By Victor Villavieja PINEVILLE (LBM) — Louisiana College senior Lievin Manisha returned to Africa on a mission trip last Christmas break. The student from Burundi took part in an expedition that visited one of the biggest settlements of refugees in Central Africa, Nakivale Refugee Camp in Uganda, where he helped distribute backpacks to school kids, and buckets and water filters to over 100 families. Importantly, he also used the opportunity to share the Gospel with some of his 8,000 expatriated Burundian compatriots living in Nakivale. “I was very touched. I encouraged them to keep going,” Manisha recalled. “I told them that I had been in their shoes; that I am not better than them. I told them not to give up.” It was Manisha’s first visit to Africa since he moved to the United States in 2014. Manisha was 6 years old when he lost his family in the civil war between the two predominant Burundian ethnicities - the Hutu majority, and the Tutsi minority. In June 1993, after 25 years of Tutsi totalitarian regimes, Burundi’s first multi-party elections were held, and Melchior Ndadaye became the first democratically elected Hutu president. Four months later, Tutsi extremists assassinated Ndadaye and violence broke out … [Read more...]

By Josh Landry, Wildcats Media PINEVILLE (LCNews) -- Louisiana College’s production of “The Music Man” starts this weekend and continues through next weekend The Tony nominated musical written by Meredith Willson opens Friday March 16 at 7 p.m. in LC’s Martin Performing Arts Center. Performance dates for the 1957 Tony-nominated musical are March 16,17 and 23, 24 at 7 p.m. and March 18 and 25 at 2 p.m. “The Music Man” is a musical comedy about a traveling salesman who is actually a con artist, and he gathers people in the town of Somewhere, Iowa to jump on board with him to create a boy band. Played by LC senior Jeremy Manuel, “The Music Man” uses what he calls “the think system,” wherein the con man listens to a tune and then is able to play it. Associate Professor of Theater Tabitha Huffman said the inspiration to perform the play came from band uniforms donated by Pineville High School, which had purchased new ones. “I got to raid their band closet,” Huffman said. “We have been holding on to the band uniforms because we need them for the boy band in the musical.” Huffman, who performed in “The Music Man” in high school, is directing the play and starring as Mrs. Paroo, the mother of the main character … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE (LCNews) --Louisiana College now accepts the Classic Learning Test as an alternative to the ACT and SAT for certain students. And LC is slated as a test site for the April 17 Classic Learning Test (CLT). Louisiana’s TOPS program still requires the ACT or SAT, however. “Louisiana College is very pleased to announce our acceptance of the CLT as an option to other college entrance exams,” said Rick Brewer, president of LC. “We are particularly pleased to see many prestigious institutions from across the United States such as Hillsdale College, The King’s College, and Houston Baptist University among the dozens now accepting the Classic Learning Test.” Many of these institutions offer academic scholarships for students who test well on the CLT, and Louisiana College will be no exception, Brewer said. The CLT is “accessible to students from any educational background that elevates the good, the true, and the beautiful,” states CLTexam.com. “The ancient Greek philosophers stressed the same basic ideas about education that homeschool parents and classical school educators affirm today. How students learn to think, what they read, and how they live are all intricately connected. Many homeschooled students who have … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE (LCNews) -- Louisiana College’s Preview Day attendance has seen exponential growth since 2014, growing from double- to triple-digits. With more than 120 high school students registered for the March 24 event, Preview Day registration continues to steadily grow. “We shifted the start time from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management Fred Holt. “This makes Preview Day more convenient for our visitors who live several hours away from LC, such as those traveling from neighboring states or southeast Louisiana.” Previous days have drawn people from Colorado, California, Nevada, and as far away as Hawaii. “The growing awareness of Louisiana College’s turnaround is one reason for the increasing Preview Day attendance,” said LC President Rick Brewer. “Our innovative strategies of a flat rate tuition, creative scholarships, and the history of our outstanding academics all have intersected to bring the college further into a favorable light. These, among other reasons, are why our total enrollment for this spring is 18 percent more than last spring.” High school students of all grades, as well as transfer students, may attend Preview Day, which provides an overview … [Read more...]

BATON ROUGE — Just as casinos feature sumptuous buffets to lure patrons, the Louisiana Legislature is offering a veritable smorgasbord of gaming expansion and de-regulation this session. Although "gambling" has always lurked in the shadows of Louisiana's past, because of the propensity for illegal activity and potential for corruption it was frowned upon in public policy. That changed in the 1990s. Now, favorable forces want to "modernize" the industry and may have a friend on the 4th floor of the Capitol. It should come as no surprise that Louisiana Baptists and Louisiana Family Forum (LFF) will oppose expansion as well as de-regulation of Louisiana's gambling statutes. "What some consider 'modernization' of industry regs, should not become a forfeiture of essential fiduciary responsibilities legislators hold as gambling's primary regulator. If 'modernization' involves removing the original safeguards put into place to avoid corruption, prevent proliferation, and protect residents from predatory practices, then it should be opposed," said Gene Mills, President of Louisiana Family Forum. Mills continued, "When faced with the choice between protecting Louisiana families or de-regulating gambling, it is the … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer JONESBORO (LBM) – Paul Wilkerson was enjoying high times from his worldly living until early 2016 when he lost nearly everything he valued. Burdened with heartache, he began seeking hope, which he found in Jesus Christ shortly after. Wilkerson celebrated his transformed heart and life a year later by being baptized by Michael Brakefield, pastor of the Hope Chapel in Jonesboro. Brakefield spent the year teaching Wilkerson, but Wilkerson’s delay in being baptized wasn’t a factor of discipleship, but to wait until the church became an official member of the Louisiana Baptist Convention in early 2017. “I grew up in the presence of the Lord as a kid in church but I had never received it,” Wilkerson said. “I had heard the calling from the time I was little but ran from it. I was trying to fill this big massive void. I was the success story, thinking I was better than I was. “Over a matter of six months I lost everything,” he said. “I was homeless and in a position where I had no other place to turn. I was in the desert. Because I had nowhere else to turn I found the truth.” Wilkerson is one of 13 new believers baptized in 2017 at Hope Chapel. The church has grown rapidly … [Read more...]

