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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Investigation underway of substance left on envelope at Cypress Baptist

By Baptist Message staff BENTON, La. (LBM) – Law enforcement responded, Feb. 19, to an incident involving a powdery substance on an envelope that was sent to Cypress Baptist Church. According to KSLA-12 in Shreveport, law enforcement was on church property and an investigation by the FBI was underway. KTBS-3 in Shreveport reported that the FBI was investigating a powder substance that arrived on an envelope at the church on Monday. The church offices were evacuated and a Louisiana state police HazMat unit then investigated. Johnson's wife, Kelly, is a counselor and has an office at the church. She was not in the area at the time. Griffin Neal, spokesman for House Speaker Johnson, released this statement to the Baptist Message: “Earlier today, Speaker Johnson was made aware of a suspicious package sent to his home church in Louisiana. Speaker Johnson and the Johnson family thank U.S. Capitol Police, the FBI, the Louisiana State Police and the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office for taking swift action and handling the situation professionally. As the investigation is ongoing, we will refer all further questions to law enforcement handling this matter.” Cypress Baptist Pastor John Fream said the church was not … [Read more...]

Louisiana Christian University participates in Rural STEM Day

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University participated in the RECIPE for Rural STEM DAY at the LSUA Mega Shelter in Alexandria, Feb. 8. More than 1,300 central Louisiana fifth and sixth-graders interested in science, math, engineering and technology fields participated in the event. RECIPE for Rural STEM Day is a statewide initiative to promote STEM education to upper elementary-age students. RECIPE stands for Relevant, Educational, Career-minded, Impactful, Purposeful,  and Engaging. LCU’s Physical Therapy Assistant program, along with the Health and Exercise Science programs, attended and provided interactive games that correlated general anatomy and systems of the body with various basic healthcare assessments, said Associate Vice President of the School of Nursing and Allied Health Shaina Goudeau. Examples of planned activities included determining the effect of physical activity on heart rate, sensory nerve testing, grip strength assessments, and an anatomy versus body system matching game.  LCU faculty selected simple tasks and created fun games to allow a direct approach to science-based activities. The simplified method of active learning served to pique the curiosity of … [Read more...]

2024 National Collegiate Summit scheduled for May 1-3 in Tennessee

By Julia Bell, Special to the Message MEMPHIS, TENN. (LBM) -- Baptist collegiate ministry leaders from across the country will gather May 1-3 for the 2024 Collegiate Summit held near Memphis, Tennessee. The equipping event is held every three years and features valuable resources, well-known guest speakers, and networking opportunities for campus ministers and church college leaders looking to enhance their ministries to students. More than 700 participants are expected at the event, organized by the Baptist Collegiate Network. Planning Team Leader Ryan Scantling says participants can expect the interactive event to “help college ministry leaders capture God’s vision for their life and ministry, while forming layers of encouragement and accountability for it.” Collegiate Summit will be held at Collierville First Baptist Church, located in a Memphis suburb. Event activities begin at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, and conclude with a morning session on Friday, May 3. Guest speakers include Bill Elliff, Shane Pruitt, Dr. Tom Richter, Zane Pratt, and Paul Worcester. A new micro-conference for large church college ministry leaders has been added this year with breakout session topics designed to better equip these … [Read more...]

Rhonda Kelley remembered as gracious first lady, women’s ministry champion

By Baptist Message staff New Orleans, La. (LBM) -- Rhonda Kelley, wife of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President-Emeritus Chuck Kelley and a mainstay in women’s ministry across the nation, passed Feb. 17 after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was 72. “Yesterday was the worst day of my life, but the best day ever for my beloved. I will take that deal 100 percent of the time,” wrote Dr. Chuck Kelley on X (formerly Twitter). “Five years after her cancer journey began, Rhonda stepped into eternity about the time we usually had morning coffee. I grieve. She celebrates. God is wise and good. “Along with the entire NOBTS and Leavell College family, we mourn the loss of our eighth first lady,” NOBTS President Jamie Dew said in a statement on the seminary’s website. “Dr. Rhonda Kelley served with grace, dignity, and compassion for over 23 years at our wonderful school. Her love for her husband and her Savior were a source of encouragement to us all. This is indeed, a very sad day for all of us, but we rejoice in the full assurance that we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, standing confident that we will see her again in glory.” WOMEN’S MINISTRY PIONEER According to a news release from the NOBTS website, … [Read more...]

