By Norm Miller, LC News PINEVILLE (LCNews) - Concerned for the educational needs of prison inmates, Louisiana College offered a class last semester at the Pollock Federal Correctional Institution in Pollock. “The Lord spoke to my heart that these men will one day leave prison, and that Louisiana College could provide for them some hope in the form of education,” said Louisiana College President Rick Brewer. “Education is proven to reduce recidivism of former inmates.” Adjunct professor from Louisiana College Stewart Holloway - who also is pastor of the First Baptist Church, Pineville - taught the class that could lead to a certification or undergraduate degree. Holloway shared the experience in a recent Sunday sermon. “Why do I spend time every Monday and Friday at a federal prison teaching Old Testament?” Holloway asked his congregation in a Sunday sermon. “The answer is right here,” he said, holding up a note from one of his imprisoned students. Stewart had asked students what was their “greatest take-away from this class?” Then he read the note, which said: “I have seen what has been missing in my life. I have learned that there is a God. It has made me look at my life with a new outlook on it. I feel … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE (LCNews) -- Louisiana College held its annual Smith Scholarship competition Saturday, January 26, with 23 entrants. Oak Hill High School senior Samantha Aaron took top prize: a scholarship to LC that includes tuition, books, room, and board. "I was just praying to God, asking him to give me clarity," Aaron said. "And if this was what he wanted from me that he would give me that clarity. Then they said my name, and I just couldn't believe that I was so blessed with this opportunity." Aaron is a dual enrollment student at LC and said she was “excited to continue my studies, here.” She will pursue a Missions and Ministries degree but hasn’t chosen a specific occupation yet. “I will do whatever God would like me to do,” she said. “I’ve already taken some Missions and Ministry courses here through dual enrollment and I can’t get enough.” A member of Homewood Baptist Church in Alexandria, Aaron said when she first became a Christian she “felt the call to talk to people about God. That call is for every Christian, but mine was a deeper call than just the average.” “We are very thankful for the students who honored us by entering the competition,” said Louisiana College President Dr. Rick … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE (LCNews) -- The chancellor of Dallas Baptist University Gary Cook addressed Louisiana College trustees at their January 22 meeting as part of the college’s ongoing trustee development. Cook reflected on the state of DBU when was elected president in 1988, saying the school faced significant debt, had no building projects in 18 years, had difficulty making payroll, and faced more than 30 recommendations from its accrediting body. “Two faculty members hired a detective to check me out,” he said. And a science professor met with Cook to check out his aura, which was the “acceptable” blue hue. A survivor of leukemia, Cook said his first five years at DBU were far more difficult than enduring cancer treatments. “Things were not just perfect, there. And what happened there has happened elsewhere,” he said, alluding to several issues Louisiana College has overcome since Rick Brewer was unanimously elected president in 2015. “I am so glad it goes well, here,” he added. “I hear nothing but good things about Louisiana College.” Cook cited the book “The Dying of the Light,” which chronicles the many Christian colleges and universities that abandoned the Christian faith upon which they were … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BUNKIE – The First Baptist Church in Bunkie started 2019 by celebrating a new birth in Christ, baptizing its 50th convert in five years. “Baptisms bring new life in the person and in the church,” Pastor Mark Robinson said. “When you see someone baptized it gives someone hope that God is working in people around you, and it sets the precedent of obedience to God – those who come behind you see the steps that have to be taken to make public their faith. I don’t see any reason we wouldn’t baptize 10-15 a year. Our members always have been mission-minded but now there is a vision spreading of being ‘on mission.’” The January 13 baptism is representative of a rebirth First Baptist Bunkie has experienced since 2013. Five years ago, worship service attendance averaged 60 and Sunday school drew around 40, according to Annual Church Profile statistics. Through January, attendance for worship services has increased to 100 and Sunday school has averaged nearly 80. MILESTONE OF FAITH Robinson said the church was at a crossroads when he arrived in 2013, and faced the possibility of closing its doors. After Robinson met with the members, the congregation decided to renew itself with a … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer “Louisiana Loves Life” and thousands of Louisianans will show their love for life at five pro-life marches scheduled throughout the state in the coming weeks. For the first time, Lake Charles and Monroe/West Monroe will host a Louisiana Life March, Jan. 22 and Jan. 27, respectively. Baton Rouge and Shreveport/Bossier City marches are scheduled for Jan. 26 and Alexandria/Pineville will host its march Feb. 2. The Louisiana Life Marches are a chance for different denominations, ages and ethnic and racial backgrounds to march together and pray to declare their opposition to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in 1973. The theme for this year’s marches is “Louisiana Loves Life.” “In Louisiana, we love life, and our love for life must extend to these least among us, especially unborn babies,” said Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Benjamin Clapper. “By marching for life together, our love can overcome the tragedy of abortion, provide support for mothers in need, and build a future without abortion.” The life marches will kick off in Lake Charles Tuesday, Jan. 22. Participants will gather for a candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer