By Message Staff WASHINGTON, D.C. – Louisiana's two U.S. senators - Sens. John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy - have co-sponsored legislation honoring evangelist Billy Graham, who died Feb. 21 at the age of 99. The resolution highlighted some of Graham’s achievements during his life and ministry, such as that he counseled every U.S. president since Harry Truman, preached to 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories on six continents and founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. “The Lord truly blessed us by allowing the Rev. Graham to share his message for nearly a century,” Kennedy said in an e-mailed statement to the Baptist Message. “As a young man, I was privileged to hear that message at one of the Rev. Graham’s great crusades in Baton Rouge. “His message was simple: The only path to eternal salvation is through Jesus Christ,” continued Kennedy, who plans to attend Graham’s funeral March 2. “The Rev. Graham lived out the Gospel message through his actions, his books, television broadcasts and speeches. In troubled times of war and political unrest, he soothed us with reminders about God’s forgiveness and peace. I have every confidence that our Father will greet the Rev. Graham with those … [Read more...]

By Victor Villavieja PINEVILLE (LBM) — British actor David Payne’s performance of “An Evening with C.S Lewis” transported a standing-room-only crowd at Louisiana College’s Martin Performing Arts Center back to Lewis’s living room in Oxford, England in 1963. More than 500 people from as far as New Orleans and Benton, including a family of seven from Monroe came to Louisiana College to see the play, as the actor transported the crowd back to Lewis’s living room in Oxford, England. Because LC’s Martin Performing Arts Center was standing-room-only, 75 others assembled in Bolton Chapel to watch the presentation via live feed. From an upholstered armchair, Payne illustrated some of the occurrences that marked the life and work of Clive Staples Lewis. Far from a thorough biography, Payne relies on a relaxed and eloquent monologue to unfold the reasons behind Lewis’s inspiration, his personality, and his faith. He, with his acting, invites every attendant to participate in a fictitious conversation with the deceased storyteller. The British actor appropriates the novelist’s memories, sharing Lewis’ experiences with the public as if they were his. Speaking in the first person, Payne recalls Lewis’s childhood and his … [Read more...]

By Message Staff NEW ORLEANS – Of the books New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary professor of evangelism Preston Nix owns, his copy of Billy Graham’s “How to be Born Again,” autographed by the late evangelist, stands out as a favorite. Though he doesn’t look at the book often, Nix plans on pulling out the copy soon to reflect on the gift sent to him by the famed evangelist. When Hurricane Katrina made landfall in August 2005, a library of books collected during his 30-year career as a pastor was destroyed. Nix’s sister knew how much he admired Graham and wrote the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to request an autographed book be mailed to her brother. By September, Nix was surprised not only with the autographed copy of the book but also a box of books from Graham’s personal library. “The very fact they would take the time to do it in the midst of all that was happening to me was really comforting,” Nix told the Baptist Message. “It was such a special honor to receive that from the world’s greatest evangelist. The fact he would take the time to do that and go beyond to send me books from his library speaks volumes about who he was. My heart is saddened for us but grateful for him, that he’s in glory … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LC News PINEVILLE - The atheist-turned-Christian, Clive Staples (CS) Lewis (1898–1963), is regarded by evangelicals as one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century, and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. His 30-plus books continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. Many consider his magnum opus to be “Mere Christianity." “The Chronicles of Narnia” have sold more than 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures. Louisiana College will feature CS Lewis personified by British actor David Payne, who has portrayed Lewis in the play, Shadowlands. Payne is touring the US and will present “An Evening with CS Lewis” at LC’s Martin Performing Arts Center, February 22 at 7 p.m. Thousands have attended his 500-plus performances, which have won Payne numerous accolades. “Of the many conferences and events we have brought to CenLa in the last few years, this portends to be one of the most significant,” said LC President Rick Brewer. Brewer established the CS Lewis Honors Scholars program at LC because “Lewis was such an advocate for clear-thinking and writing about Christianity and living to emulate its figurehead Jesus … [Read more...]