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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Pastors Conference speakers: Stand firm for Christ

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer MONROE, La. (LBM) – During the 2021 Louisiana Baptist Pastor’s Conference, Nov. 15, in the North Monroe Baptist Church, Monroe, speakers offered words of encouragement and conviction to pastors. TITUS WHITE Titus White, pastor of Grace Community Church, Baton Rouge, spoke during the opening session from Daniel 3:13-14, 25 to urge the crowd to stand firm on the Word of God. He pointed to the faithfulness of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, who refused to bow to the image of gold made by King Nebuchadnezzar. He said they were brave in the midst of captivity, united in the midst of conformity and safe in the midst of captivity – and their obedience was rewarded. “God has given them a platform of persecution to stand before men so God could get the glory,” White said. “We’ve got to understand God sometimes puts us in a platform of persecution that God can get the glory out of our lives. They did not bend or bow. They stood firm on the Word of God.” EDDIE WREN Eddie Wren, pastor of First Baptist Church, Rayville, reminded pastors they can find peace and joy in Jesus. Preaching from Philippians 4, Wren said if pastors are going to stand firm they must worship, … [Read more...]

Ken Ham highlights LCU’s 6th Annual Values & Ethics Series

By Elizabeth Clarke PINEVILLE, LA (LC news) -- Internationally renowned author and biblical apologist Ken Ham will be Louisiana Christian University’s speaker at its 6th Annual Values & Ethics Series on Nov. 10-11. Ham is the CEO and founder of Answers in Genesis, the Creation Museum in Cincinnati, and the Noah’s Ark Exhibit in Kentucky. He will speak on two issues of great currency in America today. Wednesday evening, he will present “Divided Nation: Cultures in Chaos & A Conflicted Church. Thursday morning, Ham will speak on “One Race One Blood: Dealing with ‘Races and Racism.” “We are pleased to host Ken Ham for the College’s 6th Annual Values & Ethics Series,” said President Rick Brewer. “Mr. Ham’s commitment to serious-minded Christianity is needed in our current cultural moment. At LCU, we believe there is no space for anti-intellectualism for there is nothing irrelevant to Christ and the Gospel.” Ham is well-known for emphasizing the relevance and authority of the book of Genesis to the life of the average Christian. The public is encouraged to attend this free event in Guinn Auditorium on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m., and Thursday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. … [Read more...]

Louisiana College changes name to reflect university status

By staff PINEVILLE, La. (LC News) – Louisiana College President Rick Brewer recently received unanimous approval from the board of trustees, upon a unanimous recommendation of its executive committee, to update the name of the institution to Louisiana Christian University to fit its elevated status. “It was wholeheartedly and unanimously supported,” Brewer said. “This is in keeping with our mission of being Christ-centered. It’s a logical move. We are not throwing away our past. We are recognizing this school has always been Christian.” He told the Baptist Message the official announcement will be made during the 2021 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Nov. 16, to be held in the North Monroe Baptist Church, Monroe, but that the university was issuing a press release now to encourage alumni and Wildcat supporters to be part of the celebration next month. The name "Louisiana Christian University" has been reserved with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office, he said, noting that the names "Louisiana University" and "Louisiana Baptist University" already were in use. Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Steve Horn lauded LC's climb to university status and said the elevation reflects well on the … [Read more...]

Operation Christmas Child a global outreach for local ministries

By Norm Miller, Message correspondent PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) - In 1993, Samaritan’s Purse launched Operation Christmas Child, and since 1993, Mary Deen has filled shoeboxes with gifts and grooming items to be sent to children around the world. “I can’t look at any box without thinking of the children,” she said. “I packed boxes with my own children to teach them to give, because some children never receive a gift of any kind. Now, some of my grandchildren are packing boxes. We can’t take the boxes to the children in faraway places, other people do that for us. I like to call it ‘missionary in a box.’” For the last five years, Deen has been the regional media spokesperson for OCC.  She attends Journey Church in Pineville, where she is the shoebox project leader. In 2009, OCC began including a 12-week discipleship course option called “The Greatest Journey.” Trained event leaders share the Gospel when children receive a gift box. Children who choose to follow Jesus are offered the opportunity to complete the study. The course equips them to become faithful followers of Christ and teaches them how to share their faith. More than 26.5 million children have enrolled in this course. Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes have … [Read more...]

