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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Second fire in less than a week consumes Trinity Baptist fellowship hall

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...]

First Napoleonville shining example of God’s handiwork

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...]

LC students, faculty awarded top regional, national journalism honors

By Staff PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Three Louisiana College journalism students were recognized for their work in the Southeast Journalism Best of the South Competition for 2021. Alena Noakes, Kylei Cornelison and Joel Thompson competed against 45 colleges and universities. Noakes took second in press photography; Cornelison finished 14th in feature writing and seventh in op-ed writing and Thompson was fifth in op-ed writing. Noakes and Cornelison won in the Society of Professional Journalists Region 12 Mark of Excellence. Noakes won in feature and general news photography and was finalists in editorial writing while Cornelison was a finalist in podcast. Winners in each category go on to compete in the national competition. Even though the National Federation of Press Women Communication Contest 2020 awards ceremony was postponed due to COVID-19, LC still earned three awards in the at-large contest. In the professional category, faculty members Elizabeth Clarke and Brian Manuel as well as students Jerry Clark and Noakes took second for their investigative podcast series “Telling Lives: Cold Cases in a True Way.” Thompson placed first in collegiate op-ed writing, and Noakes placed first in collegiate photography. … [Read more...]

Fire heavily damages Trinity Fellowship Hall

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...]

Louisiana Athletic Club celebrates its 20th anniversary April 20

PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Athletic Club has a series of special events planned this month to coincide with its 20th anniversary. The venue, which was established in 2001 and was jointly owned by CHRISTUS and LC for 19 years, is now solely owned by Louisiana College following the transfer of ownership last year. LAC will celebrate its anniversary on April 20 at 3 p.m. with refreshments, treats and door prizes along with performances by the Louisiana College band and LAC tap ladies. School President Rick Brewer, club manager Ronnie Schwartz and a representative from CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria will deliver remarks and the public is encouraged to attend. “LC continues the outstanding tradition that LAC had with Cabrini for many years,” Brewer said. “And we will continue to work to improve upon the outstanding service that people have grown accustomed to receiving over the last two decades.” Louisiana Athletic Club also will reveal new logos to coincide with the anniversary celebration, which will more clearly identify its affiliation with the college. The club will be re-launching its pro shop with new apparel featuring the rebranded logos. Leading up to the celebration, LAC will host a … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptist DR teams respond following weekend storms

By Baptist Message staff Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief crews spent the weekend assessing damage and clearing debris from properties that were impacted by a strong line of storms that came through the state. Gibbie McMillan, Louisiana Baptists state disaster relief coordinator, told the Baptist Message that crews from Wilda Baptist Church, Boyce, and Big Cane Baptist Church, Morrow, removed a tree that fell on a home in Bayou Jack. DR members Reggie Saxton and Tom Rabalais also assessed homes in Palmetto, which was heavily damaged by an EF-3 tornado packing 140 mph winds. The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down on Bolden Road in St. Landry Parish at 2:06 am Saturday. The tornado destroyed several homes, including a single wide mobile home that rolled for more than 320 yards and caused the death of a man inside the residence. St. Landry Parish Police Jury President Jessie Bellard confirmed the fatality as Jose Antonio Higareda, 27. The National Weather Service also reported that seven other people in the area were injured, 15 homes were damaged, numerous trees and power lines were snapped and some barns and outbuildings were destroyed. Further north, Jerry Smith, 48, died after a tree … [Read more...]

Calling and career focus of LC C3 event April 13

By Staff, Baptist Message PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Dry Creek native and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Professor R. Keith Loftin will headline Louisiana College’s second “Christ Church Culture” lecture of the year on April 13. Loftin, the author of several books including “Stand Firm: Apologetics and the Brilliance of the Gospel,” will share with students, faculty and members of the community a presentation on “calling and career.” "As human beings, we are created in God's image,” Loftin said. “We are created with purpose. We are created to work. Indeed, we are created to flourish. These truths harmonize in the Christian notion of vocation, and that notion can revolutionize how we think about education." The event comes months before LC launches its new Quality Enhancement Plan, which will focus on service-learning. Brewer said he wants to make sure students understand the importance of their academic education is preparation for real-world service. “No matter what call God has placed on your life, our role is to serve others and represent His kingdom,” Brewer said. “Our QEP, which launches in the fall, is LC Serves. Live Connected. This seminar will focus on better understanding on how college education … [Read more...]