COVINGTON – Passing the Christian faith down to the next generation of leaders will be the central focus of next week’s Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Conference, Jan. 28-29, at the First Baptist Church in Covington. “We need to evangelize and disciple the next generation so that we may imprint the need for living for Christ as an important part of their life,” said Keith Manuel, evangelism and church growth director for Louisiana Baptists. “I encourage you to bring a van load of church members who are concerned about passing their faith down to the next generation. Those who attend will be encouraged and equipped when they return home to reach their Jerusalem for Jesus.” The first two sessions on Jan. 28 will feature Fred and Chip Luter, who will share the stage in a rare father-son preaching engagement, and Ed Newton. Fred Luter is pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, and Chip Luter is pastor of the Sulphur Springs campus of Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida. Newton is pastor of the Community Bible Church in San Antonio, Texas. Prior to Newton’s message, students will gather at the church’s youth building for a pizza party and … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer COTTONPORT – Prison ministry was not on Sammy Morrow’s radar when he first received the call in August to consider joining Raymond Laborde Correction Center as a chaplain. Morrow had served as pastor of the Alpine First Baptist Church in Tioga and then the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Pollock, and believed he would continue ministering in this way for the foreseeable future. But Warden Sandy McCain derailed his plans. “I got a call out of the blue asking if I had an interest in becoming the chaplain,” Morrow said. “That wasn’t on my radar. I didn’t even know there was a prison in Cottonport. “My wife, Paula, and I came down together and looked at everything and met with Warden McCain,” he continued. “He said, ‘We aren’t looking at anyone else and are waiting for the Lord to do this through you.’ I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt the Lord was leading me to do this.” Since he started serving as chaplain in September, Morrow has baptized three men inside the prison’s chapel. Every time he baptizes a new believer, the entire congregation of 150-200 men celebrates the chains that have been broken from bondage to sin. “To have these young men come to know the Lord in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SULPHUR – Volunteers with an after-school outreach are finding Jesus saves in the halls of Sulphur’s E.K. Key Elementary School. Since 2016, members of the Houston River Baptist Church in Sulphur have spent their Thursday afternoons serving up snacks, leading small group spiritual discussions and participating in games with 100 third to fifth graders at KiDs Beach Club. Every student who attends receives a Bible and t-shirt, and some even place their trust in Jesus. Four children have accepted Christ since the start of the school year last fall. “It’s very moving to see a child come to trust Jesus,” said Houston River Baptist Pastor Lonnie Gothrup. “We just want children to have an opportunity to see the Gospel lived out and presented. All of our volunteers are laypeople who see an opportunity to love the kids,” he continued. “We are not just going in there with a prayer. We are going to present them with the Gospel. “This is an example of a church investing in the school children spiritually,” he said. “Many parents see that and appreciate it. While we may not see every child come to Christ, we are doing all we can to show His love to kids who may not have any other … [Read more...]

By Message Staff The number of U.S. babies born in 2017, about 3.85 million, was the lowest total since 1987, according to the latest CDC figures. Worse yet, the fertility rate, based on the average number of babies born to each woman of child-bearing age, fell dramatically to just above 1.76, well below the 2.1 level that is needed to keep a population stable, meaning no growth or decline. Already, among whites in the United States, deaths began exceeding births in 2016. That looms large in terms of the population drop that is sure to follow because non-Hispanic whites compose 61 percent of the population. For comparison, Japan’s population is in a downward spiral, peaking at more than 128 million in 2010, a mere 25 years after dropping to a fertility rate of 1.76. Various demographers conclude that based on current fertility trends, Japan will decline by more than 19 million in population by 2050, a drop of almost 15 percent. Meanwhile, China, boasting the largest population of 1.4 billion, is trending down in fertility as well – 1.75 but possibly as low as 1.6 – and has lost more than 20 million workers from the labor force the last six years as more Chinese workers age and retire without anyone younger to … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer RAYVILLE – Deep in the Delta farmland, Deanna Corbett battles hunger. Most days she works alongside volunteers to plant vegetables in a community garden or stuff backpacks with food for the impoverished in Richland Parish. Her end goal is to plant seeds that reap a harvest for Christ. According to statistical data, Richland Parish is one of the poorest parishes in the state. U.S. Census information shows that 27.8 percent of Richland Parish residents live below the poverty level, ranking it ninth out of 64 parishes in Louisiana. COOPERATIVE COMPASSION Through her work, Corbett, endorsed by the North American Mission Board as a Mission Service Corps missionary and funded in part by Louisiana Baptists as an association compassion ministry, is doing her part to meet a physical need and give parish residents hope in Jesus. “The projects give us a strong presence – the people know why we are there and what we are doing,” Corbett said. “The plight of the impoverished is massive.” Corbett founded Shade Tree Missions shortly after she surrendered to full-time missions in May 2015. With assistance from a volunteer base of nearly 25, Corbett conducts a backyard Bible club in a … [Read more...]