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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Mark Johnson elected 10th president of Louisiana Christian University.

By Staff, LCMedia PINEVILLE, Louisiana -- The Louisiana Christian University Board of Trustees has approved  Mark Johnson, the current director of the Doctor of Ministry program at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, its 10th president, upon recommendation of the presidential search committee. “There have been countless hours of prayer, listening, seeking, reading resumes and other application materials, while asking God to guide this process and have His way,” said Tommy Kiker, chair of the search committee. “With this vote today, approving Mark Johnson as the 10th president in the history of Louisiana Christian University, we believe God has graciously and wonderfully answered those prayers and blessed this labor.” In May 2024, the board of trustees created a presidential search committee comprising four board members and two LCU faculty, assisted by a candidate search consultant. The committee was tasked with conducting its search independently and as transparently as possible while maintaining the confidentiality of the candidates being reviewed. The committee has carried out this mission without external influence, fully trusting God in the process, and maintaining a high level of integrity and confidence in their … [Read more...]

Masters to retire after 33 years of LSU ministry

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message Staff Writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – For the past 33 years, Steve Masters has discipled thousands of students on the Louisiana State University campus, led multiple Baptist Collegiate Ministry disaster relief trips and contributed to collegiate ministry on the national level as a consultant as well as a contributor on collegiate ministry committees. Masters, who is set to retire May 31 from his role as LSU’s BCM director, said he is grateful for the opportunity to build relationships with so many students and see them become faithful servants in their secular and ministry roles. Since graduating from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1982, Masters has pursued God’s call to minister to college students. Before coming to LSU, he served as a BCM intern with University of Arkansas, Little Rock, BCM director with Arkansas Tech University, and BCM director with Oklahoma State University. “I thought I would be at Oklahoma State forever, but my name was given to (former Louisiana Baptist State BCM Director) John Moore by Lynn Hawkins, former BCM director at Louisiana Tech,” he said. “I remember getting a phone call and being asked to consider going to LSU. I had to get out a map … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists bring gift of Jesus to Belarusians

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MINSK, Belarus (LBM) – Tommy Middleton and two other Louisiana Baptists recently traveled to Belarus to give the gift of Christ to those in the country. Middelton, who has now gone on eight mission trips to Belarus, enjoyed delivering an early Christmas present to the people of that country. “We shared the Gospel and tried to get the Gospel in the hands and the hearts of as many people as we could,” Middleton told the Baptist Message. GIVING Andrew Ryzhkov, founder of the Byelorusian Mission in-country ministry, said that in 2023, 5,200 people turned to Jesus through the ministry’s daycare centers, summer camps, youth conferences and distribution of “Good and Evil Illustrated Bibles” (a graphic novel style of presenting the Word). He expects a similar number to profess Jesus this year. He noted that financial gifts from Louisiana Baptists have helped purchase some of the more than 51,000 “Good and Evil Illustrated Bibles” that have been distributed in the country from January through early November, compared to 49,000 Bibles that were handed out in 2023. His goal is to distribute one million copies of this “graphic novel” presentation of the Word by 2035. Ryzhkov said that four … [Read more...]

Peace on Earth

By Will Hall, Baptist Message Executive Editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Today, a bloody civil war is being waged in Syria; Ukraine and Russia are exchanging long range missiles in competing “tactics of terror” against each other; and Israel and Hezbollah continue to launch retaliatory missile strikes for “violations” of a fragile ceasefire agreement reached Nov. 27. Meanwhile, in Haiti, gangs rule the streets; a two-year war has just ended in Ethiopia (with an estimated death toll of more than 500,000); and the last two years in Myanmar have been marred by wholesale “cleansings” of some ethnic groups, and the displacement of as many as 2.5 million men, women and children. Additionally, in Sudan, intense violence between competing governmental factions (fighting to capture the lion’s share of newly discovered gold fields) has driven nearly 11 million civilians from their homes in this war-torn region of Africa in 2024, alone. Indeed, around the world there are 59 active major conflicts, and according to historians, this is the greatest number of simultaneous wars since the end of World War II, in 1945 (which was fought, ironically, a mere two decades after the end of World War I, the “war to end all wars,” in 1918). The earth … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Steve Masters is retiring from the BCM at Louisiana State University on May 31. Blake Grundy to become BCM Director at Louisiana State University after serving as McNeese State University BCM. Walt, wife Gayla, Brown is the new pastor at First Bastrop Baptist Church. He has been serving as interim pastor and also as music minister. Jim Alan Calvert is the new Pastor of Parkview Baptist Church, Metairie, LA. Calvert’s first day in the pulpit was November 3, 2024. Charles Ebarb is the new music minister at South Bossier Baptist Church, Bossier City. Jim Fisher is the new pastor of Gambrell Baptist Church, Starks. POSITION SOUGHT Palestine Baptist Church, Bogalusa: Part-time or bi-vocational minister of music needed for Palestine Baptist Church in … [Read more...]

