By Staff, Louisiana College News PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) -- Louisiana College is the first institution in Central Louisiana to offer a loan repayment assistance program (LRAP) to all incoming freshmen starting in the fall of 2021. The LRAP can help graduates repay their federal student, parent PLUS and private alternative loans if their income after graduation is below $43,000. Louisiana College has partnered with Ardeo Education Solutions to offer the LRAP at no cost to students or families. The assistance will continue until the graduate’s income exceeds $43,000 or until their loans are completely paid off. “We understand, especially during this difficult time the huge financial challenges facing families,” said President Rick Brewer. “LC has always pursued strategies to ensure education is accessible and affordable, and this initiative underscores our commitment to students and families seeking an excellent Christian education.” For more information about the program or to sign-up, visit myLRAP.org. … [Read more...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Peter E. “Pete” Keough is the new pastor at Simpson Baptist Church, Simpson. John McCatherty is the new pastor from interim at Ferry Lake Baptist Church, Oil City. Roy Strother is the new pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church, Arcadia. Gibbie McMillan from interim to pastor at Taylor Creek Baptist Church, Kentwood. Bobby Daniel resigns as pastor at First Baptist Church, Vinton. Jay Avance resigns as pastor of First Baptist Church,Baker and is the new pastor at East Fork Baptist Church, Kentwood. Shelly Clutter is the new youth minister at Simpson Baptist Church, Simpson. Dana Anika is the new preschool director at Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville. She will replace Pam Keith who has retired from the position. Mike Matthews is the new music director and Sacha Matthews is the new pianist … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Although 2021 is a budget year for the legislature, which by policy limits lawmakers to submitting only five bills each on other matters, civic and social issues are poised to dominate the agenda during the regular session which convened April 12. FAIRNESS IN SPORTS Sen. Beth Mizell, a member of First Baptist Church, Franklinton, submitted S.B. 156 “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” as an attempt to level the playing field for women athletes, according to statements she made to the Baptist Message. The bill is in response to the H.R. 5 “Equality Act,” passed by the U.S. House and awaiting a vote in the Senate, that would allow biological males to compete as female athletes. Regardless of the outcome of that legislation, an executive mandate promoting transgender rights that was issued by President Joe Biden calls for a review of federal policies that likely will produce the same result. In opposing such changes in Louisiana, Mizell drew heavily from Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 in drafting her protections for women athletes. This legal precedent ensures that women receive equal opportunities with men to participate in sports … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - Justin Langford has been named dean of the College of Missions and Ministries at Louisiana College. Langford has been a faculty member for eight years, most recently serving as interim dean. Langford is a 2003 graduate of Louisiana College in sociology. He earned his Master of Divinity in biblical languages, Master of Theology and Ph.D. in New Testament from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, finishing in 2012. He served churches while in seminary as both music minister and youth minister. In 2013, he returned to LC to teach in the then-called Division of Christian Studies. “I am honored and grateful to Dr. Rick Brewer and Dr. Cheryl Clark for this wonderful opportunity to serve my alma mater,” Langford said. “I am eager to work with the excellent faculty we have in our area. I firmly believe that our role is to model servant leadership to our students. We hope and pray that, upon graduating, they will then enter our churches and mission fields equipped with the knowledge, experience, and servant mindset that is needed to impact our world for Christ. President Rick Brewer said Langford has been an excellent faculty member during his time at LC’s … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - Louisiana College has been chosen to receive two department enhancement grants from the Louisiana Board of Regents. The grants totaling more than $135,000 will provide for a business analytics classroom and a new stage for the theatre program. The Louisiana Board of Regents received 114 grant applications for department enhancement grants this year and recommended funding for 32 proposals. The business proposal ranked 7 and theatre ranked 13, which were high in the statewide competition, said Henry Robertson, LC director of institutional effectiveness and grants coordinator. The Board of Regents Enhancement grants will provide for a business analytics classroom in Alexandria Hall at an investment of $79, 972, and $55,802 comes for new stages in the Martin Performing Arts Center to benefit the theatre program. “We are always grateful to the Board of Regents for their financial support of our programs at LC,” President Rick Brewer said. “There are many worthwhile colleges and universities that need support across the state, and money is limited. These two grants will be transformational for the students here.” Adena LeJeune, chair of the Division of Business, wrote … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – A second fire in less than a week, consumed the fellowship hall at Trinity Baptist Church in Pineville on April 22. Pastor Kevin Roberts told the Baptist Message he was studying in his office on campus around 3:15 pm when a church member who had been cutting the grass on campus alerted him of the fire. Crews from Pineville/Holiday Village responded within 10 minutes and managed to contain the fire to that one facility. The fire took place in the same area of the building that burned on April 18. At the time, Roberts and other church members were visiting in the parking lot when they noticed smoke coming from the roof of the building. Roberts said an electrical fire caused the fire earlier in the week. “Please pray for wisdom as we decide what’s next,” Roberts said. “And also that we have no more fires.” … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NAPOLEONVILLE, La. (LBM) – First Baptist Church in Napoleonville, which in 2018 lost its worship center and Sunday school space in a fire, celebrated a new chapter in ministry April 11 when members and guests gathered to dedicate its new facility. More than 100 people were on hand for the service to remember how God brought the church out of the fire and into a very bright future. “What was accomplished here was nothing short of a miracle,” Pastor Chuck Chiasson told the Baptist Message. “I believe the fire and the rebuilding program of the last three years will redefine this church for years to come. Through trust in God, prayerful giving and the hard work of our members along with mission groups and other people, God has blessed us and we praise Him for our new facility.” Chiasson said a feeling of helplessness overcame him when he received the call that the church building was burning after lightning strike on Jan. 7, 2018. However, the next morning Chiasson was heartened when he began receiving calls from so many people offering help as well as encouragement. He soon discovered insurance would cover only half of the estimated $1 million needed to rebuild the … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – A fire heavily damaged the fellowship hall at Trinity Baptist Church in Pineville Sunday evening, April 18. According to Pastor Kevin Roberts, he and other church members were visiting in the parking lot at 8:30 p.m. when they noticed smoke coming from the roof of the building. Fire crews from Alpine, Kolin, Holiday Village and Pineville were on the scene four minutes after Roberts and other church members called 911. The cause of the fire was still under investigation Monday morning, April 19. He asked for continued prayers as they determine what to do next. “We are very grateful no one was inside when the fire broke out,” Roberts told the Baptist Message. “Had we not been here when the fire began, it may have jumped to other parts of the campus. We are very grateful we were here and caught it so fast, and that so many fire departments got here as quickly as they did.” … [Read more...]