Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

NLBA prayer gathering: Seek God for revival

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer HAUGHTON, La. (LBM) – More than 300 members from 107 churches in the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association joined together, Feb. 4, to pray to Almighty God during the fellowship’s ninth annual “Call to Prayer,” according to organizers. Hosted by Eastwood Baptist Church, Haughton, the gathering brought together Christians of various ages and ethnicities to pray for law enforcement officers, the persecuted church, missionaries serving around the world, pastors and other church leaders. The event was marked by prayer from the worship center stage, in small groups around the room and by individuals who pleaded with God for revival in their community, state and nation. The evening also included a special message from U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, a member of Cypress Baptist Church, Benton. URGENCY TO SEEK GOD NLBA Associational Missions Strategist Lane Moore told the crowd that America is at a crossroads and needs a divine solution to the troubles of the world. “We are clearly in an uncertain hour all across this nation,” Moore said. “2023 was a very turbulent year in our world to say the least. We are obviously living in a more wicked and fallen … [Read more...]

Students equipped to share the Gospel at CEC

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Mark Robinson told students attending the Collegiate Evangelism Conference hosted by Louisiana Christian University, Feb. 2-3, that they are ambassadors for Christ on their respective campuses. “We’re the ambassadors that are carrying the message of reconciliation,” Robinson, Louisiana Baptist collegiate ministry team director, shared during the conference’s opening session inside Guinn Auditorium. “You are an ambassador and should tell people about Jesus. You’ve got the authority and you’ve got the name badge that says you belong to Jesus.” Citing Luke 19:1-10, Robinson told the students that Jesus saw Zacchaeus in the sycamore tree, called him by name, and in the end, Zacchaeus turned to Jesus. He said that just as Jesus took notice of Zacchaeus, He also takes notice of them. “But you may feel in your life, like nobody sees you,” he said. “They don't know what's going on. They don't know what's happening with my grandparents. They don't know my parents just split up. They don't know anything about what's going on in my life. Let me tell you the good news. Jesus knows us.” HEAR GOD Robinson’s message was part of the two-day program that … [Read more...]

Life March Central: Here for her

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – More than 250 Louisiana Life March Central participants braved a steady rain, Feb. 3, as they marched to show their support for all pregnant and parenting woman. Men and women, young and old, from various denominations and ethnicities joined together to make the journey from the Louisiana Christian University campus to Sacred Heart Church in Pineville. Sarah Zagorski, communications director for Louisiana Right to Life, reminded the crowd that while Roe v. Wade (a decision in 1973 that legalized abortion) was overturned in 2022, pro-life supporters must continue the fight for life. She also encouraged the crowd to follow public policy decisions made by the state legislature in its upcoming session that begins in March. “We’re very excited to see the progress we’ve already seen since the reversal of Roe vs. Wade,” she said. “It's important that even though Roe was overturned, we continue stepping up for women because there will always be unplanned pregnancies. There’ll always be crisis pregnancies and women will always need us.” The life march was the last of five held in the state over the past few weeks. According to LRTL officials, … [Read more...]

DeQuincy High senior awarded LCU’s 2024 Smith Scholarship

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - DeQuincy High School senior Jeri Vige won Louisiana Christian University's Smith Scholarship, Jan. 28. Vige, who plans to major in biology, won over 24 other competitors a scholarship that covers four-year full tuition, room and board. “We are pleased with the significant response received this year, demonstrated by a major increase in the number of Smith Scholarship participants,” said LCU President Rick Brewer. “Parents and students region-wide recognize the value of a Christ-centered education that is relevant, relational and rigorous. We look forward to watching these students flourish at Louisiana Christian University in the years ahead.” Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Cheryl Clark said that even being selected to be part of this competition deserves high accolades. “To participate, each student must have earned 28 or higher on the ACT and submit a portfolio that contains past awards, recognitions, and accomplishments; two letters of recommendation; and an essay explaining the major features of a Christian Liberal Arts education,” she said. Portfolios are submitted to a panel of faculty judges who serve on the C.S. Lewis Honors Program Council. … [Read more...]

Wear red and work out: LCU to promote cardiovascular health in February

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University wants you to wear red on the first Friday in February to kick off a month-long focus on cardiovascular fitness. The American Heart Association recognizes the first Friday in February as “Go Red for Women” Day, as cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death in women. By promoting it, the AHA believes people will be motivated, educated, and supported in their journey to better health, and lives can be saved. In conjunction with AHA’s national campaign, LCU’s Department of Exercise Science will host twice-weekly workouts for faculty and staff to promote a healthy heart lifestyle. “Our ‘Step Up, CENLA’ program, funded in part by The Rapides Foundation focuses on creating a culture in which physical activity is the norm in our community,” said Sonia Tinsley, chair of LCU's Department of Exercise Science. “More than 30 percent of adults in Louisiana are not physically active. With February being American Heart Health month, this is a perfect opportunity to focus on increasing our level of physical activity to improve our cardiovascular health.” All fitness levels are welcome to participate. Interested … [Read more...]

