By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor BATON ROUGE – The goal is that Louisiana become an abortion-free state. Even better, that it lead and become the first state in the nation to become abortion-free.[img_assist|nid=7852|title=Remembering the babies|desc=Gene Mills, executive director of the Louisiana Family Forum, rings a ship’s bell eight times symbolizing the 8,000 children aborted in Louisiana on average each year. Mills spoke during the 2011 Louisiana Life March, with ceremonies at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=396] Life March 2012 is a step – many thousands of steps – in that direction. It marks the anniversary of the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973 that permitted wide-scale abortion across the United States. Last year, more than 3,000 people marched on the state capitol in Baton Rouge to affirm life. It was the first such event in Louisiana, although a “Heartbeat Rally” took place in the fall in the 1980s and 90s. “We decided to hold the Louisiana Life March because there was a need to unite the pro-life people of Louisiana, across denominational lines, around the goal of an abortion-free Louisiana,” said Benjamin … [Read more...]
On Roe’s anniversary, remembering 50 million killed
By Kelly Boggs, Message Editor Thirty-nine years ago the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in Roe v. Wade. The justices decided 7-2 that the practice of abortion in America was a right protected by the Constitution and thus legal throughout the United States. The date was Jan. 22, 1973. The specific date of the Roe decision deserves to be remembered as a day of infamy along with other tragic events such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The Roe ruling also deserves to be compared to the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide. All are despicable atrocities. Those who track the numbers report that more than 50 million preborn babies have had their lives snuffed out as a direct result of the Roe decision. Think about the death toll and then compare it with the 2,400 who were killed at Pearl Harbor and the 3,000 who lost their lives on Sept. 11. Ponder the number of 50 million dead preborn children and contrast that staggering number with the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis, 1 million of whom were children. Also consider the Rwandan genocide, which took place in the spring of 1994, where between 800,000 and 1 million Tutsis were brutally slaughtered by their fellow countrymen, the … [Read more...]
Louisiana is praying, pleading and preparing for revival
By Keith Manuel, LBC Evangelism Associate Louisiana Baptists are uniting to pray, plead and prepare for a movement of God. As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of Baptist work in our state, our theme is Awaken. When thinking about revival, there is a distinct difference between the words ‘contrive’ and ‘contrite.’ While no convention theme can bring revival, God’s people must not be remiss in begging Him for an outpouring of His Spirit. If you attended the convention meeting in Covington, you heard that more than 160 people professed faith in Christ during the events of Crossover. Then during the solemn assembly, you saw God move in a powerful way. Men and women flooded the altar and aisles of First Baptist Church, Covington, with tears and prayers asking God to bring revival both personally and collectively. A week later, teenagers from all over Louisiana descended on the Rapides Coliseum begging God to renew their hearts and their passion for Him. The result was the largest number of spiritual decisions ever made at the Youth Evangelism Celebration. Could the sparks of revival fire be igniting and if so, what will we see? We … [Read more...]
The Christian martyrs of Lyons
By Rex Butler, Professor of Church History and Patristics at NOBTS In his book on contemporary martyrs, Faith that Endures, Ronald Boyd-MacMillan observed, “It is the devil, the demonic hatred that is behind all anti-Christian violence.” The devil is “waging his cosmic battle of spite against Jesus Christ.” The early Christians who faced persecution held that same view: that their ultimate enemy was not the Roman government or the mob but Satan. One account of persecution in the second century reported that “with all his strength, Satan fell upon us, giving us a foretaste of the future, unrestrained activity against us. The enemy used every means to goad his own subjects against the servants of God.” (The Letter of the Churches of Lyons and Vienne as preserved in Eusebius, Church History 5.1.5). In the summer of 177 A.D., persecution broke out against Christians in Lyons and Vienne in Gaul, a Roman region in modern-day southern France. This persecution was not instigated by an emperor’s edict, although the governor of the province oversaw the imprisonments, tortures, and executions, but the residents of these towns rose up in mob violence against their Christian neighbors. This hatred was fanned by false accusations of such … [Read more...]
Questions We’Ve Pondered
By Archie England, Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at NOBTS Question: My question to begin this New Year comes from a well-known text, Genesis 6, in which God instructs Noah to “make an ark.” How could Noah build an ocean-worthy vessel 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet tall? What technology existed to fell trees, mill lumber, shape and bore beams and joints, as well as caulk and trim watertight seams? Also, how did Noah “discover” the more specific details of beam sizes (2x12s or 6x6s, etc.), from the general details of Genesis 6:14-16? Finally, how long did this take? Archie England responds: Genesis 5:32 informs us that Noah was 500 years and had three sons; Gen 7:6,11 states that Noah entered the ark on the 17th day of the 2nd month of his 600th year. This suggests that the ark was built within this 100-year period of Noah’s life. That’s the easy answer. Sawing, drilling, hauling, and lifting technologies for that ancient age are unknown to us: accomplishments of later periods – the Tower of Babel, the pyramids, the Sphynx, and other such wonders – do suggest that these ancients were far more “advanced” than we “moderns” are inclined to think. Nevertheless, Gen 4:20-22 indicates … [Read more...]
