By LC Sports Information Department PINEVILLE, La. (LCSports) – Louisiana College announced Wednesday that its athletic department has formally applied for admission to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), with an eye on joining the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) for all sponsored sports except football, which aims to join the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC). "After the better part of the past year analyzing the college's athletic program, in addition to numerous conversations with Reni Mason, athletic director as well as men's basketball coach, and with our Board of Trustees and other external stakeholders, we have decided to apply to the NAIA. This move was supported unanimously by the college's board of trustees," said LC President Rick Brewer. The Wildcats offered five points for the move to the NAIA: fit, fan engagement, regional alignment, a core footprint, and a level playing field for the student-athletes. "This move reflects a desire to provide our student-athletes an outstanding experience as we believe LC's athletic programs will be competitive in each sport with the genuine opportunity to compete for conference and national titles," Brewer explained. "The college's best … [Read more...]

By Message Staff FOREST HILL, La. (LBM) – Family, friends and members of Calvary Baptist Church in Forest Hill are mourning the loss of their Pastor Wayne Dunn, who died unexpectedly from prior medical complications, June 25. His wife, Kathy, said her husband was a testimony of how Christ can transform a person’s life. The two met in 1988, two years before Dunn accepted Christ during a battle with drug addiction. “He’s not dead,” she told the Baptist Message. “He just started living and is rejoicing today.” Born June 4, 1953, in Houston, Texas, Dunn accepted the call into Gospel ministry in 1990, and three years later became pastor of Center Hammock Baptist Church in Rapides Parish. Through the years Dunn also served as pastor of the First Baptist Church, Lone Pine, Laurel Heights Baptist Church, Winnfield, Macedonia Baptist Church, Effie, Good Hope Baptist Church, West Monroe, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Oakdale, Hopewell Baptist Church, Elizabeth and Calvary Baptist. Jessica Martin, a member of Calvary Baptist, appreciated Dunn’s desire to see his members grow closer to the Lord. “When I left church I knew that I was being led down the right path,” she said. “He would tell you he was the lowest of the low and … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- Due to recent spikes in COVID-19 cases across the state, the 2020 Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention will not be held in New Orleans on Tuesday, Nov. 10, as originally planned. Franklin Avenue Baptist Church was slated to host this year’s gathering in that city. The LBC Executive Board, as directed by Article XII of the LBC Articles of Incorporation, will recommend an alternative venue. That new site will be announced during the Board's regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at the Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth. According to Steve Horn, LBC executive director, the decision was prompted by the state’s extension of Phase 2 in its COVID-19 restrictions, coupled with New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell’s efforts to keep the city from repeating the health crisis it experienced earlier in the year. “Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue, and I visited via phone Tuesday and we determined in light of continued uncertainties relating to COVID-19 restrictions, it would be best for the church and the Convention to make alternative plans for this year’s annual meeting,” said Horn. “We appreciate Franklin Avenue’s willingness to host the annual gathering of Louisiana Baptists … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Morgan Moses was looking to restart her life when her uncle, Perry Moses, invited her in early March to attend Cross Branded Cowboy Church in Pineville. She found a loving church family and the Holy Spirit guided her to a spiritual rebirth that culminated with baptism on her physical birthday, June 29. Steve Speer, pastor of His Church in Pineville, performed the baptism because the church is without a pastor at this time. “I felt like this was meant to be,” she told the Baptist Message. “While I didn’t plan to be baptized on my birthday, God knew exactly what was going to happen and I’m so excited that he allowed me to share my joy with so many people.” Morgan Moses was among two new converts who participated in a baptism service during Cross Branded’s weekly Monday night service, which averages 70-80 people inside its worship center. COWBOY-STYLE MINISTRY While Cross Branded opens its services to anyone, it especially draws in those who are part of the cowboy culture. Started in 2008 as a mission of Pine Grove Baptist Church in Ruby, this cowboy-style congregation began with 20 people, and a year later grew to 30 members. Four years … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Baptist Message Executive Editor WASHINGTON (LBM) – Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday reversed his position from just a decade ago, siding with the four liberal justices on the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a Louisiana law, 5-4, that attempted to protect women involved in botched abortions. In 2016, Roberts dissented against the Court’s ruling against a Texas law that required abortionists to have admitting privileges at a local hospital in case of an emergency during an abortion – in order to ensure the doctor could provide continuous care for the patient. But the Texas law also included provisions regarding the abortion facility operations, requiring them to be regulated as an ambulatory care clinic with regard to required medical equipment and certifications. The Louisiana law, by contrast, only sought to make sure the person performing the abortion was able to stay with the patient throughout emergency and follow up care. Two cases in recent months highlighted the state’s case for requiring admitting privileges. In 2019 a woman who endured a botched abortion procedure at a Baton Rouge facility experienced complications that forced her to have emergency surgery which resulted in a total … [Read more...]

By Message Staff MCCOMB, Miss. (LBM) – Sue White was on the verge of tears when a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team showed up to remove trees that fell on her yard in McComb, Mississippi, after a tornado touched down April 22. Twenty-five disaster relief volunteers worked tirelessly for several days clearing the heavy debris left by the storm, and they left such a lasting impression that White felt compelled to mail in a $1,000 check as a gift of appreciation. In her letter to Louisiana Baptists, the 92-year-old White said the team was a gift from God and that she was thankful for their selfless acts of love. “I shall always remember how hard those people worked,” White wrote. “May God bless you as you continue to help other people.” Gibbie McMillan, state disaster relief coordinator for Louisiana Baptists, said disaster relief does not require nor ask for donations for work completed by teams. However, he said they accepted the gift for the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering because White wanted the money to help others in future disasters. “We don’t do it for the money,” McMillan said. “We do it because there is a need and we are there to show Jesus to others who are needing Him at that moment. I am … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LEESVILLE, La. (LBM) – Blake Frederick was leading the nightly family devotional time in early March when his eight-year-old son, Micah, presented an important request – he wanted to surrender his life to Christ and share his decision through public baptism. Overcome with joy, the family scheduled a meeting with the East Leesville Baptist Church pastoral leadership team and scheduled a date for baptism. However, much like other Louisiana Baptist churches around the state, attendance restrictions from the novel coronavirus pandemic delayed the baptism until a later date. The baptism was rescheduled and fell on Father’s Day. Blake Frederick, whose wife, Heather, is children’s minister at East Leesville Baptist, said he was ecstatic when he saw his son baptized June 21. “It wasn’t until the morning of his baptism that I realized it would be held on Father’s Day,” he told the Baptist Message. “As proud as I was of his obedience to Christ’s command to be baptized, I know that God the Father was even more overjoyed.” Micah Frederick is the fifth new convert, with an additional five more waiting, to participate in baptism at East Leesville Baptist since the church reopened for … [Read more...]