Louisiana’s Nix honored as minister’s wife with the Willie Turner Dawson Award

INDIANAPOLIS (LBM) - -The Willie Turner Dawson Award recognizes a minister’s wife for making a distinct denominational contribution beyond the local church and for modeling Christian character and service to others. Diane Nix fits the bill to a T. A longtime pastor’s wife, Nix received the Willie Turner Dawson Award at the sold-out luncheon of more than 1,600 women, at the SBC Ministers’ Wives Luncheon, June 11, Indianapolis. She has been a pastor's wife for almost 41 years, serving alongside her husband pastor/professor Preston L. Nix, a professor of evangelism and evangelistic preaching at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. The couple married in 1983. They have two biological daughters (ages 26 & 28), two spiritual daughters (41 & 42), two special grands, and two sons-in-law. She and her pastor/professor husband served as lead pastor and wife in Texas and Oklahoma for 21 years. During the last 20 years, she and Preston, who have loved the local church, have served in 15 interim Pastorates. For the past 14 years, she has hosted the SBC Women’s Expo, and for 19 years, Diane has served on the board to help plan the SBC Women’s Monday Morning session held each year at the … [Read more...]

Colyell Baptist Hosting Springfest 2024, April 27

Coyell Baptist Church, Livingston, presents Spring Fest 2024 on Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. There will be a CARSHOW, JAMBALAYA COOK-OFF, SILENT AUCTION, MUSIC, & LOTS OF FOOD! Bring your family out for a day of fellowship & fun. All proceeds go to our youth! … [Read more...]

Brian Free & Assurance will be in concert at Eastwood Baptist Church, April 21

Brian Free & Assurance will be in concert on Sunday, April 21,  6 p.m. at Eastwood Baptist Church.  Brian Free & Assurance is the # 1 Country Gospel group in the nation. They have appeared numerous times on TV, including on the NBC Today Show, Primetime Country on TNN, and Gaither Homecoming. In 2022, they had the top gospel song in the US, and in 2023, they were nominated for a Grammy award. Make plans to attend this free concert on April 21. … [Read more...]

Pineville High’s Debate Tournament hosted by LCU

By Phoebe Lim, Wildcats Media Pineville High School partnered with Louisiana Christian University to host the Cenla Classic Debate Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 19-20. Five high school debate teams competed in the event: Caldwell Parish High School, Alexandria Senior High, Pineville High School, Ruston High School and Peabody High School. Winners were: Big Question:  1st James Shepherd, Pineville High School 2nd Curtis Bertrand, Pineville High School 3rd Chason Hernandez, Pineville High School Novice Lincoln Douglas: 1st Andrew Took, Ruston High School 2nd Scarlett Allred, Ruston High School Oral Interpretation: 1st Luke Clark, Caldwell High School 2nd Reese Gregory, Caldwell High School Humorous Interpretation: 1st Scarlett Allred, Ruston High School 2nd Maddox Schulte, Caldwell High School 3rd William Deal, Ruston High School Extemporaneous: 1st Kourtland Marcotte, Peabody High School 2nd Maddie Lavespere, Pineville High School 3rd Angie Lorenzo, Alexandria Senior High School Dramatic Interpretation: 1st Abigail Holton, Ruston High School 2nd Christian Wilks, Caldwell High School 3rd Titan Gutierrez, Caldwell High … [Read more...]

LCU benefactor Young leaves behind a legacy of faith, devotion to family

By Elizabeth Clarke, Wildcat Media Ray Young, who with his wife, Dorothy, were the benefactors of the Young School of Business, died Sunday, Jan. 21 at his home surrounded by family. He was 94. The Youngs, longtime supporters of business and agriculture in Louisiana, made a significant financial contribution to Louisiana Christian University to advance the business program, and in 2021 the university established the Ray & DorothyYoung School of Business to honor their contributions. “Ray Young was a leader of leaders,” said LCU President Rick Brewer. “One of the most humble and brilliant people I’ve ever known. He loved Christ and Kingdom work exemplified by his devotion to First Baptist Wisner and service as a two-term Trustee for LCU. The university is forever grateful for the contribution he and Dorothy made to support our School of Business named in their honor. Undoubtedly, the first words he heard when he entered Heaven’s portals were ‘well done, good and faithful servant.’” Young served many years on the LCU Board of Trustees. He was a Korean War veteran, farmer and agricultural consultant. Young served as a pilot in the U.S. Navy from 1950-55 before settling with his family in Wisner, where he resided … [Read more...]