By Rex Butler, Professor of Church History and Patristics at NOBTS In his book on contemporary martyrs, Faith that Endures, Ronald Boyd-MacMillan observed, “It is the devil, the demonic hatred that is behind all anti-Christian violence.” The devil is “waging his cosmic battle of spite against Jesus Christ.” The early Christians who faced persecution held that same view: that their ultimate enemy was not the Roman government or the mob but Satan. One account of persecution in the second century reported that “with all his strength, Satan fell upon us, giving us a foretaste of the future, unrestrained activity against us. The enemy used every means to goad his own subjects against the servants of God.” (The Letter of the Churches of Lyons and Vienne as preserved in Eusebius, Church History 5.1.5). In the summer of 177 A.D., persecution broke out against Christians in Lyons and Vienne in Gaul, a Roman region in modern-day southern France. This persecution was not instigated by an emperor’s edict, although the governor of the province oversaw the imprisonments, tortures, and executions, but the residents of these towns rose up in mob violence against their Christian neighbors. This hatred was fanned by false accusations of such … [Read more...]

By Archie England, Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at NOBTS   Question: My question to begin this New Year comes from a well-known text, Genesis 6, in which God instructs Noah to “make an ark.” How could Noah build an ocean-worthy vessel 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet tall? What technology existed to fell trees, mill lumber, shape and bore beams and joints, as well as caulk and trim watertight seams? Also, how did Noah “discover” the more specific details of beam sizes (2x12s or 6x6s, etc.), from the general details of Genesis 6:14-16? Finally, how long did this take?   Archie England responds: Genesis 5:32 informs us that Noah was 500 years and had three sons; Gen 7:6,11 states that Noah entered the ark on the 17th day of the 2nd month of his 600th year. This suggests that the ark was built within this 100-year period of Noah’s life. That’s the easy answer.  Sawing, drilling, hauling, and lifting technologies for that ancient age are unknown to us: accomplishments of later periods – the Tower of Babel, the  pyramids, the Sphynx, and other such wonders – do suggest that these ancients were far more “advanced” than we “moderns” are inclined to think. Nevertheless, Gen 4:20-22 indicates … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Editor   PINEVILLE – Information released recently on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) website indicated that the accrediting organization’s Commission on Colleges (COC) has placed Louisiana College on warning status.[img_assist|nid=7858|title=SACS|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=98|height=100]   As part of a regularly scheduled decennial review required of all accredited colleges, SACS determined on December 15 that its COC has modified the official status of LC to: “accredited by the Commission on Colleges; however, the institution was denied reaffirmation of accreditation and placed on warning for twelve months following its comprehensive decennial review.”  The warning status will be reevaluated in December 2012.   Information on the SACS website indicates the warning status is “the less serious of the two sanctions” (the other being probation) and is usually “levied in the earlier stages of institutional review.”   “Louisiana College is fully, 100 percent accredited, and will remain so,” LC president Joe Aguillard, affirmed in a press release. “A ‘warning’ is not a level of accreditation. This is simply a direction from our Commission on … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   PINEVILLE – Louisiana College was recently honored by U.S. News & World Report with the selection as one of the publication’s “Best Regional Colleges,” according to a news release on the LC website.   The recognition appeared in the September 2011 issue of U.S. News & World Report. LC was selected number 38 in the “Regional College South Rankings” according to the national publication’s web site.   “This is quite an honor for us. The fact that U.S. News & World Report included Louisiana College in its selection of ‘Best Regional Colleges,’ signals that our constant efforts towards business excellence are paying off. We are proud to be included in this recognition,” the news release said.   Following the publication of LC’s selection for U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Regional Colleges” list, American Registry seconded the honor and added Louisiana College to the “Registry of Business Excellence(TM).”     … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Special to the Message   [img_assist|nid=7861|title=Games at PreTeen Invasion|desc=Youth from 90 churches participated in games led by Oklahoma City, Okla.-based Kids Celebration, listed to high-energy music by Nashville, Tenn., recording artist Yancy, saw a performace by illusionist Drew Worsham of Pullman, Wash., and listed to a stirring message by Landon Dowden at the second annual PreTeen Invasion at Louisiana College.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=480]PINEVILLE – Landon Dowden has great hope for the next generation.   The senior pastor of the Church at Trace Crossings in Tupelo, Miss., and formerly pastor of CrossPoint Church in Baton Rouge, Dowden has traveled throughout the world spreading the gospel in such countries as the Bahamas, Chile, Germany and Mexico. He said he believes pre-teens are destined to do the same but it must start in their middle-school hallways and at home.   “Some people will challenge you to be a doctor, pro sports star or lawyer, and there’s nothing wrong with those,” Dowden told about 1,300 youngsters and adults during the recent PreTeen Invasion at Louisiana College. “Can I challenge you to do something really significant? Go where … [Read more...]