SACS modifies official status of Louisiana College
By Kelly Boggs, Editor PINEVILLE – Information released recently on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) website indicated that the accrediting organization’s Commission on Colleges (COC) has placed Louisiana College on warning status.[img_assist|nid=7858|title=SACS|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=98|height=100] As part of a regularly scheduled decennial review required of all accredited colleges, SACS determined on December 15 that its COC has modified the official status of LC to: “accredited by the Commission on Colleges; however, the institution was denied reaffirmation of accreditation and placed on warning for twelve months following its comprehensive decennial review.” The warning status will be reevaluated in December 2012. Information on the SACS website indicates the warning status is “the less serious of the two sanctions” (the other being probation) and is usually “levied in the earlier stages of institutional review.” “Louisiana College is fully, 100 percent accredited, and will remain so,” LC president Joe Aguillard, affirmed in a press release. “A ‘warning’ is not a level of accreditation. This is simply a direction from our Commission on … [Read more...]
Publication selects LC as one of “the Best Regional Colleges”
By Staff, Baptist Message PINEVILLE – Louisiana College was recently honored by U.S. News & World Report with the selection as one of the publication’s “Best Regional Colleges,” according to a news release on the LC website. The recognition appeared in the September 2011 issue of U.S. News & World Report. LC was selected number 38 in the “Regional College South Rankings” according to the national publication’s web site. “This is quite an honor for us. The fact that U.S. News & World Report included Louisiana College in its selection of ‘Best Regional Colleges,’ signals that our constant efforts towards business excellence are paying off. We are proud to be included in this recognition,” the news release said. Following the publication of LC’s selection for U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Regional Colleges” list, American Registry seconded the honor and added Louisiana College to the “Registry of Business Excellence(TM).” … [Read more...]
Landon: Preteens destined to spread the Gospel
By Brian Blackwell, Special to the Message [img_assist|nid=7861|title=Games at PreTeen Invasion|desc=Youth from 90 churches participated in games led by Oklahoma City, Okla.-based Kids Celebration, listed to high-energy music by Nashville, Tenn., recording artist Yancy, saw a performace by illusionist Drew Worsham of Pullman, Wash., and listed to a stirring message by Landon Dowden at the second annual PreTeen Invasion at Louisiana College.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=480]PINEVILLE – Landon Dowden has great hope for the next generation. The senior pastor of the Church at Trace Crossings in Tupelo, Miss., and formerly pastor of CrossPoint Church in Baton Rouge, Dowden has traveled throughout the world spreading the gospel in such countries as the Bahamas, Chile, Germany and Mexico. He said he believes pre-teens are destined to do the same but it must start in their middle-school hallways and at home. “Some people will challenge you to be a doctor, pro sports star or lawyer, and there’s nothing wrong with those,” Dowden told about 1,300 youngsters and adults during the recent PreTeen Invasion at Louisiana College. “Can I challenge you to do something really significant? Go where … [Read more...]
Lifted in Faith strongmen use their muscle to share God’s word
By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor [img_assist|nid=7863|title=Lifted in Faith Strongman|desc=A Lifted in Faith Strongman does a feat of strength to capture the crowds attention and afterwards presents God's word.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=640]BOSSIER CITY –Rolling up a frying pan? Not exactly what comes to mind when you think of planting a ministry. However, that is exactly how the Lifted in Faith strength team was born. Today, that pan has become a symbol to five Southern Baptist men, a symbol of how God wants to mold them to accomplish great things for His Kingdom, which is more than they ever dreamed of. “We take no credit for anything we do, or for any of the great results we have seen,” said Brad Hornback, founder of the group that has grown to include five men of extraordinary strength and a sold-out commitment to sharing Jesus. During Lifted in Faith’s short two years, more than 5,000 people have made professions of faith in Jesus at one of their crusades or other events. “All glory goes to Jesus,” Hornback said. “We are excited that He has allowed us a front row seat to seeing thousands of lives impacted and changed by the Gospel of Jesus … [Read more...]
Caskey exceeds expectations, future looks even better
By Brian Blackwell, Special to the Message PINEVILLE The Caskey School of Divinity exceeded expectations in the fall semester and spring looks even better. When Charles Quarles Ph.D. was preparing for the launch of the divinity school’s fall 2011 classes he expected perhaps 30 students to enroll in the school, which is located on the Louisiana College campus. By the time the divinity school opened its doors, 56 students had enrolled. Attendance has now risen to about 70 and Quarles said an enrollment of 100 for the fall 2012 semester wouldn’t surprise him. “I feel very honored and blessed to serve as the founding dean of the Caskey School of Divinity and to have a hand in laying the foundation on which the school will build for generations to come,” said Quarles, founding dean of the Caskey Divinity School, Vice President of Integration of Faith and Learning, and Professor of New Testament and Greek at Louisiana College. “I believe that the school is guided by a solid confessional standard,” Quarles continued. “We have a biblically-based mission statement, and a genuine sense of calling to address the spiritual needs of our state, nation and … [Read more...]