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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Rolling out the welcome mat to new Louisiana Baptist pastors, wives

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist state missions and ministry directors and entity heads rolled out the welcome mat for more than 15 new pastors and seven spouses, Sept. 11. Held at the Baptist Building in Alexandria, the event featured remarks by Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn, introductions by state ministries and entities, a tour of the building and lunch for those in attendance. The event was open to any pastor or staff member who had transitioned to the role of pastor since October 2022. “The strength of our cooperation is built on the strength of our relationships,” Horn told the Baptist Message. “This event has quickly become a favorite of ours as we seek to establish personal relationships with new pastors in our state.” Louisiana Baptist Pastoral Ministry Team Director Ray Swift said the event reflected God’s grace and the unified work of Louisiana Baptists maximizing the Gospel’s impact across the state. “This provides a way to say to every new pastor ‘we love you and we are here for you,’” Swift said. “It makes a way to see, hear and receive information and resources every Louisiana Baptist pastor needs for their personal lives … [Read more...]

LCU C3 speaker: fight for religious freedom

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Brittany Jones offered a crash course on the need to exercise religious freedoms in an increasingly secular culture to the attendees at the first Christ-Church-Culture event of the fall semester at Louisiana Christian University, Sept. 11. “Religious freedom and the freedom of conscience are foundational to protecting all other freedoms in our country,” Jones said. “As our country changes, it is important that Americans today understand how these freedoms were developed and how they impact them.” Jones, a graduate of Louisiana Christian University and Regent University School of Law, serves as the director of Policy and Engagement for Kansas Family Voice. Her focus at the organization is on religious freedom, life, education choice and combatting pornography. Religious freedom was extremely important to the founders of this country, she said. “They were concerned because they’d been persecuted and seen people literally killed for not agreeing with the monarch,” Jones said. In America, religious freedom is for everyone, and the law is mainly meant to protect minority belief systems. While many of the most recent decisions have dealt with Christianity, historically that has … [Read more...]

TLC opens 23-24 season with ‘The Mousetrap’ by Agatha Christie

By Victoria R. Watson, Wildcats Media PINEVILLE, La. (Wildcats Media) – Theatre Louisiana Christian opened its first show of the 2023-24 season, “The Mousetrap,” on Sept. 7. “’The Mousetrap’ is an exciting whodunit dramatic mystery filled with comedic twists and turns that will keep everyone on the edge of their seat,” said LCU senior theatre major Colleen Andrews, also stage manager for the show. Written by Agatha Christie, The Mousetrap is the longest continuously running murder mystery play in American history, debuting on Oct. 6, 1952. “With such a diverse mix of majors from across the campus, it’s even more impressive how the students have been handling this material,” said Enrico Cannella, assistant professor of music and director of the play. “It’s been such a joy to work with such a creative group at LCU. This family-friendly mystery captures the ‘Murder She Wrote’ charm, and if you care to come a second time, it may be nice to find the hidden clues.” The play opens with Mollie and Giles Ralston, played by freshman Olivia Huffman and sophomore Cayden Walls, preparing their guest home in the London country for their expected guests. However, news spreads of a murder as a blizzard breaks out and floods the … [Read more...]

LCU welcomes new K9 officer to campus

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Louisiana Christian University has welcomed to its security force a Belgian Malinois dog. K9 Officer Willy joined the staff in May, allowing the dog to get accustomed to campus before students arrived for the fall semester. “Students—as well as faculty and staff—love Willy,” said LCU Chief of Safety and Security John Dauzat. “He can be very loveable, but he also has an important job to do.” Willy was born in December 2021 and trained by Gulf Coast K9 in the detection of narcotics. “Willy is a force multiplier to help minimize the outside influence of illegal narcotics on our campus,” Dauzat said. “We’ve never had a considerable problem, but the presence of our K9 ensures that we deter any use on campus.” Willy is the only K9 officer on a college campus in central Louisiana, according to LCU. While still relatively uncommon, K9 officers are becoming part of the security forces at more colleges and universities across the country not only for narcotics but also for the detection of explosives. They may also be trained and used to locate missing persons. LCU first introduced a K-9 to campus in December 2021. Unfortunately, Rex died in December 2022 … [Read more...]

