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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LCU’s Total Truth Tour to promote biblical worldview

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Christian University is going on the “Total Truth Tour” this spring offering information and resources to fortify a biblical worldview with student groups. Scheduled at four churches, the tour will feature guest speaker J.D. Hankins, student minister at First Baptist Church, Rayville, and music led by the LCU’s Elevate band: -- Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville, Jan. 25, 6:15 p.m. -- First Baptist Church, Lafayette, Feb. 15, 6 p.m. -- First Baptist Church, West Monroe, March 22, 6 p.m. -- Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport, April 19, 6 p.m. Citing a 2021 Barna study that found just 6 percent of evangelicals adhere to a biblical worldview, LCU President Rick Brewer said events like the Total Truth Tour are needed to help buck that trend. “Unfortunately, even among evangelicals in our churches, only a small percentage of youth subscribe to a biblical worldview,” Brewer told the Baptist Message. “We are finding more and more high school students who simply don’t believe in moral absolute truth. The tour will help make students not just aware of LCU but equip students to grow in a deeper understanding of biblical … [Read more...]

Scholarship launched in memory of LCU ‘poster child of vivaciousness’

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Emily Jean Rodgers would have been celebrating her 25th birthday this week as a member of Louisiana Christian University’s Class of 2020. Instead, her family and friends are sharing memories and pictures on social media — trying to make her first birthday since her death in September as joyous as possible. To that end, the Rogers family and her professor, Elizabeth Clarke, have established the Emily Jean Rodgers Memorial Scholarship to honor her memory and legacy at her alma mater. “Though Emily's heavenly homecoming has left an earthly gap in our family, we are forever grateful to know Emily is in the arms of Jesus because she asked Him to be her Savior at the age of 10,” said her parents, Jeri and Joey Rodgers. “We miss her light and fun and spunk tremendously, but we rejoice that she is whole and healthy at the foot of God's throne.” Clarke echoed the thought. “I couldn’t think of a better way to keep Emily alive on campus for years and years to come,” Clarke said. “Anyone who knew Emily—when you think of her, you think Jesus, her family and LCU. I want future students to know the name Emily Rodgers and aspire to be the shining example of a Christian—and … [Read more...]

Robertson named LCU associate vice president for academic affairs

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Louisiana Christian University history professor Henry Robertson has been named associate vice president for academic affairs. “Robertson brings to this position a keen intellect and commitment to providing scalable academic programs for our Christ-centered university,” LCU President Rick Brewer said. “Henry’s communication skills and knowledge of our state will definitely add value to this external initiative for LCU.” Robertson, who is the Hogan Family Board of Regents professor of history, has worked at LCU since 2006. During this time at the school, Robertson has served as associate professor, chairman of the division of history and political science, coordinator of institutional effectiveness, and coordinator of sponsored programs. In his new role, Robertson will be tasked with collaborating with local, state, national and international partners to develop pathways for academic partnerships and new programs. “I am delighted that Dr. Robertson is joining the administration in the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs as the associate vice president for academic affairs,” said Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Cheryl Clark. “He has a … [Read more...]

Make church planting evangelistic again

By Lane Corley A troubling trend I’ve noted among church plants in Louisiana. Since 2012, professions of faith are down 86 percent and baptisms are down 66 percent in Louisiana church plants. It’s not just church plants. The decline in evangelism outcomes is well-noted across North America. It’s most surprising among church plants, because church planting is supposed to be for the purpose of evangelism. Why the decline? Some possible reasons to note: Contacts and evangelistic contacts are down 52 percent. Church planters should aim for 200 contacts and 50 Gospel conversations per month. 2022 numbers were 81 and 20 per month. We reap what we sow. Sowing the Gospel broadly should be priority No. 1 for church planters. And these should multiply exponentially as team members are added and begin to learn the habits of evangelism and disciple making from the church planter. It’s definitely a changing missional landscape. Evangelism may be harder today than it was 10 years ago. The pace of evangelistic responses may have slowed. This is more reason to share the gospel more broadly than ever before. Ecclesiological issues have taken precedence. Our organizations, logos, websites, and by-laws are in better order than they … [Read more...]

Cotton Bowl: Tulane’s Anderson gives God the victory

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Typically, Nick Anderson is a vocal presence on gridiron as an all-conference linebacker for the Tulane Green Wave, but he was at a loss for words as he looked across AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, following a comeback win in the 2023 Cot[1]ton Bowl. Anderson registered five tackles as Tulane, the number 16 team in the nation, erased a 15-point deficit in fewer than five minutes to pull off a 46-45 upset of the 10th-ranked University of Southern California. According to the Athletic website, over the past five years, Football Bowl Subdivision teams were just 1-1,692 when trailing by 15 points with five minutes to play. A native of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Anderson played four seasons at Tulane. During that time, he amassed 283 tackles, 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. “God has always been the head of my life and my journey,” Anderson, who turned to Christ when he was five years old, told the Baptist Message. “My career has been through many trials and tribulations, but He has always shown true to his Word in covering me every step of the way. I’m blessed to be in this position and blessed to have been used as a vessel to help guide this team to a … [Read more...]

