By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Louisiana State Sen. Gerald Long challenged students, pastors and community members to become difference makers and shape the culture in Louisiana and beyond during the second annual Values and Ethics Series. “What are you willing to die for?” Long said during a panel discussion on religious liberty at Louisiana College Oct. 9. “There’s got to be something in your life far more than just the everyday ordinary things that we do. I challenge you to look deep within and find that thing that can be a game changer and can touch the lives of people for years to come.” A state senator from District 31 since 2007, Long said the concept of government is biblical, grounded in Romans 13. Because of that, Christians are needed to be salt and light. “We need men and women who are willing to step up and enter the public arena of public service,” said Long, a member of First Baptist Church in Natchitoches. “There is not a more noble cause than when men and women say I want to serve for the right reason; I want to be a game changer.” He said if a Christ follower accepts the call to politics, the temptation persists to establish one’s position based on party affiliation. However, … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller. LC News PINEVILLE  (LCNews) – Louisiana College honored Simon W. Tudor during its annual Founders Day celebration March 6 that included the unveiling of a historical marker at Tudor Hall that houses male students. A generous benefactor to Louisiana College who served as president of the trustees, Simon Tudor was recruited in 1910 to initiate the athletic program at LC. While attending LC, Simon Tudor was athletic director and coached the football, basketball and baseball teams. Following in Simon’s footsteps, grandsons John Tudor of Alexandria, played for a Final Four LSU Tiger basketball team in 1981; and energy investment banker and CEO of Tudor, Pickering & Co., Houston resident Bobby Tudor was a basketball standout at Rice University, where he graduated in 1982. He also married LC student Ollie Beall, the daughter of one of the college’s founders. Several other notable members of the Tudor family traveled from across Louisiana and Texas to attend the celebration, where grandson attorney Mike Tudor shared a life sketch of Simon. At age five, Simon worked the tobacco fields of Kentucky. As a young adult, he rode a horse to Georgetown College, where his athletic prowess ultimately led him to … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ZWOLLE (LBM) – Adelyn Penfield experienced a double blessing during her recent baptism, when both of her grandfathers simultaneously baptized the eight-year-old inside the First Baptist Church, Zwolle, worship center. For Adelyn, the day in late July was “special and unforgettable.” For the two grandfathers, the event marked the first time they baptized a grandchild together, a rarity they do not take for granted. “It’s neat to see your granddaughter coming in there for baptism,” First Zwolle Pastor Jerry Penfield said. “It’s hard to hold back your tears of joy. She was so excited and was fired up, which made us pretty proud grandfathers.” Fellow grandfather Steve Neesley, who recently retired as pastor of the Church at Marksville and is a chaplain for a hospital in Alexandria, said baptizing Adelyn brought back fond memories of leading her to repent for salvation the month before. During his visit to her home in Many, she said she wanted to take that step of faith, Neesley said. “She walked in and said, ‘Paw Paw, I’ve been thinking of getting baptized,’” he recalled. “I asked are you ready to ask Jesus in your heart and she said, ‘Yes.’ She was just ready. I got to be … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Louisiana Baptists will be operating in 2018 with its leanest Cooperative Program budget in 20 years. During a Sept. 26 meeting at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth, the Executive Board approved the Business and Finance Committee’s 2018 financial plan based on Cooperative Program contributions of $19,507,905, a decrease of $535,426. Cooperative Program projections are based on actual receipts from August 2016 thru July 2017. The allocation formula for distributing Cooperative Program gifts between the Southern Baptist Convention and Louisiana Baptist causes remains unchanged, with 63.26 percent supporting ministries in the state and 36.74 percent forwarded to fund national entities. This equates to $12,340,701 in Cooperative Program funds for Louisiana Baptist missions, a decrease of $338,710 from 2017. “Our churches and our members continue to face difficult financial challenges,” David Hankins, Executive Director for Louisiana Baptists, told the Baptist Message. “The continued energy recession coupled with last year’s floods have significantly impacted our churches and in turn, us. “Congregations have had to adapt and so have we,” Hankins … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer MONROE – For the first time since starting its off-campus foster care ministry five years ago, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home has surpassed the benchmark of placing 100 children in foster care in a one-year period, and officials are asking more Louisiana Baptists to open their homes to foster children. While the milestone is worthy of celebration, Children’s Home President and CEO Perry Hancock said during the trustees’ Sept. 22 meeting that the potential exists to reach even more children and families with the Gospel through this home placement ministry. “With great need there is great opportunity,” Hancock said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in the next generation. If we had more Louisiana Baptists open their homes for foster care, we would make a big difference in this coming generation in Louisiana.” Through the end of September, 100 children were on-campus residents and 102 were in foster homes. This increase is due in part to Connect 1:27, a network that assists churches with the development of foster and adoption ministries and that works with Christian families interested in serving as foster and adoptive parents. Connect 1:27 offers … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Much like Nehemiah did with careful planning to build the wall in Jerusalem, Louisiana Baptists must continue plotting a course to shore up its various ministries at the half-way point of a seven-year initiative to reach the state with the Gospel by 2020. Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director David Hankins gave an update during the Sept. 26 Executive Board meeting on the progress toward the goals of the President’s 2020 Commission Report, sharing good news about what had been achieved so far and offering observations about what is still needed to complete the work. Hankins said he is confident Louisiana Baptists can have great victory in the end, as long as they do not violate their convictions, compromise the truth or strive to please man over God. “We recognize that our tasks are spiritual, and we will not be successful unless God blesses us with His power,” Hankins said during the meeting. “We are not attempting to outwit the world. Strategies and studies are useful tools but they are no substitute for God’s Spirit bringing grace, mercy and revival. We must continue to give ourselves to prayer for spiritual renewal in our state.” Adopted by messengers … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – With rising enrollment that includes a record number of freshmen on campus, Louisiana College President Rick Brewer had much to be thankful for during the recent Executive Board meeting. “We are preparing graduates and transforming lives at Louisiana College,” Brewer said. “We love our job. We love our students, faculty and staff. We love and thank you for your support through the Cooperative Program. You are there when students’ lives are changed and when things happen for the kingdom, investing in the future.” He reminded Executive Board members that the goal of the school’s Vision 2020 plan is to have an enrollment of 1,500 students by that time. Currently, they stand at 1,210 for the fall semester, the second consecutive year of an increase. Brewer also celebrated that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has awarded the school four initiatives, which include a Master’s in Nursing, Master’s in Social Work, Bachelor’s in Computer Science and the ability to offer any course online. “We praise the Lord for what’s happening, what He’s doing and what’s to come,” he said. “It’s all part of the plan and what God’s leading us to do … [Read more...]