WINNSBORO, La. (LBM) – Lee Faler, a Mississippi pastor who lost his six-year-old son to brain cancer in August, is bringing a powerful message of Jesus’ love as the speaker for the Bouef River Baptist Church revival. Faler, whose story will be featured in an upcoming issue of the Baptist Message, experienced God’s love amid a journey that took him and his family through a long and dark valley. "This ordeal has shown me how strong Jesus’ love is for us,” Faler told the Baptist Message. “He is not just sufficient to save. He is sufficient to sustain. It was something we knew in our heads but now we know it in our hearts because He walked it Himself and He walked it with us.” The revival continues nightly at 6:30 p.m. until March 16 as Faler, pastor of Mississippi’s First Baptist Church, Terry, encourages the congregation with his message of love and hope. … [Read more...]

By LC News staff FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (LC News) – Hannah Miller, a freshman from Iowa, received top speaker honors at the inaugural University of Arkansas Fayetteville Fisticuffs Debate Tournament over the weekend. The online tournament was held March 4-6 and included competitors from 24 universities and colleges across the nation. “This is only Hannah’s third debate competition to complete in,” LCU Debate Coach Brian Manuel said. “We have seen Hannah grow in her confidence each round that she competes. Her personality really shines through when she debates, and she is a joy to coach. This award is well-deserved.” LCU fielded a team of nine members. The team now turns its attention to the national competition April 8-11 at Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas. … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - Two Louisiana Christian University English majors, Bethany Nichols, a junior from Boyce, and Samantha Ray, a sophomore from Pineville, have had their papers accepted into the 7th Annual LSUS Regional Student Scholars Forum to be held March 11 in Shreveport. The forum is open to both undergraduate and graduate students across Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas to submit research and creative work from business, education, science and math, and social sciences. “The English faculty encouraged all junior and senior English majors and minors to submit an abstract for a paper written for one of their recent English classes,” said Jeannie Gauthier, chair of the Division of Language and Literature. “Both Bethany and Samantha are stellar students.” Nichols’ paper is titled “Benefits of Colonialism in Kipling’s India,” while Ray’s paper “A&P: A Clash Between Decades” deals with the hostility between the generations as conservative 1950s gives way to a tumultuous 1960s in Updike’s work. Before transferring to LCU in spring 2022, Ray had two essays published in the 2020 Jongleur, the LSUA literary magazine. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer KENNER, La. (LBM) – Members of First Baptist Church, Kenner, recently accepted a God-sized challenge and raised, in one day, much of the $450,000 deductible needed to repair the worship center damaged by Hurricane Ida. By the end of the Dec. 12 worship service, members had raised $367,361 that, when combined with another $80,000 given from the New Orleans Baptist Association and Louisiana Baptist Convention, provided enough to begin renovations. Interim Pastor Reggie Ogea, who also is a professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, said he was amazed that 71 families stepped out in faith and committed to help their church rebuild. “I am still astounded, and the folks are, too,” Ogea told the Baptist Message. “When you consider that many of our families were still struggling themselves to make repairs to their own homes after Ida, they truly gave sacrificially. They have a strong sense that God is about to do something.” TRANSITION TIME FBC Kenner has been in transition since Ogea became interim pastor in April 2021. The congregation recognized the need to revitalize, and on June 27 voted to become the fourth member of First Baptist Church, Covington’s … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff KYIV, Ukraine (LBM) – Several Louisiana Baptist families have asked the faith community to join them in prayer as they attempt to finalize the adoption of their Ukrainian children. Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24, and the action subsequently may delay the adoption process. Sherrie Albritton, minister to children at Fair Park Baptist Church, West Monroe, her husband, Kirk, and four other individuals operate International Host Connection, a non-profit organization that places Ukrainian children with host home families in the United States for an unspecified amount of time, with the end goal being adoption. She said some of the families who have worked through their organization have been approved for adoption in the next month, but now face possible delays. “I ask that you pray for the orphanages that we have close contacts with as they try to move the children to safety,” Albritton told the Baptist Message. “And pray for the children and their health. Many children are sick and need medication but have no way to get it. “Finally, please lift up our missionaries that have chosen to stay and minister to the Ukrainian people and pray that Christians will turn to Him during this time,” … [Read more...]