By Jerry Love, Louisiana Baptist Foundation ALEXANDRIA (LBF) – Trustees of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation received positive investment reports and upbeat updates about operations during a regular quarterly business meeting held April 30 in the Louisiana Baptist Building. The good news included that every portfolio component had earned a positive return for the first quarter, with almost all sectors exceeding their benchmarks. Lee Morris of Graystone Consulting summed up the performance by simply stating, “fourth quarter of ’18 – bad; first quarter of ’19 – good!” He added that first quar­ter returns had erased the previous quarter’s losses. Fixed income portfolios continued to perform in line with expectations, he said, adding that bond returns are relatively good for the moment but are expected to be flat going forward – based on the prevailing assumption among investment analysts that the Federal Reserve Board will continue to hold rates steady the remainder of the year. The alternative invest­ment allocation of the LBF portfolio (preferred stocks, convertible securities, MLP’s, covered calls and infrastructure) continued to add value with positive returns in all areas, Morris said. Only one segment, … [Read more...]

By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees approved three new degrees and curriculum updates for Leavell College and elected new faculty members during their spring meeting April 17. Trustees also received updates on the seminary's "Different Voices" diversity initiative and spring enrollment growth, and they approved the seminary's budget for the coming academic year. And the board utilized the last regular trustee meeting of Chuck Kelley's presidency to recognize his tenure at NOBTS, hosting a banquet and worship service in his honor on April 16 and electing him as distinguished research professor of evangelism during their plenary sessions on April 17. Kelley, who has led the seminary since 1996, will retire from the post July 31. During his presidential report, Kelley lamented the tragic decision by the founders of NOBTS to exclude African American students. While the seminary reversed the policy in the 1950s, the seminary is still working to repair the damage it caused, Kelley said. One step in the process was the creation of the Fred Luter Jr. Scholarship in 2011. Since then, NOBTS has awarded $1.4 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer HACKBERRY, La. (LBM) – Louisiana’s congressional delegation praised President Donald Trump’s commitment to energy independence after his visit to the Cameron LNG Facility in Hackberry Tuesday, May 14. Trump toured the $10 billion facility before speaking to employees, local officials, school children and other invited guests. During the rally, plant officials announced the Cameron LNG facility had begun producing liquefied natural gas from the first liquefaction train. It is the first of three trains that will ship American natural gas to global markets. According to its website, Cameron LNG will be able to produce nearly 12 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas per year, or about 1.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas daily. That is enough energy to power 8.5 million U.S. homes in a single day. "I'm so excited that President Trump could visit Louisiana and tout the policies that he and Congress have implemented that have allowed American LNG exports to flourish, even as other areas of the oil and gas industry have struggled due to state-level decisions,” Congressman Ralph Abraham, a member of Alto Baptist Church, told the Baptist Message. “I was proud to welcome him to … [Read more...]

By Gary D. Myers, NOBTS public relations NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- When New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Chancellor Chuck Kelley announced his "Different Voices Initiative" in 2018, a top priority involved encouraging students from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds as well as women to pursue a calling to academia. A May 6 workshop, "Faculty Hiring 101," marked a key step toward that goal, offering practical tips for those sensing a call to teach in a Baptist institution. About 25 students from a variety of ethnic backgrounds including African American, Asian and Hispanic attended the event. About a third of the attendees were women, more than half of whom were white. The group included students at all stages of study in the master's and doctoral programs at NOBTS. Most were either master's students considering doctoral work or students in the early stages of doctoral study. Presenters discussed the preparation for academia, the doctrinal expectations of Southern Baptist schools and institutional fit as well as practical matters like developing an academic resume. Informal conversations like these take place between professors and students on a daily basis. Some of the NOBTS academic divisions host … [Read more...]

By Message Staff Hours after a round of powerful storms moved across the state, Louisiana Baptists Disaster Relief crews were on the ground Thursday, May 9. According to Louisiana Baptists Disaster Relief Director Gibbie McMillan, volunteers were assessing 22 damaged homes east of Jonesboro and the Caney Lakes Recreational Area in Webster Parish. The storm also damaged the home of Chad McClurg, the Baptist Collegiate Ministry director at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. According to a Facebook post by LSU BCM Director Steve Masters, McClurg was in his house when the tree fell onto his home in Monroe, but he was not injured. Masters posted that McClurg's homeowners' insurance will cover the damages, but he will have to pay a deductible. Contributions can be made by sending a personal check to 1005 University Avenue, Monroe, Louisiana 71203. A tornado was preliminary reported to have touched down in Jonesboro. Other locations where a tornado possibly touched down included the Panola County, Texas-Caddo Parish, Louisiana line; southeast of Stonewall; near Robeline; and south of Ruston. Additional tornadoes were preliminarily reported north of Marshall, Texas, and Columbia and Union counties in Arkansas. … [Read more...]