Westview sees spiritual revival among students

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DERIDDER, La. (LBM) – A spiritual awakening is gaining momentum among the students at Westview Baptist Church. Since November 2021, 17 students have decided to follow Christ at the Deridder congregation. Seven of those have been baptized since Sept. 18, 2022, and another seven are awaiting baptism in a church that averages 115 in Sunday worship. Most of the decisions took place at a 2022 summer camp held at the Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth and at the 2021 Youth Evangelism Celebration in Alexandria. “Our church is seeing a revival because of our students,” Pastor Jason Hoychick told the Baptist Message. “They are inviting their friends and some of them, along with their families, are getting saved. It’s creating an excitement in our congregation, who are experiencing first-hand that if you witness to your friends and invite them to come, you can reach many for Christ.” Meanwhile a renewed emphasis on discipleship is helping students grow deeper in their relationships with Jesus. Hoychick said the primary vehicle for discipleship has been a Wednesday night Bible study. However, he added that students have grown through other opportunities such … [Read more...]

Louisiana Notables

EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a Revival, Homecoming, a new pastor, a community outreach or a concert? The Baptist Message would love to share your church news with the rest of the state. It is very easy to do, just send in your information (who, what, where and when) to philip@baptistmessage.com or call 318.449.4345. To get your event in the paper, please submit your information three weeks prior to the event. ON THE MOVE Robert, wife Amanda, Davis is the new pastor at Maple Springs Baptist Church, Logansport. Chad Ballard is the new pastor at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, West Monroe. Taylor Auttonberry is the new children’s minister at First Baptist Church, Calhoun. Corey McKinney is the new youth minister and Tyler Willams is the minister of music/worship at Hebron Baptist Church. Russell Hinson has retired as pastor from First Baptist Church, Holden. Stephanie Jeffreys is the new part-time ministry assistant on the LBC’s Missions & Ministry Team. Erin Young Jones is the new LBC’s children/ youth missions strategist. Ken Bryan retires as music minister at First Baptist Church, Calhoun. Brad Watson new as pastor of First Baptist Church, Vidalia from Eastwood Baptist Church, Haughton. Graceann … [Read more...]

Ephesians 4: united by obedience

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Ephesians 4 offers a transition in Paul’s letter, pivoting from an emphasis on instruction about doctrine to focus, instead, on the application of the principles defined by doctrine. In that regard, Paul emphasized unity through obedience, meaning that if we are “in Christ” (and He is in us) that it should be evident in the way we “walk.” Within this mindset, he called the Christian community in Ephesus to experience this peace which is manifested from “one body and one Spirit … one hope … one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (vv. 3-6). Subsequently, he identified how Christians differ in gifts – “apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” – yet are unified in purpose “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (vv. 11-12). Paul repeats this point, by explaining that “the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (v. 16). Then Paul … [Read more...]

Ephesians 3: the mystery is revealed

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – In the first chapter of the Book of Ephesians, Paul set the tone for his explanation about redemption by emphasizing that “the means” for salvation is “in Christ.” In Chapter 2 Paul described this “blessing” as the “grace” of God -- again “in Christ” -- and he contrasted “grace” with “works” to help readers understand the enormity of the gift. In Chapter 3, Paul expanded his message, adding depth to the concept of the “mystery” mentioned earlier -- “that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven and which are on earth—in Him” (Ephesians 1:1). Importantly, his instruction throughout this letter was framed, in large part, in the context of addressing the Judaizers who had plagued his ministry and the expansion of the church by demanding that new Christians be circumcised and held to the standards of Mosaic Law. Within this perspective, Paul explained that “the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ” (Ephesians 3:6), a direct reference to Isaiah 49:6, which prophesied that Jesus would come not just for the benefit … [Read more...]

Fellowship Church: Students embrace discipleship, service

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer PRAIRIEVILLE, La. (LBM) – Service and discipleship have become a way of life for more than 250 students at Fellowship Church, leaders said, and these young people are committed to serving the Prairieville congregation now and for many years to come. “We are trying to give ownership of this ministry to the students,” Fellowship Church Spiritual Life Pastor Joe Ashley told the Baptist Message. “They step into positions where they are trained and serve. We like our kids to get their hands dirty and get off the sidelines. That’s a big part of being a Christian. “Our focus also has been on discipleship, where we preach hard messages and talk about topics like fasting, spiritual disciplines and biblical sexuality,” he said. “And kids are here for it.” Since June 2021, students have gathered every Wednesday evening for both large and small-group discipleship, including 32 who were baptized last year, Ashley said. The discipleship efforts have equipped the students to serve in various areas of the church, including special needs, children’s ministry, community service days and youth worship band. “The Lord continues draw the lost and unchurched to our ministry,” Ashley shared. … [Read more...]