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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LBC Executive Board updated on CP giving, entities’ work

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) - During its May 3 meeting, the Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board received updates on Cooperative Program giving and the ongoing work of the four convention entities. BUDGET REPORT Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn told board members that gifts through the Cooperative Program from January to April totaled $514,944.68 more than budgeted for 2022, so far. He added that churches, from January to April, have given $344,009.75 more this year than the same timeframe as last year. ENTITY REPORTS Louisiana Christian University President Rick Brewer shared that the school has been blessed by God since he last spoke to the Board. During the 2021-22 academic year, LCU celebrated: accreditation reaffirmation with no findings of non-compliance from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (the regional accrediting body); a name change to reflect its status as a university; transition in sports classification from the NCAA to NAIA; updates to classrooms; a partnership expansion with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and the sale of its building in Shreveport that was to house a law school that never … [Read more...]

Horn to promote traditional CP giving

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer   WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) - After looking at options adopted by Baptists in Missouri and Georgia that allow churches to restrict funds to Southern Baptist entities, Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Steve Horn pledged not to lead Bayou State congregations to follow suit.   “With 1,600 churches theoretically having multiple ways to split their cooperative pie, we would need to expand our accounting team, forcing us to shrink our missions and ministry teams,” Horn said during the LBC Executive Board meeting, May 3, at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, Woodworth. “I don’t want to do that.   “I will not lead us to do that,” Horn said. “And I don’t think Louisiana Baptists, if faced with that reality, would want us to do that. I may very well be told that is what we are going to do, but until then I’m not going to lead us in that direction.”   But, he said, a growing number of Louisiana Baptist churches have asked for their gifts through the Cooperative Program to be used exclusively for Louisiana Baptist missions and ministries, thus withholding funds from Southern Baptist Convention causes; and such requests are being honored.   CONCERNS WITH SBC   The SBC … [Read more...]

Extra, extra, read all about it!

If you have an upcoming revival, homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert, let the Baptist Message help you share this information? The Message is currently working on its May 26th edition which include events taking place in June and July. Don’t wait, send in your information – the event, the date, the time, the church, and the name of your pastor – and we will publicize this information for free. Send to Philip Timothy by calling 318.449.4345 or you can email him at philip@baptistmessage.com. … [Read more...]

LCU seniors present research at annual C.S. Lewis Honors Forum

PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) -- Sixteen Louisiana Christian University seniors  have presented their capstone projects as part of the 2022 C.S. Lewis Honors Forum. Cheryl Clark, provost and vice president of academic affairs, recognized each student for their effort and presented them with honors medallions to wear at the school’s commencement on May 7 at the Rapides Parish Coliseum. “In an age in which occupational and professional specializations are encouraged, universities risk creating generations of one-dimensional automatons, that is, students who are highly skilled in their chosen fields but are emotionally detached from the world around them,” Clark said. “However, at today’s C.S. Lewis Honors Forum, our graduating honors students’ interdisciplinary research presentations illustrated that LCU’s Christian liberal arts education provides the biblical framework for students to gain, synthesize, and utilize knowledge from across various academic disciplines. Students honored for their interdisciplinary research topics were: Taylor Girouard Doyle, Lafayette Psychology and Exercise Science double major Health Promotion Program Planning and Intervention Mapping Kylie Harless, Pineville Elementary Education … [Read more...]

Congresswoman Letlow to be keynote speaker at LCU Commencement May 7

PINEVILLE, La. (LCUNews) – Congresswoman Julia Letlow will be the keynote speaker at Louisiana Christian University’s 167th Commencement Exercises on May 7 at 10 a.m. at the Rapides Parish Coliseum. Letlow, who represents Louisiana’s Fifth Congressional District, will be presented an Honorary Doctorate in Public Administration. The first-term congresswoman worked for more than 10 years in higher education, most recently as the director of external affairs and strategic communications for the University of Louisiana at Monroe, before running to fill her late husband’s, Luke Letlow, seat in Congress. Luke Letlow had been elected in November 2020 and was slated to take office in January 2021. He died of COVID-19 in December. Dr. Kenneth Johnson, a Pineville physician, will be awarded the University’s Distinguished Service Award during the ceremony for his several decades of volunteer service to the LCU  “family” providing medical assistance one afternoon per week on campus. More than 250 undergraduate and graduate students will receive degrees. Graduates from December 2021, May 2022 and August 2022 also will participate in commencement. … [Read more...]

Rice withdraws name from list of candidates seeking SBC presidency

CLEARWATER, Fla. (TBP) -- Willy Rice, pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida, withdrew his name from the list of candidates seeking the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention Thursday morning, April 6. Roughly a month after announcing his plans to accept a nomination for the position, news broke April 1 about a leadership position at his church that brought Rice under fire. A former public school teacher with a history of sexual misconduct serves as a deacon at Calvary, something Rice said the church leaders knew and monitored for years following the deacon’s repentance and restoration process. Rice noted the deacon was not allowed to work with children or youth and the leaders believed he was fully restored and, in a position, to be ordained as a deacon. “It did not involve criminal charges, and he has never been identified by law as a sexual offender,” Rice said in a five-and-a-half-minute video posted on social media explaining the situation. “Nevertheless, it was a terrible sin, and it devastated people’s lives.” When Rice was contacted recently by a pastor in another state expressing concern about the deacon’s past, Rice and church leaders decided the man would need to step down as … [Read more...]

LCU receives major healthcare grant from The Rapides Foundation

By Staff, LCUNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCUNews) -- Louisiana Christian University was awarded $396,753 from The Rapides Foundation Healthcare Occupations Program for its social work and nursing projects. The Social Work Behavioral Healthcare Education and Workforce Improvement Project will increase the number of graduates seeking a master’s degree in social work. The program is projected to graduate 75 over three years with a behavioral healthcare specialization and commitment to work in the nine-parish service area for two years after graduation. Sheri Duffy, the MSW program director at LCU said the project, funded by The Rapides Foundation, is a joint effort of the BSW and MSW programs at LCU whose goal is to recruit, train and retain future licensed social workers in Central Louisiana. “This grant allows LCU programs to offer stipends to students which will aid them in continuing their education and in return students receiving stipends will commit to field practicums and future employment in agencies with behavioral health opportunities,” Duffy said. Duffy and Bobbye Roberts, BSW program director, partnered to create the project. “The need for licensed social workers in behavioral health is significant in the … [Read more...]

Trinity Baptist, Oakdale celebrating 60th anniversary

Trinity Baptist Church, Oak Grove: 60th Anniversary, March 13, 10:30 a.m. The congregation of First Baptist Church, Oak Grove and Trinity Baptist Church will be joined on the 13th for morning worship, a special message and a potluck fellowship meal after the worship service. Speaker: Larry Braswell, former pastor of Trinity. Pastor: Courtney Rainey. … [Read more...]