ubmitted by philip on Fri, 04/04/2014 - 09:30 Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn shares the gospel with a nine-foot robot named Gigamaxx By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – As Steve Horn was talking to more than 330 young men and adults, a 10-foot robot entered the Tall Timbers conference center and made his way through an aisle of eager campers touching and high-fiving the machine. A few minutes later, Gigamaxx – the white robot that resembles what one might see in a motion picture – came face-to-face with Horn, who began sharing what he told the Royal Ambassadors moments earlier – the message of transformation through salvation in Jesus Christ. Horn, who is pastor of First Baptist Lafayette and Louisiana Baptist Convention president, said for transformation to take place, the boys must believe Jesus died on the cross for their sins, make a commitment to Him and continue to surround themselves with things of God. “There are other boys your age, folks at your school, people you play soccer and baseball with and even some adults that want to conform you in what they want you to be,” Horn told the youngsters attending RA Congress. “And it may not be anything at all like what God wants … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 04/04/2014 - 09:32 Thirty-seven Louisiana Baptists attended the recent Reaching and Unleashing Baby Boomers and Beyond Conference at the Baptist Building in Alexandria. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – To engage today’s older adult, churches must respond to the diversity among the older adult population. “We have to respond to the fact that this is a diverse group,” Amy Hanson said. “This isn’t a neat package. We’re talking about two different generations – builders and boomers.” A speaker, writer and consultant on reaching older adults, Hanson was the keynote speaker at the Reaching and Unleashing Baby Boomers and Beyond conference at the Baptist Building in Alexandria. Thirty-seven Louisiana Baptists from throughout the state attended the one-day conference. Hanson said older adults fit primarily in two groups – builders and boomers. Born before 1945, builders are loyal to an organization, dependable and commit to long-term endeavors, she believes. Born between 1946 and 1964, boomers are committed more to a cause, entrepreneurial and commit more to short-term endeavors, Hanson has found. Hanson said that churches wanting to reach the boomers must create ministries … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Editor Almost a year ago the Louisiana College Board of Trustees met on the last day of April. Though there were no public utterances, the rumor was LC President Joe Aguillard’s job was in jeopardy. The news prior to the LC board meeting was overwhelmingly negative in regard to Aguillard and focused on whistleblower allegations that he had misappropriated $60,000 intended for the Caskey Divinity and used the money on LC projects in Tanzania, Africa and had mislead the board about a $10 million pledge concerning a new building on the Pineville campus. An LC special committee was formed to investigate the finding of a law firm’s report in which the LC president was found to be guilty of the whistleblower complaints. The vote of the committee was leaked to Alexandria’s daily newspaper. The Town Talk reported the seven person committee found in favor of Aguillard by a vote of 4-3. The entire LC board met on April 30 and, after a ballot vote, Gene Lee, LC Trustee Chairman at the time, read a statement wherein he said the LC president had been “exonerated” of the whistleblower charges. The Town Talk was told the vote concerning the whistleblower complaint, which was taken during an executive session, was 16-13 in … [Read more...]

By Frank Page, President of the SBC Executive Committee On Tuesday morning (March 25) I had the privilege of speaking with Vyacheslav Nesteruk, president of the Baptist Union of Ukraine. A fellow Baptist who works in Ukraine helped facilitate the phone call and served as our translator. Vyacheslav is a faithful servant of Christ. It was a wonderful conversation between brothers in the Lord. During our conversation, I expressed my prayerful support for pastor Nesteruk and let him know that I would be calling on all Southern Baptists to pray for our Baptist brothers and sisters in Ukraine. Russia’s seizure of Crimea and subsequent military build-up on the border of Eastern Ukraine has serious implications beyond just the politics of the moment. This is a spiritual crisis of the highest order. After speaking on a number of points of mutual interest, we discussed specific prayer requests. Brother Nesteruk specifically asked Southern Baptists to pray for the following: n That there would be no war in Ukraine, but peace. n That there would be a sense of peace in the hearts of Ukrainian people, rather than a sense of unrest or anxiety. n For the economic situation, as sanctions imposed by Russia have already begun making life … [Read more...]

By Steve Horn, President of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Lafayette Dear Louisiana Baptist Family, By God’s grace, we have enjoyed a season of peace for several years in the Louisiana Baptist Convention. For that, we are thankful to the Lord. Recent developments associated with Louisiana College have apparently and unfortunately disrupted our peace. I pray, however, that this disruption will be for a brief moment. However, this moment is where we find ourselves, so what do we do now? We can let this crisis consume and divide us, or we can meet this crisis head on and pray to get through it quickly so that we move on to matters that are eternally infinitely more important. So, again, what do we do now? Respectfully, as your President of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, let me offer a few suggestions. First, we should pray. That goes without saying, but I am reminded that the Apostle Paul did not go without saying it. He implored the saints of his day to pray, and on one occasion, he urged them to pray without ceasing. We must pray urgently and authentically. We must also pray introspectively. The prayer of the Psalmist ought to be part of our daily prayers as he prayed, “Search me, God, … [Read more...]

