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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Baby bottle fundraiser on record pace

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – CENLA Pregnancy Center supporters are celebrating a successful start to the annual baby bottle fundraiser, buoyed by the news of a record pace in giving. Since January, 19 churches and groups have raised $38,000 through donations collected in baby bottles, surpassing last year’s total of $25,000. Another 11 churches and groups indicated they, too, will participate this year, causing CPC Director Claire Lemoine to suggest that donations could exceed the all-time high of $50,000 that was collected in 2018, the first year CENLA Pregnancy Center was fully operational. Lemoine told the Baptist Message she briefly considered opting out of the baby bottle fundraiser this year because so many people are struggling financially due to the pandemic’s economic impact. Instead, she said, she was moved to proceed, and since her staff began reaching out in December, the response by churches has been overwhelming. “The Lord showed me late last year that people were ready to do something because so much has been absent from their lives that they knew before the COVID protocols set in,” Lemoine said. “Once the donations started coming in, God was affirming that we … [Read more...]

Louisiana College hosts 5th Annual God in Workplace March 22nd

By Elizabeth Christian, LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews)– Best-selling author Jay Richards will address “Money, greed and God: the Christian case for free enterprise” during Louisiana College’s annual God in the Workplace series March 22. Richards, an assistant research professor in The Busch School of Business and Economics at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., is the 2010 Templeton Enterprise Award winner who has written numerous books including “God & Evolution,” “The Privileged Planet,” and “The Human Advantage.” “Louisiana College’s 5th Annual God in the Workplace Lecture Series brings to the forefront the significance of the intersection of Faith and Work,” LC President Rick Brewer said in a news release. “As God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) we understand the role of the Christ follower in the marketplace is to be a wise and faithful steward of people, projects, time and resources. Jay Richards will effectively challenge and encourage participants to better understand the need to be equipped with an apologetic which ‘contends for the Faith’ (Jude 3) in the midst of a turbulent time.” Richards noted that “free enterprise and business are often blamed for all manner of social ills. Like all … [Read more...]

Edwards calls for day of prayer for those lost to COVID-19 March 14

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Gov. John Bel Edwards has asked Louisianans to join him on Sunday, March 14, to pray and remember those in the state who have died from COVID-19. “Sunday marks a year since the first confirmed COVID-19 death in Louisiana, and, sadly, there are thousands of empty seats at churches, Sunday dinners, family celebrations, homes, businesses and schools all across our state,” Edwards said in a news release. “As we mourn, I am calling on all Louisianans to join me and Donna on Sunday for a moment of prayer or remembrance for those we have lost and their families and friends who need our support now more than ever. “We have lost far too many mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers and daughters and sons from all races, religions and creeds,” he continued. “We owe it to all of them to protect ourselves and each other as best we can to continue to slow the spread of COVID and prevent even more deaths as we work to end this pandemic.” Louisiana confirmed its first COVID-19 case on March 9, 2020, and the first death five days later. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, 9,812 Louisianans have died and 435,514 have tested positive for the virus as of March 10. Last … [Read more...]

LC, SWBTS sign articulation agreement

By Elizabeth Christian, LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) – Adam W. Greenway, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, signed an articulation agreement on March 4 with Louisiana College President Rick Brewer that will allow students to apply college credits to a seminary degree. “This is a win-win-win for Louisiana College and Southwestern Seminary—and it’s a win for students,” Greenway said during LC’s chapel service. “In light of the shared commitment between our two institutions to prepare men and women for gospel ministry, this agreement helps students get quality theological education and expand opportunities for greater gospel effectiveness. We look forward to how this partnership will benefit students and the kingdom.” The memorandum of understanding between the two Southern Baptist institutions will allow LC graduates to earn their seminary degrees more quickly to pursue God’s calling on their lives. “Students who successfully complete select senior-level courses in LC’s Missions and Ministries program may receive at least 15 credit hours toward the Master of Divinity Degree Program at SWBTS,” Brewer said at the signing. “This will save students time and money.” Brewer said this … [Read more...]

Your brown bag miracle

By Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBC) - Over the last year we’ve been asked to cut back on most everything – time with family, trips to restaurants, retail establishments and public gatherings. During the recent winter storm we’ve been asked to cut back on our power usage, water usage and more due to the demand on the system. While our infrastructures may be limited in their ability to meet currents demands, I’m reminded that God’s resources are not. Take the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 in John 6. From nothing, Jesus fed the multitudes! He does that which otherwise seems impossible. Like the other miracles, this miracle confirms who Jesus is, confirms what others say about Him, and what He said about Himself. This miracle appears in all four Gospels so I believe God is trying to communicate something of importance if we’ll take a moment to reflect on this truth. If other miracles communicate “nothing is too big for God” (and this miracle stands in agreement with that) this miracle reveals “nothing is too small for God.” We need to be reminded of that sometimes – maybe even today. Roofs are leaking, pipes are bursting, no electricity, no water—all small problems on the global scale, but still very real, especially … [Read more...]