Seeking donors to sponsor pastors for E4+

By Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – There is an opportunity for individuals, congregations and businesses to bless attendees to the upcoming E4+ Preaching Conference through “I Love Pastors” sponsorships. The conference, set for Sept. 19 in the facilities of First Baptist Church, Pineville, will feature keynote messages by Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary Professor David Allen. There also will be breakout sessions for pastors  as well as directors of youth, media/sound, music and children ministries, and for ministers' wives. According to conference organizer Stewart Holloway, the registration fee covers only one-third of conference costs (to make attendance affordable for pastors). Sponsors are needed to cover the remaining costs, said Holloway, pastor of FBC Pineville. Anyone wishing to sponsor a pastor can give three ways: Online (click HERE); by mail (FBC Pineville, 901 Main St., Pineville, LA 71360, include “E4 – I Love Pastors” in the “for” line); or in person at FBCP. To be acknowledged in the conference program, send gifts to be delivered by noon, Sept. 14., or let Holloway know a gift is on the way (sholloway@fbcpineville.net). … [Read more...]

Louisiana Christian University preview day set for Oct. 7

By Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Christian University will hold its fall preview day Oct. 7. Scheduled from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., the event will offer prospective students a tour of the school’s campus, hear from current students and faculty members, learn more about student clubs and organizations, athletics, academic programs, ministry opportunities and residence life and gain scholarship and financial aid information. To learn more or register for Preview Day, visit https://lcuniversity.edu/admissions/visit-campus/preview-day/   … [Read more...]

They were listening to them

By Bill Britt HAUGHTON, La. – Of all people, the Apostle Paul could have legitimately complained about the circumstances that he endured throughout his life. When we look back to the beginning of Paul’s journey as a believer, we see that he received a message from the Lord that illuminated the path he was about to embark on. Luke wrote the account of Paul’s conversion in the book of Acts. Paul had been known as Saul until the time of his encounter with Jesus. We know that Saul had been persecuting the church, and he truly believed that he was doing God a favor. You can read about the amazing life change that brought Saul to become Paul in Acts 9. It is only the Gospel of Jesus Christ that can change the heart of any man or woman. Saul was given a message from God through a man named Ananias. This is that message. Saul would become a great man of God and would preach the Gospel to the Gentiles as well as to the children of Israel. He would preach to both royalty and the common man. However, he would suffer many things for the sake of Jesus (The Lord has never watered down the cost of following him.) Paul heard the command of the Lord and knew it would not be easy. In light of this revelation from the Lord, he set out on … [Read more...]

LBDR wildfire response wraps up in Beauregard Parish

By Baptist Message staff DERIDDER, La. (LBM) – Nearly two weeks after wildfires broke out in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams have wrapped up efforts in the area. According to LBDR Strategist Stan Statham, teams prepared 5,509 meals, distributed 50 tracts, had 27 Gospel conversations and saw one individual come to faith in Christ from Aug. 23 to Sept. 2. “This DR deployment demonstrated the true spirit of the Cooperative Program,” Statham told the Baptist Message. “Local churches, the Beauregard Baptist Association and the LBC joined together to meet the needs of evacuees and first responders.” Statham said the Georgia Barnette Louisiana Missions Offering provided half the funds to assist Philadelphia Baptist Church Deville in purchasing the quick response feeding unit trailer that proved to be a great resource in this disaster. “Our first meal was served just four hours after we received the request for help,” Statham said. According to a news release from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, crews are battling fires in four areas: Tiger Island, Highway 113 near Oakdale, Lions Camp Road and Elizabeth Tiger Island A fire was first reported Aug. 22 in Tiger … [Read more...]