Editor’s Note: After being elected the new executive director, Steve Horn shared his vision for the Louisiana Baptist Convention in the following message to the Executive Board. ALEXANDRIA -- I am humbled and honored to be elected as your Executive Director. I am excited about God’s call and the call of the Executive Board. I cannot wait to get started. Though I have much to learn and analyze before major decisions are made, I want to share with you my hopes for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. As I have prayed about my role, I want to share seven hopes for us as a Convention. Jesus will be exalted. If we can agree on anything, we should be able to agree that Jesus should be exalted. Jesus is the Head of the Church. If He is the Head of the Church, then He is the Head of the LBC. I look forward to times of gathering when we will together exalt Jesus. Let me offer the challenge now that we strive toward the largest attendance in years to our Annual Meeting. Make attending this year in Alexandria, Nov. 11-12, a real priority. Yes, we will conduct business and hear reports, but let’s gather to exalt Jesus. Since churches are essential to our work, churches will be equipped. Baptists are different. As a cooperative … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE (LCNews)—Louisiana College has named Jerry Pipes to lead its Office of Institutional Advancement. No stranger to Louisiana, Pipes was executive pastor at First Baptist Church Bossier City for “three incredible years,” he said. “I had the humbling privilege to build deep relationships with the evangelical community in Shreveport-Bossier. I found the people to be deeply devoted, biblically conservative, missions and evangelism minded, and extremely generous with their resources.” Having spoken hundreds of times in Louisiana churches as part of Jerry Pipes Productions -- an itinerant pastoral and discipleship ministry -- Pipes has traveled the world speaking to millions of people at schools, businesses, civic organizations, military bases, and regional events. “I want my service at Louisiana College to be the best years of my career,” Pipes told LC President Rick Brewer. “With an outlook and commitment like that, I have every confidence that God will bless the efforts of my friend Jerry Pipes,” Brewer said. “He has been a close friend for more than 30 years and is one of the most well-rounded and thoroughly equipped followers of Christ I know.” “Dr. Pipes will be a strategic member … [Read more...]

Editor’s Note: After being elected the new executive director, Steve Horn shared his vision for the Louisiana Baptist Convention in the following message to the Executive Board. ALEXANDRIA -- I am humbled and honored to be elected as your Executive Director. I am excited about God’s call and the call of the Executive Board. I cannot wait to get started. Though I have much to learn and analyze before major decisions are made, I want to share with you my hopes for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. As I have prayed about my role, I want to share seven hopes for us as a Convention. Jesus will be exalted. If we can agree on anything, we should be able to agree that Jesus should be exalted. Jesus is the Head of the Church. If He is the Head of the Church, then He is the Head of the LBC. I look forward to times of gathering when we will together exalt Jesus. Let me offer the challenge now that we strive toward the largest attendance in years to our Annual Meeting. Make attending this year in Alexandria, Nov. 11-12, a real priority. Yes, we will conduct business and hear reports, but let’s gather to exalt Jesus. Since churches are essential to our work, churches will be equipped. Baptists are different. As a cooperative … [Read more...]

By Message Staff WOODWORTH (LBM) – The Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Board voted unanimously to elect Steve Horn as the 19th executive director of the organization during the entity’s spring meeting at the Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth, May 7. There are 86 members of the Executive Board, but attendance numbers were not immediately available. He was nominated by a search committee comprised of board members and led by Waylon Bailey, president of the Executive Board and the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Covington. Horn will succeed David Hankins, who retires as executive director June 30. “I am honored and humbled to be selected to lead Louisiana Baptists in our cooperative efforts at this crucial time,” Horn said. “I want to thank the search committee and entire Executive Board for their confidence in me. I look forward to earning the trust of all Louisiana Baptists. I am ready to go to work listening and learning. “My prayer for Louisiana is as the Apostle Paul said about his people – ‘My heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation.’” “Dr. Steve Horn is uniquely qualified and equipped to lead Louisiana Baptists at this time,’ Bailey told … [Read more...]