LCU’s Psi Chi chapter celebrates 75 years

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University’s Psi Chi chapter is celebrating its 75th anniversary on campus, complete with a Color Run, March 23. The Color Run will be held at 9:10 a.m. Registration will be commence at 8:30 a.m. for those who have not pre-registered. The cost is $10 for the one-mile fun run event, which is co-sponsored by the LCU Criminal Justice Club. “Our overall goal is to make a ripple effect in the world one person at a time,” said Mollie Wise, coordinator of the psychology department and Psi Chi adviser. “We want to better our campus, community, state, country and world by seeing people for who they are and loving them as Jesus has called us to do. It is nothing that most others are attempting to do. We just use the avenue of psychology and mental health to do it.” Psi Chi is an international honor society for psychology students, and since its inception, the LCU chapter has inducted more than 200 members. According to its website, Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, was founded in 1929 with a mission to encourage excellence in scholarship and advance the science of psychology. LCU Psi Chi will host the event to bring awareness and empathy to today’s … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists among state’s longest married couples

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Three Louisiana Baptist couples are among the runners-up for the distinction of longest-married couples in the state, released by the Louisiana Family Forum on Valentine's Day: Burl and Mary Clark, members of East Jena Baptist Church; William and Barbara Patterson, members of Summer Grove Baptist Church, Shreveport; and Bill and Hazel Edmonson, members of Calvary Baptist Church, Merryville. Louisiana Family Forum is a faith-based think tank that advocates for pro-family, pro-life, First Amendment and limited government public policies. Based on submissions LFF received, Ira and Margery Milan of New Orleans were named the longest married couple (82 years). The Milans and ten runners-up were honored with a proclamation from Governor Jeff Landry, a Ralph’s Market king cake, and induction into LFF’s 2024 Marriage Hall of Fame: -- Burl and Mary Clark, Jena, 77 years -- Lloyd and Audrey Schroeder, Jefferson, 77 years -- Leland and Gussie Lacaze, Robeline, 77 years -- Marion and Jean Hess, New Orleans, 76 years -- Paul and Yvonne Wilson, Morgan City, 76 years -- Bill and Hazel Edmonson, Merryville, 75 years -- Richard and Geraldine Van Tiem, Shreveport, … [Read more...]

LCU named Military Friendly school

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University has received a Miltary Friendly school designation from the Viqtory organization. Viqtory uses public data and survey responses to award the Military Friendly designation. The schools chosen will be recognized in the May 2024 G.I. Jobs magazine. “The university offers several academic programs designed to enable military veterans to achieve a Bachelor of Applied Science or Project Management Certificate online,” said LCU President Rick Brewer. “Veterans will discover the outstanding professors of LCU who provide academic excellence built on a faith-based platform.” Methodology, criteria and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in higher education, according to Viqtory’s website. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey responses and government/agency public data sources within a logic-based assessment that measures an institution’s ability to meet thresholds for retention, graduation, job placement, repayment, persistence and loan default rates for all students, and most specifically, for student veterans. Having a Military Friendly … [Read more...]

The Benham Brothers named keynote speakers for Dr. Maggie Martin Marketplace Leadership Summit

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) = Former professional baseball players David and Jason Benham will be the speakers for the 2024 Dr. Maggie Martin Marketplace Leadership Summit, scheduled for April 25. The Benham Brothers are nationally acclaimed Christian entrepreneurs and best-selling authors who have started dozens of businesses and hosted a reality show on HGTV. According to their website, the show was canceled when activists pressured the network to fire them over their commitment to their Christian faith. Choosing Christ over television fame, they have appeared on news programs on several major networks encouraging others to stand for what they believe, whatever the cost. “The Benham Brothers’ story is one that weaves through the Fair Grounds Field in Shreveport, Louisiana to a thriving real estate empire that includes multiple companies across most of the states in the country,” said LCU Dean of the Young School of Business Kenny Holt. “Their story will inspire all current and prospective entrepreneurs in Central Louisiana and shows how you can be true to your Christian beliefs and still be very successful.” Today, the brothers run an online coaching series called Expert Ownership, where they train … [Read more...]