By Holly Jo Linzay, Regional Reporter “To obey is better than sacrifice…” 1 Samuel 15:22 PINEVILLE  (LBM) – Christians are called by God to obedient living, but it is not all about rules, duty or behavior management. “Obedience is the right response to the grace of God,” Katie Orr, the keynote speaker from Harrodsburg, Kentucky, explained to the women gathered at the Kaleidoscope conference. Orr, author of “Everyday Obedience” and creator of the FOCUSed 15 Bible study method, detailed how “obedience is a heart issue” that can be fulfilled only through the power of the Holy Spirit. “Our job in obedience as Christ followers is not to focus on the ‘do’s and don’ts,’ but first to remember all that God has done for us and to respond to that grace,” Orr said, teaching from the book of Colossians. About 190 women at the two-day Kaleidoscope conference Feb. 23-24 at the First Baptist Church in Pineville heard Orr share how her understanding of obedient living in Christ was redefined, as she challenged them to become more obedient in their walk with Christ. “Obedience is a call to worship God. Obedience is meant to be Christ-centered,”added Orr. When Christians enter a relationship with Christ, His perfect … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MONROE (LBM) —Trustees of the Louisiana Baptist Convention board for the Children’s Home and Family Ministries recently celebrated great news about ministry initiatives at home and abroad. Overseas, 100 new believers came to know Christ in Haiti during two mission trips coordinated by CHFM in 2017. At home, construction soon will begin on a second cottage designed to provide transitional living for women and their children as they prepare to live independently. “Our trustees have a great passion for the work,” CHFM president and CEO Perry Hancock told the Baptist Message after the Feb. 23 meeting at the ministry’s Monroe campus. “In our recent meeting, we celebrated the fact that over 3,600 children and others experienced God’s love and care through the ministries of the Children’s Home in 2017.” HAITI PARTNERSHIP Through its Reach Haiti Partnership with the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Haiti Baptist Convention and 30 LBC churches, the Children’s Home has taken mission teams on multiple trips to Haiti since 2012, moving toward fulfillment of the vision to build a children’s village, provide clean drinking water to residents of the community and establish a pastor training … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message PINEVILLE – The lineup of speakers for the first half of Louisiana College’s 2018 spring chapel services has been outstanding to say the least, school officials say, having featured top pastors, leaders and laypersons from around the state. But, the remaining lineup is as good, and may be even better. “We are elated to have so many top-notch leaders, pastors and laypersons who ably encourage and challenge our Louisiana College family,” said the school’s President Rick Brewer, noting the “common denominators among these speakers is a love for God, a love for the Bible, and a love for college students.” Held at the Martin Performing Arts Center, chapel services minister to and encourage freshmen and transfer students each Tuesday and sophomores, juniors and seniors on Thursdays. Students already have heard Jeff Ginn, pastor, Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge; Michael Wood, pastor, FBC West Monroe; Jerry Pipes, president of Jerry Pipes Productions; former Southern Baptist Convention President Fred Luter, pastor, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans; and, former Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn, pastor, FBC Lafayette. D.A. Horton, pastor of the Reach Fellowship church … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE (LCNews) – Louisiana College will host a “God in the Workplace” conference March 19-20 led by Richard Blackaby. The March 19 session will be in the Martin Performing Arts Center at 6 p.m., and is free and open to the public. Additional keynoters include Doug Hunter of Doug Hunter, LLC, and two local businessmen: Dallas Hixson of Hixson Automotive Group and Jeff Draughon of Draughon and Bollinger, LLC. Son of Henry Blackaby - author of “Experiencing God” - Richard is noted internationally for his books, blog, and conferences on several facets of the Christian life that include the intersection of a Christian’s faith and occupation. “When Jesus called the 12 disciples, many of them owned and operated businesses as tradesmen and commercial fishermen,” said Rick Brewer, president of Louisiana College. “And Jesus is still calling business people to follow him as disciples regardless of their occupation.” Brewer said the conference will “help everyone from the receptionist to the CEO learn how best to accomplish God’s will at work. No matter how qualified for their jobs, those attending this conference will better understand what the Bible says about integrating their Christian faith and … [Read more...]