TO THE EDITOR Being a Baptist, it saddens me concerning the recent conflicts, issues, and problems involving Louisiana College and Dr. Joe Aguillard. The TOWN TALK and The BAPTIST MESSAGE have and are reporting the problems. I appreciate these reports or news articles. It would be nice if Dr. Aguillard would present his views. That will help resolve these problems. Without resolution, this once great institution will continue to struggle. As Baptists, we need closure to the problems. Daily I pray for Dr. Aguillard, the administrators, the faculty, and the students that God would restore Louisiana College to its prominent role of educating the future Christian leaders. Jimmy Anthony Pineville … [Read more...]

To the Editor Once upon a time there was a small private Christian college.  Its stellar reputation was known far and wide. Her faculty was among the finest in the nation.  Her buildings were well-maintained. The student body was strong and proud and growing steadily. Students were proud of their school.  Her graduates were the cream of the crop.  Alumni were proud to say she was their alma mater. There was another Christian college.  Her buildings were in a state of disrepair.  A spirit of despair permeated the campus.  The best and brightest among the faculty had left for greener pastures. Students lived in fear of retaliation if they spoke up.  As a result, the student body was shrinking each year. Millions of dollars had been spent launching expensive new programs that never materialized, draining the coffers of valuable funds that could have been used to maintain the existing campus. Donors were alienated by the administration and took their millions elsewhere. Alumni and students tried to speak up. The administration ignored their cries – accusing them of trying to tear down the school. It should be painfully obvious that both schools are Louisiana College. The former was LC in her heyday. The letter is LC today. A … [Read more...]

To The Editor First of all, thank you for informing Louisiana Baptists about the disturbing chaos at our much beloved Louisiana College. An age-old quote states it rather poignantly: “The greatest friend of truth is time.” Maybe time is what it will take to overcome the ranting and railings which continue about circumstances that seemingly were handled appropriately by its Board of Trustees and by its President. From a lifetime of watching from the wings, I see the Evil One do anything to destroy the testimony of the College and continue to “dig up stuff” from the pit. It seems there is always someone who will help him dig. My pastor, Kris Chenier of Trinity Heights Baptist Church, preached last Sunday on Matthew 5 and having a heart like Jesus and on the law of grace. When offended, try to make it right and restore relationships, which is the basis of evangelism. Pastor Chenier asked, “What about the lost and dying world watching us when we are insulted, bullied, and attacked?” He said that our Christian witness and ministry must be above our individual rights. We must stand staunchly on the truth – facts, not fantasies. The lost and dying world will see and wonder how we are careful in retaliation by going the “extra mile” … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 04/04/2014 - 09:52 Michael Johnson, an attorney from Shreveport hired in 2010 to be the law school’s founding dean, resigned in Sept., 2012. By Kelly Boggs, Editor PINEVILLE – A recent report by Alexandria’s daily newspaper questions not only the fiscal health of Louisiana College, but also the school’s enrollment, especially as it relates to freshmen. Alexandria’s daily newspaper indicates both have seen better days. The Town Talk report included Information from LC’s most recent 990 tax form, which is from the fiscal year that ended July 31, 2012. The document reveals that while LC generated $29.2 million in revenue it had $30.5 million in expenditures which resulted in a $1.3 million deficit. The 990 form is an annual reporting return that federally tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS and is a matter of public record. The most recent LC report via Guidestar for fiscal year ending in July 2012. For the 2011 fiscal year LC’s 990 reflected a $3.9 million surplus but in 2010 the IRS document showed the college had a $3.6 million deficit and the 2009 report also indicated a shortfall of $3.6 million. The information concerning LC’s IRS records was obtained via the Internet site of … [Read more...]

Editor’s note:  The Alexandria Town Talk’s Leigh Guidry wrote this story in which she attempts to present both sides of the on going controversy at Louisiana College. The Town Talk has given the Message permission to reprint the article. PINEVILLE – The controversy surrounding Louisiana College has stirred strong reactions from alumni and others connected to the private Baptist school in Pineville, flooding social media sites and inboxes of members of the Board of Trustees. Although most alumni who have taken a public stand appear to be calling for board members to “restore” the college to its former state through a change in leadership and increase in transparency, LC President Joe Aguillard also has his supporters. “Begin the process of rebuilding the school to its former greatness,” Trey Qualls, LC class of 2007, wrote. “There is simply no excuse for how the College has been run into the ground in the last nine years under (Aguillard’s) ‘leadership.’” William David Ellis of Ben Wheeler, Texas, takes an opposite view. Ellis wrote on Facebook that the laying off of some employees after Aguillard began his tenure in 2005 was a way of addressing what Ellis called the school’s “history of liberal professors, who denied the … [Read more...]