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor   [img_assist|nid=7863|title=Lifted in Faith Strongman|desc=A Lifted in Faith Strongman does a feat of strength to capture the crowds attention and afterwards presents God's word.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=640]BOSSIER CITY –Rolling up a frying pan?  Not exactly what comes to mind when you think of planting a ministry.  However, that is exactly how the Lifted in Faith strength team was born.   Today, that pan has become a symbol to five Southern Baptist men, a symbol of how God wants to mold them to accomplish great things for His Kingdom, which is more than they ever dreamed of.   “We take no credit for anything we do, or for any of the great results we have seen,” said Brad Hornback, founder of the group that has grown to include five men of extraordinary strength and a sold-out commitment to sharing Jesus.  During Lifted in Faith’s short two years, more than 5,000 people have made professions of faith in Jesus at one of their crusades or other events.   “All glory goes to Jesus,” Hornback said. “We are excited that He has allowed us a front row seat to seeing thousands of lives impacted and changed by the Gospel of Jesus … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Special to the Message   PINEVILLE  The Caskey School of Divinity exceeded expectations in the fall semester and spring looks even better.   When Charles Quarles Ph.D. was preparing for the launch of the divinity school’s fall 2011 classes he expected perhaps 30 students to enroll in the school, which is located on the Louisiana College campus. By the time the divinity school opened its doors, 56 students had enrolled.   Attendance has now risen to about 70 and Quarles said an enrollment of 100 for the fall 2012 semester wouldn’t surprise him.   “I feel very honored and blessed to serve as the founding dean of the Caskey School of Divinity and to have a hand in laying the foundation on which the school will build for generations to come,” said Quarles, founding dean of the Caskey Divinity School, Vice President of Integration of Faith and Learning, and Professor of New Testament and Greek at Louisiana College.   “I believe that the school is guided by a solid confessional standard,” Quarles continued. “We have a biblically-based mission statement, and a genuine sense of calling to address the spiritual needs of our state, nation and … [Read more...]

By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor   CANAAN, Haiti – Even as Southern Baptist disaster relief efforts wind down in Haiti, ravaged Jan. 12, 2010, by a 7.0 earthquake, the Louisiana Baptist Convention focuses its ongoing impact on the million-and-a-half people now living in what two years ago was a green field.   Initial plans include partnering with a church-multiplier national pastor, constructing a church and a medical clinic, and starting an orphanage, all in a part of the Haiti countryside that the people there named Canaan.   “We are intentionally making sure [the new strategy] is not a diversion from what we’ve done in the past with our facilitation of networks,” said Wayne Sheppard, LBC’s partnerships coordinator and executive assistant to the executive director. “But because of what the Florida Baptist Convention has already been doing in Haiti – since 1995 – we’re making sure our strategy works along with theirs.   “It’s still going to be our vision for Louisiana that we facilitate churches to do their own missions, but this is a little bit different direction in the sense that we are loosely partnering with Florida and as such have been assigned this part of Haiti,” … [Read more...]

[img_assist|nid=7868|title=Help for Zimbabwe|desc=About a dozen people participated Jan. 7 in an effort to pack and seal 950 boxes of goods, all of which will fit in a 40-ft. shipping container, to be sent as missions cargo to Zimbabwe.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=480]By Karen L. Willougby, Managing Editor   PINEVILLE – A teacher in a poor village in Zimbabwe writes in chalk on a wall. That’s been the type of “book-learning” students have had.   However, when a school in Grant Parish closed, they gave their books to Shepherd Ministries International (SMI), and those books were among the boxes of items packed one recent Saturday.   About 950 boxes will be needed to fit in one 40-foot metal container that will be loaded onto a cargo ship to sail to the southern African nation.   “We just try to do what we can,” said Ruth Craigo, a volunteer with the organization founded in 2001.   SMI president Arthur Mazhambe, who is also chairman and assistant professor of business in the Business Division at Louisiana College and a native of Zimbabwe, leads the seven-member board. He goes to Zimbabwe each summer to distribute the contents of the containers as well as to do … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message   ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES   Ben Green, new as pastor of Oak Hill Bastrop.   Rueben Weaver, new as pastor of Faith Bastrop.   Stephen Nutt, resigned as associate pastor of Cook Ruston.   Jackie (wife Joanie) Gestes, new as pastor of First Many.   Donnie Linson is the pastor of Bethlehem Oak Grove.   “Jimbo” Herring is the pastor of Goodwill Oak Grove.   Drew (wife Kimberly) Rivers, Todd (wife Megan) Strain, and Jeff Pate were ordained to the gospel ministry Jan. 18 at Calvary Alexandria. Pastor: David Brooks.   Jeremiah Kovacs, new as part-time youth minister at Mulberry Houma. Pastor: Steve Graves.   Chad Merrell, new as campus pastor of First West Fairbanks, launching Jan. 22 as a multi-site campus of First West Monroe. Pastor: John Avant.   Damon Kirk, new as minister of music at Tioga First Baptist. Pastor: Tim Hisaw.   Jackie (wife Joanie) Gestes, new as pastor of First Many.   Shawn Downhour, new as student minister at Bayou Oaks Monroe. Clyde Sanchez is pastor.       Needed/Giving   Part-time music minister needed at Cherry … [Read more...]