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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

LCU dedicates walking trail

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Louisiana Christian University, on March 31, dedicated a new walking trail on campus that has been two years in the making. Sonia Tinsley, chair of LCU Division of Allied Health, coordinated the effort. She praised the support of the community, which helped make the project possible. Major funding was provided by The Rapides Foundation, Tinsley said, in the form of two grants totaling nearly $135,000, that helped repair, widen and repave the fitness trail along with purchasing and installing exercise equipment to create fitness stations. Community support also came from CHRISTUS Health, Well-Ahead Louisiana (Louisiana Department of Health), Louisiana Healthy Communities Coalition of Central Louisiana, the City of Pineville, Louisiana Athletic Club and Zion Hill Church. Tinsley said the purpose of the project was to improve community access to physical activity opportunities by improving the fitness trail and installing exercise equipment. “The exercise equipment offers a variety of aerobic, muscle/strength, core, balance and flexibility equipment to provide a well-rounded fitness routine,” Tinsley said. “We have been awarded designation as a National … [Read more...]

Powerful storms cause destruction in state once again

By Baptist Message staff SIMSBORO, La. (LBM) – For the second time in eight days, a powerful line of thunderstorms caused power outages, wind damage and flash flooding in Louisiana on Wednesday, March 30. Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief state coordinator Stan Statham told the Baptist Message teams were assessing the damage Thursday. First Baptist Church, Simsboro, lost a section of the roof and some shingles off its children’s building, and had some awning damaged, according to Pastor Jason Cole. “Pray that God opens the hearts of people to receive the Gospel as we share the Gospel with them,” Cole said. Elsewhere in Simsboro, a tree crushed three cars and damaged a house, according to John Cowling, ministry director at Rolling Hills Ministries in Ruston. Assessors from the DR team at Rolling Hills said two individuals inside the home escaped injury. The National Weather Service in Vicksburg confirmed a tornado was responsible for severe structural damage to Tallulah Academy. The Academy lost its roof, and the gymnasium was exposed to the elements, according to the Vicksburg (Mississippi) Post. No one was inside the school when the storm struck. The weather service said the tornado touched down at … [Read more...]

Two associations welcome new associational ministry strategists

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer DERIDDER, La. (LBM) – Two Louisiana Baptist associations recently welcomed their new ministry and mission coordinators: LaSalle Baptist Association, Carl Gulde; and Beauregard Baptist Association, Tom Bruce. CARL GULDE Gulde, long-time pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Colfax, became the associational ministry director with the LaSalle Baptist Association Feb. 14. He follows Buddy Willis, who retired from the position, Dec. 31, 2021. A native of Trout, Gulde found Christ at 12 while attending a revival with Fellowship Baptist Church of Trout, La. Three years later, in 1962, he preached his first sermon, sharing a message with Hurricane Creek Baptist Church. “At 15 I knew I would one day preach and that would be my life’s work,” Gulde told the Baptist Message. “My heart has always been to reach lost people.” During the years that followed, Gulde served as representative for the Gideons International, coached and taught social studies at Jena’s junior and senior high schools, and served with various congregations. Additionally, he served 23 years in the National Guard and was part of Operation Desert Storm, the U.S.-led military action that liberated Kuwait from … [Read more...]