Headlines By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ANGOLA – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is running out of room at its extension center building at the Louisiana State Penitentiary and is expanding. Since early February, construction has been ongoing for the Joan Horner Center of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. A concrete slab was poured and two weeks later inmates began their 24-hour, six days a week work on the 11,000-sq.-ft building, made possible by a $300,000 donation. Warden Burl Cain said when the building is dedicated with a target date of April 18, to coincide with the weekend of the Angola Rodeo, it will provide much needed breathing room for what has become a growing program and cramped workspace for the seminary students there. “What Louisiana Baptists have done is sustain the seminary which has changed lives, so thank you Louisiana Baptists,” Cain said. “This allows us to get away from the internal part of the prison. By having our own building we have a complete separation of church and state.” Once complete, the new building that is located not far from the current structure will house a computer lab, large classroom that will seat 160 students, two small classrooms, a religious library, … [Read more...]
Archives for March 2015
Trustees unanmiously select Rick Brewer as LC President
Headlines By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – For the past 28 years, Rick Brewer has called Charleston Southern University home. But on April 7, Brewer will write a new chapter in his collegiate administrator life when he becomes the 9th full-time president of Louisiana College -- two others have served as interims. Trustees of the college unanimously voted for Brewer during a special called meeting on March 5 to guide the college. Calling it a job that wasn’t even on his radar until a few months ago, Brewer said the opportunity to become the college’s new president was clearly a thing of God. “We believe this is an answer to prayer,” Brewer said during a press conference following the board meeting. “We believe God has been in this from the very beginning. “In fact, He was working here before we knew it,” he continued. “He was working in our life before (trustees) knew it. He brought it all together. “I want to challenge the faculty, staff, students, alums, and other persons or constituent groups in the state that love Louisiana College to leave the past in the rear view mirror and get on board with what I believe will become the finest days Louisiana College has ever seen.” When Brewer arrives on the Pineville … [Read more...]