Southeast Louisiana Pregnancy Center for Women and Children celebrates grand opening

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BOGALUSA, La. (LBM) – Pro-life supporters gathered Jan. 29 to celebrate the grand opening of the first pregnancy center in Washington Parish. The Southeast Louisiana Pregnancy Center for Women and Children, located at 502 Ave. F in Bogalusa, will be open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., though the hours of operation may increase in April. As the center grows, it will offer pregnancy decision coaching by trained advocates, free pregnancy tests, information about pregnancy options, maternity and other physical resources and post-decision support including parenting education. The center will also minister to women who make the wrong decision by providing post-abortive healing assistance as a way to show them the love of Christ. Center Executive Director Clelie Dugan expressed excitement about how the facility will lead to many saved lives in the area. “It is an honor to be chosen to make the dream of this mission a reality,” Dugan told the Baptist Message. “With God's help and guidance, we will serve the pregnant women and children of Washington parish and southeast Louisiana.” Dugan has 34 years of experience as a Registered Nurse and has a Ph.D. in … [Read more...]

Hymn sing to benefit Cenla BCMs

By Baptist Message staff TIOGA, La. (LBM) – Faith Baptist Church will host a hymn sing, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m., to bring together central Louisiana churches and benefit the Baptist Collegiate Ministries at Louisiana Christian University and Louisiana State University at Alexandria. The hymn sing will include reading of scripture, prayer and singing of hymns under the direction of Jeremy Christ, minister of music at Calvary Baptist Church, Alexandria. An offering will be collected for the two BCMs. “We will have memorable and powerful times of worship happen when deeply committed believers give voice in song to hymns about the greatness of God and the cross and the glories to come,” Faith Baptist Pastor Clark Palmer told the Baptist Message. “These moments happen when we intentionally gather for the specific purpose of worship in song. Solid truth sung with the human voice that God created for the purpose of giving glory to Him will be soul enriching.”   … [Read more...]

LCU’s Chou says experience enhances teaching immeasurably

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Textbook knowledge is one thing, but immersion is a whole different pallet of paint. Louisiana Christian University Art Professor Wangling Chou has been teaching art history and other foundational art courses, in addition to her specialty, ceramics, since 2008. Teaching students about some of the most important artists and periods in art history always is interesting, she said, but it was only informed through mass communication methods. Chou spent 17 days over the winter holiday break immersing herself in the works of the masters in Italy and France. ‘The experience has reinvigorated my passion for teaching the subject, reaffirming the importance of art history and art education,” Chou said. “Technology today allows us to see so many of these great works, but travel allows you to experience them, to feel the space, and that you can’t substitute.” While an international professor, hailing from Taiwan, Chou had only traveled extensively in Asia prior to this trip. “I’ve taught art history for many years, but to see the real thing, the real works, it made me understand so much more why so many are so important,” she said. “It fills so much of my knowledge … [Read more...]

Discipleship to be focus of LCU’s first C3 of 2024

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Robert Freeman will speak at Louisiana Christian University’s first Christ Church Culture (C3) event of the semester, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. Freeman, the founder of Robert Freeman Ministries, an Urbana, Illinois-based ministry that is a Christian voice in the national conversation about race, will discuss racial reconciliation and diversity from a biblical perspective. He also will share how discipleship brings true reconciliation. Freeman, who will speak the following day at LCU's chapel service at 11 a.m., has been actively involved in community work. He has held numerous leadership positions in diverse areas such as community development, economic growth, Habitat for Humanity, hospital patient care and hospital ethics. He also has served on the Governor’s Task Force on racism and has been invited to meet with several U.S. presidents. Additionally, Freeman has been a featured speaker in religious events around the country and has also participated in mission work in Mexico and Puerto Rico. Freeman received a Bachelor of Science from Delaware State University and a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School near Chicago. He also earned a … [Read more...]

Kelly: Pastors must deal with personal pain

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer RUSTON, La. (LBM) - Pastors must deal with personal pain so they will not move to the point of disconnection, Northeast and Morehouse Baptist Associational Missions Strategist Steven Kelly said during a time of tes­timony for the 2024 Loui­siana Baptist Evangelism Conference, Jan. 23. Kelly shared about how God helped him through the pain of deal­ing with the Aug. 21, 2018, death of his new­born grandson, Elijah Kelly. Elijah weighed four pounds, 13 ounces when he was born, June 6, 2018. Two days later, the doctors diagnosed him with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare condition that left the newborn with only three of four chambers of his heart working properly. In the ensuing months, the baby en­dured open-heart sur­gery, brain bleeding, kidney dialysis and countless injections at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. On the day Elijah died, Kelly was attending a conference. He received a call that he needed to come to the hospital and arrived in time to spend four hours with family members in Elijah’s room before he passed. Kelly said he did not become angry with God, but that he did have to deal with great pain -- a pain that he has minis­tered to many times … [Read more...]