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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LC ‘welcoming committee’ rolls out red carpet for incoming freshmen

By Message Staff PINEVILLE (LBM) - Moving day can be hectic, and even a little chaotic, but the presence of a large welcoming committee Saturday, Aug.12, made all the difference for Louisiana College’s incoming freshmen and transfer students. Campus administration, members of the community, campus staff, football players and even the cheerleaders were on hand to welcome the new arrivals while also offering a ‘helping hand’carrying in their personal items. While final enrollment numbers will not be available until the final day of registration Aug. 28, LC President Rick Brewer is optimistic that the incoming freshmen class will be larger than last year’s. He said it is possible 330 new freshmen and 70 transfer students could enroll at LC for the fall semester, an increase from 250 freshmen and 50 transfer students for the 2016-2017 academic year. “The growth the college is experiencing is a result of the Lord blessing the work of our faculty, coaches, staff, administration through innovative strategies for student recruitment, scholarships, spiritual development, athletics and academic programming,” Brewer said in an e-mail to the Baptist Message. “The LC family passionately pursues the college’s mission for … [Read more...]

Martin: Workplace, community is a mission field

By Message Staff   DEVILLE (LBM) – CEO of one of the largest businesses in Central Louisiana, Roy O. Martin III realizes his company is a mission field Employing more than 1,200 people in the plywood and timber industry, Martin emphasizes each Christ follower has his or her own specific God-given purpose in the workplace and community. And ultimately, all Christians share Jesus’ commandment to make disciples and share the Gospel. “We are programmed to be disciples of Jesus Christ,” said Martin, a long-time Sunday school teacher at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. “We are built for that purpose.” Martin was the keynote speaker during the ReGroup conference attended by 261 people at Philadelphia  Baptist Church in Deville, one of three such sites for the Aug. 12 event. First Baptist Church in Covington drew 248 people while First Baptist Church in Mandeville had 105 at the first-ever Hispanic ReGroup. The conference also featured music and breakout sessions for small group leadership in the areas of Sunday school, discipleship, bi-vocational pastors, special needs ministry, recovery and support groups, youth and children. Bee Keen attended ReGroup with others from First Baptist Church in … [Read more...]

GuideStone launches new fund that offers diversification aiming to address increased market volatility

By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Financial Resources DALLAS, Texas - GuideStone Funds has launched its new Strategic Alternatives Fund. The fund is available to retirement plan participants in GuideStone’s employer-sponsored retirement plans as well as other eligible GuideStone investors and financial advisors. The fund seeks to provide absolute returns with both lower volatility than, and low correlation with, traditional equity and fixed-income markets. The term “absolute returns” means that an investment aims to generate a consistently positive single digit total return in most market environments. When speaking of the fund having a low correlation to equity (stock) and fixed-income (bond) markets, it is expected to have much lower price variability than those asset classes. Investors interested in alternatives investing are generally looking for choices beyond fixed income or equity investments for additional diversification. “Diversification in an environment of rising volatility is absolutely critical, but the one thing we don’t want investors to do is overreact to short-term moves in the market,” said David S. Spika, chief strategic investment officer of GuideStone Financial Resources. “There is going to be a … [Read more...]

How to bless those around you

By Waylon Bailey Very few things in life are more important than being blessed. When Jacob stole the blessing from Esau, Esau’s pain was deep and intense. As Esau came to his father and realized that Isaac had given Esau’s blessing to his brother Jacob, he cried out in pain “bless me also my father!” The blessing had real significance. We all need to be blessed. What can you do to bless the people around you? First, catch them doing something right and commend them for it. That’s exactly what Paul did when he wrote his letter to the church at Philippi. When the the people at the church at Philippi heard Paul had been imprisioned, they received an offering for Paul and send it to him. They wanted to help Paul in his need. They even sent their pastor to stay with Paul and minister to him as he waited in prison for a verdict about his life or death. Though Paul was in prison, he saw the need to “bless” the people of the church at Philippi. He wrote to commend them and to thank them for their ministry. We are blessing others when we commend them for their good actions. Second, pray for people and their needs and let them know that you are praying. Paul told the church “I thank my God every time I remember … [Read more...]