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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LCU named safest campus, best value in Louisiana

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University has been named the safest college campus and the best value in the state of Louisiana by Niche.com. Niche.com released its 2025 list of Best Colleges last week. Niche.com is a rating and review website for facets of the college experience. In the last several years, LCU has committed to providing an increasingly safe campus for students, faculty, staff and visitors. Three Homeland Security grants awarded to LCU have allowed for additional campus lighting and surveillance. “Over the last five years, LCU has invested over $450,000 in safety and security upgrades thanks to grants from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness through our FEMA partners,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Henry O. Robertson. “Additional funding through the Union Pacific Railroad Foundation has provided key components for enhancing our abilities to deter, detect and defend the campus community.  We are honored that the investments, training and care LCU has placed as a strategic priority are recognized by a national organization.  Our students are always number one with all our safety and security … [Read more...]

LCU to hold Spring Preview Day Feb. 15

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University will offer high school students information about what opportunities await them at its annual Spring Preview Day, Feb. 15. All high school students in public, private and home school are encouraged to preregister to attend the event on campus from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration the day of the event will be at 8:30 a.m. Students and their parents will meet with faculty and current students and learn about academic programs, athletics and extracurricular activities. Attendees also will hear from current students about their experiences in major fields of study and what it is like to be a Wildcat. Interested students should sign up at the Preview Day registration form. Students who attend Preview Day will receive free lunch and LCU merchandise. All students who pre-register for Preview Day will have the $25 application fee waived. … [Read more...]

LCU alum admitted to U.S. Supreme Court Bar

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University alumna Brittany Jones has been admitted to the esteemed U.S. Supreme Court Bar. She graduated from Louisiana Christian University in 2104 with a degree in history before attending Regent University School of Law. “I have already submitted briefs to the Supreme Court protecting women’s spaces and opportunities, promoting life, advancing age verification for pornography, and against government overreach,” Jones said. “I will continue to advocate for these issues and other First and Fourteenth Amendment cases.” Jones serves as the director of Policy and Engagement of Kansas Family Voice and the general counsel for Kansas Family Foundation. She has worked to protect women’s opportunities in sports and other spheres. “I have advanced laws to promote a culture of life to support moms and protect babies in the womb,” she said. “I have also worked to protect children from radical ideologies and from online pornography.” She also works to promote parental rights and educational freedom for all families. Brittany got her start in politics when she was in elementary school and has been actively involved in campaigns, state government and grassroots … [Read more...]

LCU social work department hosts first Continuing Education Series

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University's social work department hosted its first Continuing Education Series, Jan. 31, with more than 100 social work alumni, field supervisors and community social workers in attendance. Graves stressed how important it was for LCU to make the series affordable and accessible to all levels of social workers, including current graduate students who attended for free. CEUs are required for all licensed social workers. Ten in-person CEUs are required annually and can be difficult to find in the community, said Vanessa Graves, LCSW-BACS, MSW field director and associate professor. “We wanted to say thank you to all of the social workers in the local and surrounding areas of the state who have supported our BSW and MSW programs whether as former students and now alumni, serving as field supervisors, and/or networking with us as fellow social work professionals,” Graves said. Anxiety disorders and self-care was the topic of the afternoon session. “These [anxiety] disorders are rapidly increasing and currently the most diagnosed mental disorder in the United States,” Graves said. It is important as social workers who serve and treat individuals with these … [Read more...]

Convergence media students attend, win at SEJC

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University convergence media and public relations students participated in the Southeast Journalism Conference at Mississippi State University in Starkville over the weekend and brought home several awards.  Nine students attended and participated in on-site competitions against students from other universities across the Southeast. Danny Cobb and Adán Wright placed third in TV sports.  In addition, Best of the South awards were given to the best student submissions representing published and broadcast works of journalism for 2024. The following students were recognized:  Kai Stone – TV hard news reporter, 4th place; TV feature reporter, 4th place; Cayden Walls – TV feature reporter, 5th place; and Wildcats Media sports podcast – Best audio program, 3rd place. SEJC includes 25 colleges and universities in the Southeast and is open to all schools in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. … [Read more...]

