By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM)  – In a year when Louisiana Christian University is marking its 120th anniversary, the school celebrated the inauguration of Mark Johnson as its 10th president. The ceremony reflected a theme of service to the college, Louisiana Baptist churches and central Louisiana that has been the heartbeat of his first months as president. “My father, being a pastor for over 50 years in ministry and a grandfather in ministry, taught me at an early age, ‘Trust the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and then see what happens,'” (a reference to Proverbs 3:5-6) Johnson shared during the March 26 ceremony. “Because I was supposed to do three things, and the Lord was supposed to do one; He was supposed to direct my path. And so I stayed with that for my whole life. A lot of places where I could have spoken back, I decided not to because I was going to trust the Lord with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, in all my ways acknowledge Him and He would direct my path." The event, held inside Guinn Auditorium, emphasized the importance of faith, family, business partnerships and educational excellence … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) — For more than an hour, clergy and public officials prayed 6or Gov. Jeff Landry and other elected officials, the military, law enforcement and the state, March 26, at the Crowne Plaza Executive Center in Baton Rouge, unit­ing 1,020 legisla­tors, pastors, businessmen and others as the body of Christ just days after the start of the 2026 state legislative session. “It is an honor and pleasure to come before the Lord with you in prayer for our state this morning,” said Governor’s Prayer Breakfast Chair Brandi Cummins, a member with First Baptist Church, Covington. “What a privilege that we have been given by our Heavenly Father to bring our needs to Him in prayer. “He told us that He wants us to do this,” she continued. “He says, in His Word through the apostle Paul, not to worry about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, to bring our request to Him and His peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ, Jesus. “As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of this country’s independence, we are thankful to God, who is worthy of all worship and praise, and for the men and women who have made this freedom possible,” she said. … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) -  Hundreds of Louisiana Christian University students, faculty  and staff spent the afternoon of March 25 serving the CENLA community. SENDLA, which is a phonetic play on the familiar CENLA for Central Louisiana, is rooted in the call of Matthew 28, where Jesus commands His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations.” LCU President Mark Johnson began the university’s first-ever SENDLA event with a campus-wide abbreviated chapel service, encouraging participants before everyone split into community groups. “We are going out sharing the Gospel in many ways, shapes and forms,” he said. Participating organizations included First Baptist Church, Pineville; Philadelphia Baptist Church Horseshoe Drive, Alexandria; Family of Grace Church, Alexandria; the Hope House, Alexandria; Fostering Community, Alexandria; Food Bank of Central Louisiana, Alexandria; Main Street Mission, Pineville; Rapides Parish Library System; CENLA Pregnancy Center, Alexandria; and Faith Baptist Church, Tioga. Johnson led a group of about 30 students who visited with residents in the neighborhood surrounding the campus. “It was good to see young people leading the way,” he said. … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff HINESTON, La. (LBM) – Former Rapides Parish Sheriff  William Earl Hilton died from injuries sustained from a hit-and run incident March 23 leaving a huge void in Central Louisiana and law enforcement community in the state. According to the RPSO, their office received a call just before 1 p.m. on Monday that a hit-and-run had taken place in the Hineston area. Hilton was found with severe injuries and was airlifted to Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria. The release went on to say the suspect intentionally fled the scene. Deputies and troopers attempted to make a traffic stop on LA 28 near Leavines Road but the suspect refused and left the scene at a high rate of speed. Following a high-speed chase with speeds of more than 100 mph, spike strips were deployed  on LA 28 near Cloverleaf Boulevard in Alexandria where the arrest of the suspect took place without further issue. Hilton, who was a member of Homewood Baptist Church, Alexandria, served in law enforcement for more than 50 years, including 16 years as RPSO sheriff. He also was a member of  the Louisiana National Guard for six years, and was inducted into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame in 2006 and Louisiana Political Hall of … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ZACHARY, La. (LBM) – Women from across Louisi­ana will gather, April 17–18, at First Baptist Church, Zachary, for “Embrace,” a statewide Louisiana Baptist Women’s Missions and Ministry con­ference designed to encour­age each attendee to recog­nize her God-given value and calling. Bible teacher and author Melissa Spoelstra will be the keynote speaker for the two-day event. Teaching from the book of Numbers, Spoelstra will offer lessons on content­ment and trusting God in every season of life. Hosted by the Louisiana Baptists Women’s Missions and Ministry team, “Em­brace” will seek to equip women of every generation and background to grow spir­itually and engage in God’s mission through the local church. “Our desire is for women to leave ‘Embrace’ confident in their God-given value and equipped to live out their purpose,” Louisiana Bap­tist Women’s Missions and Ministry Strategist Christine Gill told the Baptist Message. “When women understand their calling and grow in their relationship with Christ, it strengthens families, church­es and communities.” General sessions will incorporate prayer, teaching and worship led by the FBC Zachary praise team. The event also will include the an­nual … [Read more...]