were honored with endowed chairs and professorships. Cheryl Clark - interim vice president for academic affairs - presided over the luncheon that acknowledged the professors. “Louisiana College is blessed to have a stellar faculty, who continue in the tradition of excellence for which this institution is known,” said Clark, who is also Chair, Division of Humanities. “Those we especially honored, however, were the most deserving because they consistently demonstrate exemplary academic prowess and student-centric practice among a faculty of top-performers.” Those honored include: Edith Kilgore Kirkpatrick Professorship in Music: Paul DeBoer, Chair, Division of Fine Arts; Claude & Lois Colvin Endowed Professorship in Theatre: Tabitha Huffman, MFA, Associate Professor of Theatre; Coughlin-Saunders Foundation Chair in Nursing: Marilyn Cooksey, Dean, LC School of Nursing; BellSouth Professorship in Liberal Arts: Nancy Whitlock, Associate Professor of Spanish; J. E. Hixson Professorship in English: Lillian Purdy, Professor of English; McCormick-Huie Professorship in English: Jill Reid, MFA, … [Read more...]