Evangelism 101 (Part 1): The heart of soul winning

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Evangelism truly is a matter of the heart for both the soul winner and the lost soul. Indeed, without both hearts surrendered to the leading of the Holy Spirit, any sharing of the Gospel will be fruitless. Regardless of how eloquently or emotionally a personal testimony is articulated by a believer, unless God is making His appeal through the believer (2 Cor. 5:20) and the unbeliever’s spirit has been prepared by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 7:10), it is all for nought. Consider 2 Chronicles 7:14 which states “if My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Too often, Christians read this passage and immediately presume that they must fall prostrate in prayer or seek a solemn assembly with others. But when read in context, God is calling us to be “humble.” It is from this condition of the mind, the heart and the soul that we pray and seek His face. Then, in response to this spiritual state, He responds to listen, forgive and heal. Indeed, the Bible tends to define all spiritual processes in … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Baptist Message provides churches an opportunity to share with other Louisiana Baptists an upcoming revival, homecoming, new pastor, new staff member, a community outreach, or a concert in Louisiana Notables. To place your event in the paper, send your information (who, what, where, when, time) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. Please submit your information four weeks prior to the event to insure placement in the Message. ON THE MOVE Marty Black is the Director of Missions for the Concord-Union Baptist Association. Robert Grafton is the new worship leader at the First Baptist Church, Bernice CRUSADES Bayou Macon Baptist Associational: Senior Adult Revival, February 24-26, 2025, 10 a.m. with a meal served after. Guest Speaker: Ron Burch. Worship Leader: Mark Lanier. February 24, Trinity Baptist Church; February 25, First Baptist Oak Grove; February 28, First Baptist Church Kilbourne. Searcy Baptist Church, Trout: LaSalle Parish Rally, February 1, 2 p.m. Pastor: Steve Jensen. REVIVAL ReFirst Baptist Church, Haynesville: Spring revival, February 2-5, 2025, Evangelist: Sam Moore. Pastor: Rob Burns. Bellevue Baptist Church, Jena: Spring Revival, February 2-5, Evangelist: … [Read more...]

LCU Day of Prayer set Feb. 2

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Just weeks before the board of trustees could announce their recommendation of a finalist to be the next president of Louisiana Christian University, Louisiana Baptists have been asked to set aside Feb. 2 as a day of prayer for the search committee, the pool of candidates and school. "I am so grateful for this focus of prayer among Louisiana Baptists for our school as we move closer to recommending our next president to serve and lead Louisiana Christian University in the years to come," LCU Presidential Search Committee Chairman Tommy Kiker, also pastor of East Leesville Baptist Church, told the Baptist Message. Established after a vote by messengers during the 2024 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, the special day will focus on specific needs for higher student enrollment, continued financial provisions, wisdom for the presidential search team; and strength and wisdom for Acting President David Jeffreys. Since June 2024, LCU has conducted a nationwide search for the 10th president of the nearly 120-year-old institution; and the search committee has received applications and recommendations from alumni, community members and a … [Read more...]

‘Pause’ retreat set Feb. 7-8 for pastors, wives

By Baptist Message staff WOODWORTH, La. (LBM) – Pastors and their wives are invited to attend a weekend of encouragement, inspiration and wellness awareness during the third annual “Pause” retreat, Feb. 7-8, at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center. The event will feature encouraging messages from John Sullivan, former Florida Baptist State Convention executive director; Diana Swift, the wife of Louisiana Baptist Pastoral Leadership Strategist and be inspired from God’s Word.” Participants can choose hotel-style lodging and meals ($210), RV space with hookups and meals ($155) or commuter rate with meals ($140). Registration will begin 3 p.m., Feb. 7, with the retreat’s first session scheduled for 6 p.m. The retreat will conclude 1 p.m., Feb. 8. For more information, visit the Pause webpage. … [Read more...]

Louisiana Christian University’s first C3 event of spring scheduled for Feb. 4

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Robert “Bob” Stewart will be Louisiana Christian University’s guest speaker at its first Christ, Church and Culture event of the spring semester, Feb. 4. Stewart, who retired in 2024 as professor of philosophy and theology with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, will share more on "the world is messed up, but God raised Jesus from the dead." He is the editor of "The Resurrection of Jesus: John Dominic Crossan and N.T. Wright in Dialogue"; and "The Future of Atheism: Alister McGrath and Daniel Dennett in Dialogue". He has also authored "The Challenge of Unbelief: Understanding and Responding to Atheism (Studies in Christian Apologetics)" and "Memories of Jesus: A Critical Assessment of James D. G. Dunns Quest of the Historical Jesus." Stewart earned his master's degree in divinity and a doctoral degreee from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. The C3 event will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Guinn Auditorium. It is free and open to the public. … [Read more...]