Boys & Girls Club’s Youth Legislature coming to LC campus March 10

By Elizabeth B. Christian, LC News PINEVILE, La. (LBM) -- Louisiana College will host the Boys & Girls Club’s Youth Legislature on campus March 10 in Granberry Student Center. More than 50 middle-schoolers from north and central Louisiana will be on campus between 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. participating in this annual mock legislative session. “I'm excited about being on Louisiana College campus for the first time,” said Paula Braud, Youth Legislature program director. COVID-19 restrictions prevented the event from being held in its normal location, the Old State Capitol in downtown Baton Rouge. “Thanks to State Sen. Glen Womack, State Rep. Mike Johnson and President Rick Brewer,” Braud added, “we were able to bring some of the middle school students from north and central Louisiana together for this mock legislative session.” Brewer is excited to have these future Louisiana leaders on campus. “Hosting future leaders at Louisiana College is consistent with the equipping of future leaders that takes place here daily,” Brewer said. “The mission of Louisiana College compels us to prepare students for “lives of learning, leading, and serving,” which certainly aligns with the focus of the Youth Legislature. “ Braud … [Read more...]

Edwards loosens COVID-19 restrictions, moves Louisiana into Phase 3

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana, which has been in Phase 2 of reopening the state’s economy since Nov. 25, will move into the next phase on March 3. Gov. John Bel Edwards, during a news conference March 2, said while the mask mandate will remain in place and social distancing encouraged, churches will be allowed to operate at 100 percent capacity and restaurants, malls and most other businesses can accommodate customers at 75 percent capacity. The new order will remain in effect until it expires at the end of the month. Sporting venues can hold 50 percent capacity, and gatherings at indoor centers should not exceed 50 percent occupancy, up to 250 people. Conventions, conferences, fairs and festivals also may operate at up to 50 percent capacity. Bars in all parishes will be authorized to open for indoor service up to 25 percent capacity, and at 50 percent if a parish has a positivity rate of 5 percent or lower for two consecutive weeks. “We are currently moving in the right direction and have been for several weeks now,” Edwards said. “And certainly, we are all gratified for that.” The news comes a day after the state surpassed 1 million administered doses of COVID-19 vaccines, … [Read more...]

Are you ready to pray?

By Stewart Holloway PINEVILLE, La. - I’ve heard people say, “If that doesn’t light your fire, your wood is wet.” I would say that about yesterday. It’s been a while since I had a 15 1/2 hour Sunday and was so jazzed when I got home that it was hard to come down. But yesterday was that. First, we had baptisms in both services. In the first service, I baptized a father and daughter. That kind of baptism is always extra special, especially when the little girl says, “Yes sir!” with joy and certainty when I ask, “Have you trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?” Second, in our second service, we honored a young man who made a difference in a kid’s life. That moment was moving as our entire congregation stood and clapped, some wiping tears from their eyes. Third, we had our highest worship attendance since the shut down a year ago, falling just twenty-five people short of pre-Covid attendance. It was also good to see even more of our people back for the first time in a year. Every Sunday is like a homecoming now! We had powerful worship services. I got a text from one person watching online that simple read, “Glory!” People left saying, “I felt the Spirit today” and “I feel like I’ve been to heaven.” Fourth, … [Read more...]

‘Equality Act’ passes U.S. House, threatens religious freedom, women’s rights, unborn

By Baptist Message staff WASHINGTON, D.C. (LBM) – The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed, Feb. 25, the Equality Act, a bill that would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to protect people from discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. However, critics of the bill contend it poses a serious threat to religious liberty and women’s sports as well as the unborn. The legislation “expands the definition of public accommodations to include places or establishments that provide (1) exhibitions, recreation, exercise, amusement, gatherings, or displays; (2) goods, services, or programs; and (3) transportation services. The bill allows the Department of Justice to intervene in equal protection actions in federal court on account of sexual orientation or gender identity.” Meaning, the bill could force females to share locker rooms and restrooms with biological males, whether transitioned or not. National Right to Life posted on their Facebook page that the Equality Act contains language “that could be construed to create a right to demand abortion from health care providers, and likely would place at risk the authority of the government to prohibit taxpayer-funded abortions.” Three Republicans … [Read more...]