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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Archives for 2021

Louisiana College releases statement on CARES Act investigation

By Elizabeth Christian, LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - Louisiana College has learned that two former students have been charged in a federal indictment in connection with alleged fraudulent use of grant money made available to students as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). According to the Justice Department press release, Hayden Philip Breaux, 21, of Houma, and D’Quincy Marquis Jones, 23, of Baton Rouge, have both been charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury with one count of conspiracy to commit identity theft and five counts of identity theft. The indictment alleges that in June 2020 Breaux and Jones and other co-conspirators used LC students’ personal information and passwords to gain access to the Louisiana College Online Student Portal to apply for these emergency funds and direct the money into their accounts. “Louisiana College has and will continue to cooperate fully with the federal investigation,” said Elizabeth Clarke, LC college communications director. “Once college officials discovered possible fraudulent activity by grant recipients in June 2020, we immediately notified law enforcement officials and an investigation ensued.” LC received the … [Read more...]

Johnson’s three congressional bills would uphold traditional values

By Staff WASHINGTON (LBM)—U.S. Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04), a member of the First Baptist Church in Bossier City, introduced three separate pieces of legislation, March 26, with the common objective of advancing traditional values in the 117th Congress. The Oath Act, History and Tradition Protection Act, and the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act are each crafted to correct current legislation: -- the Oath Act would require all witnesses who appear before any committee of the U.S. House to be formally sworn in using the standard courtroom oath before being allowed to testify; -- the History and Tradition Protection Act would abolish the award of monetary damages and attorneys’ fees in Establishment Clause cases involving religious symbols, words, imagery and expressions in monuments, public buildings, official seals and flags or by any deliberative body; and -- the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act would make it a crime to knowingly transport a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion without satisfying parental involvement law in the minor’s state of residence. Physicians would also be required to comply with parental notification laws. Johnson said the Oath Act was needed because … [Read more...]

LC signs articulation agreements with SWBTS, SEBTS

Louisiana College President Rick Brewer signs a memorandum of understanding with Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary President Daniel Akin during the school's chapel service March 18. Earlier in the month, LC signed a similar agreement with Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary that will allow students to apply college credits toward a seminary degree. The memorandums of understanding between the institutions will allow LC graduates to earn their seminary degrees more quickly to pursue God’s calling on their lives, Brewer said. He explained that students who successfully complete certain senior-level courses in LC’s missions and ministries program may receive at least 15 credit hours toward a Master of Divinity at the two seminaries. … [Read more...]

National WMU introduces Missions Journey: Kids

By WMU Communications BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WMU) – March 23, 2021 – Beginning this fall, children’s leaders will have a new curriculum option for children’s discipleship that is flexible enough to fit just about any setting. “Focusing on missions work both here in the U.S. and throughout the world, Missions Journey: Kids will captivate your children’s minds and hearts as they immerse themselves in a new culture each month and learn about the different avenues missionaries use to share the Gospel with the nations,” said Robin McCall, content and marketing manager, national WMU. Missions Journey: Kids is for any children’s group in grades 1–6, including Girls in Action, Royal Ambassadors or Children in Action missions discipleship groups. With a balanced blend of missions discipleship and Bible study, it can also be used in discipleship classes, children’s church, or by Christian schools who wish to add missions discipleship to their existing programming. “Missions Journey: Kids is a bold step into the future of missions discipleship,” said Zachariah Seanor, children’s ministry consultant and editor, national WMU. “We are so excited to see how God will use this material to foster a love of missions in the hearts and minds of … [Read more...]

Maplewood FBC razes building; raises up Christ

By Norm Miller, Baptist Message special assignments reporter SULPHUR, La. (LBM)--Despite the double calamities of a hurricane and the coronavirus, Maplewood First Baptist Church is rebounding. “We’ve been seeing quite a few visitors – new people we’re trying to get to know,” said Pastor Jeremy Blocker. Some had moved to the area before Hurricane Laura and are now looking for a church home, Blocker told the Baptist Message. “Some of them in these hard times -- when things opened back up -- they started searching; we’ve tried to help them find Jesus. Worship’s been awesome, and we’re seeing a lot of answers to prayers.” Blocker said the congregation’s passion for doing ministry never wavered, but “it’s just kind of crazy trying to decide when do we restart and what and how do we restart it.” Such decisions would be easier if the church still had its 13,000 square-foot building that housed its Hope Christian School. Considered irreparable from water damage, all that remains of it after demolition is a concrete slab. The church likely will not rebuild where the school once stood but is looking to maximize their existing footprint. “We’re not going to rebuild for 1950. We’ll use this as an opportunity to build for the … [Read more...]