LC Opera opens new season Nov. 4

By Wildcats Media PINEVILLE, La. (Wildcats Media) – LC Opera will open its 2021-22 season Nov. 4 with the comedy “Die Fledermaus.” The opera runs nightly at 7 p.m., Nov. 4-6 and Nov. 11-13. Set in 1899 at a New Year’s Eve ball in Vienna, Italy, “Die Fledermaus” begins with a celebration that ends “in a twisted turn of events.” The opera is co-directed by LC Professor of Music Kate Rawls and Artistic Director of Theatre Louisiana College Tabitha Huffman. LC Director of Bands Josh Davis will conduct a 14-piece orchestra. Tickets are $5 for LC students, faculty, and staff; $12 for senior citizens and non-LC students; and $15 for others. A rate of $10 is available for groups of 10 or more. For additional information on ticket purchases, call 318.613.4064 or visit the LC Opera website. … [Read more...]

Job fair to link upcoming LC graduates with local, national companies

By Elizabeth Clarke, Louisiana College communications PINEVILLE, La. (LC) – Louisiana College's Center for Calling & Career will host a career fair for soon-to-be graduating Wildcats, Nov. 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in the Granberry Conference Center. “We are excited to bring in over 30 local, regional and national businesses to promote job opportunities for our upcoming graduates -- and internships as well,” said CCC Executive Director Meredith Rennier. According to the school’s website, the center helps students seeking internships and career advice as well as information about jobs available that relate to their respective majors. Since it launched in August, CCC has held an on-campus student job fair as well as workshops in résumé writing and “LinkedIn 101.” For more information, email Meredith.Rennier@lacollege.edu. … [Read more...]

LC C3 speaker: Fight for religious freedoms!

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Freedom of religion is a long-held constitutional right, and it is up to the younger generation and others to fight for this important belief through thoughtful and civil engagement, Brittany Jones said during Louisiana College’s Christ Church Culture (C3) event, Oct. 28. “I encourage you all as you seek to live out your life and go on from Louisiana College to think through ‘How can I meld what I have been taught here and meld my beliefs and my beliefs system but also approach issues with kindness and compassion and to engage our world well?’” Jones told LC students and community members gathered inside Guinn Auditorium. Jones made a special emphasis to address vaccine mandates by governments and for-profit corporations, and church closure orders during the pandemic. Jones, director of policy and engagement for Kansas Family Voice, made “The Case of Religious Freedom” at the second C3 event of the fall semester. Jones, an attorney, graduated from Louisiana College in 2014 and earned her law degree from Regent University School of Law. Her focus at Kansas Family Voice primarily is on religious freedom, pro-life, education choice and combatting … [Read more...]

Tornado is latest weather-related disaster to hit Lake Charles, SW Louisiana

By Baptist Message staff LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) – Members of University Baptist Church are grateful for God’s protection after a tornado passed by the building where they were holding a Bible study Wednesday, Oct. 27. Pastor John Astling told the Baptist Message that 15 members of University Baptist were meeting when the storm passed by the church Wednesday afternoon. While the damage at the church was limited to only a few downed tree limbs on its lawn, the Walgreen’s drug store located across the street from the church lost a portion of its roof and homes nearby sustained significant damage. Preliminary reports from the National Weather Service in Lake Charles indicated an EF-2 tornado (130 mph winds) touched down around 12:20 p.m., Wednesday. Around a dozen homes received significant damage and at least two people were injured. The tornado is the latest weather-related disaster to impact southwest Louisiana in a 14-month period. Hurricane Laura made landfall Aug. 27, 2020, as a Category 4 hurricane (150 mph winds) in Cameron. Then, on Oct. 9, 2020, Delta crashed ashore as a Category 2 storm (100 mph winds) in Creole, nearly 13 miles east of Cameron. In mid-February, an ice storm left residents without … [Read more...]

ICYMI: Highlights of Louisiana’s four proposed amendments

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM)—Louisiana voters are facing four constitutional amendments and there is confusion about how to vote on the four ballot measures on Nov. 13 (early voting will be held Oct. 30-Nov. 6). Below is a synopsis about each from various sources -- with an emphasis on information that has not been broadly highlighted. Amendment 1 Amendment 1 proposes to consolidate the collection of state, local and remote sales taxes in the state. It would change who is authorized to collect the taxes but not the taxes themselves. Currently, each parish designates a governmental entity to serve as the sole sales tax collector for it. The amendment would eliminate local collection and assign this power to an unelected state tax commission. Consequently, the process would be streamlined; but local governments would lose some of their independence. Additionally, the statutory rules and powers that would guide the tax commission have not been drafted yet. So, taxpayers would not know the specific extent and limits of the authority of the proposed tax commission until next year when lawmakers would subsequently draft legislation to outline those rules and powers. Amendment … [Read more...]