Submitted by philip on Fri, 04/04/2014 - 10:06 Former Louisiana Baptist Baptist Convention President Waylon Bailey talks about his vision to reach every ethnic group and every generation in the state by the year 2020. By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter When Waylon Bailey, Louisiana Baptist Convention president, 2011-2013, and pastor of First Baptist Covington, presented to his congregation the 2020 vision for reaching Louisiana with the gospel, his members’ response was a collective, “At last.” It was a plan they’d been waiting for. “It was as if they were saying, ‘This is who we are; this is what we want to do; it may not be easy, but this is what we want to do,’” Bailey said. 2020, the cooperative statewide initiative to maximize Louisiana Baptists’ effectiveness in impacting lives for the gospel by the year 2020, is focused on reaching every people group and every generation through congregational revitalization, church planting, communication and collaboration. Birthed at the 2012 Louisiana Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, the campaign was charted out by twenty teams of twenty people each that met and prayed, brainstormed and planned. When the commission met again together, team members shared the same … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 04/04/2014 - 10:08 Steve Lemke (second from left), provost of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and bioethicist, was among panelists to address end-of-life cases that have sparked national debate. The panel discussion was titled “Who Lives? Who Dies? Who Decides?” By Marilyn Stewart, Regional Reporter NEW ORLEANS (BP) – A Baptist seminary leader joined a special panel at Loyola University New Orleans to discuss end-of-life cases that have sparked national debate. Steve Lemke, provost of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and bioethicist, was among the panelists for the discussion titled “Who Lives? Who Dies? Who Decides?” The group covered the cases of Jahi McMath, a 13-year-old girl placed on a ventilator following complications from tonsil and nasal surgery, and Marlise Munoz, a young mother declared brain dead but kept on life support for two months for the sake of her 14-week-old fetus. The Center for Medical Ethics of the Louisiana Right to Life Federation sponsored the event. Other panelists included: Jennifer Popik, with National Right to Life; Jeff White, cardiologist and hospital system ethics director and Kevin Wildes, president of Loyola University. Popik cited a … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 04/08/2014 - 10:39 Louisiana College women's basketball coach Jason Tinsley has been hired as the new men's basketball coach at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma. He becomes only the ninth head men's basketball coach in school history TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Northeastern State Director of Athletics Tony Duckworth announced Tuesday the hiring of Jason Tinsley as the ninth head men's basketball coach in school history. Tinsley takes over for Larry Gipson, who retired following a 17-year run that included the only NCAA Division II National Championship in school history (2003) and five appearances in the NCAA Championship tournament (2000-03, 2013). "My focus during this search was to identify an individual who has the attributes and background to maximize the strengths of Northeastern State University and our men's basketball program," Duckworth said. "Jason Tinsley embodies the characteristics I sought in this hire. The Tinsley's will be an outstanding addition to NSU and Tahlequah." Tinsley comes to Tahlequah following a highly-successful run as head women's basketball coach from 2010-14 at NCAA Division III Louisiana College in Pineville, La. During his four-year stint with the Lady … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Tue, 04/15/2014 - 10:38 A group of around 40 alumni, community members, students and a few trustees gathered inside the school’s student center for prayer. By Message Staff PINEVILLE – On the eve of the Louisiana College board meeting that could result in a decision about the future of President Joe Aguillard, a group of around 40 alumni, community members, students and a few trustees gathered inside the school’s student center for prayer. “It was important for us to meet to let the board know we have nothing against the board of trustees,” said Sammy Morrow, a member of the class of 1980 who led the 10-minute group prayer. “We earnestly believe in coming together as a unified group in pursuit of God’s will.” The prayer gathering was originally scheduled to take place around the fountain in front of the LC Administrative Building on campus on Monday afternoon. Social media such as Prayers 4 Progress used Twitter to advertise the event. Prayers 4 Progress said via Twitter: “Tomorrow at 5pm around the fountain on LC campus. Nothing but prayers for our school and the board. Will you join us?” The Town Talk reported that LC officials canceled the event that was to include alumni and others … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Wed, 04/16/2014 - 09:57 By Staff, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary2 NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) finalized a new partnership with an anonymous donor to provide free theological education for small church and bi-vocational pastors and staff members of Louisiana Southern Baptist churches. With an initial gift of $1.5 million from the donor, the seminary has established the Caskey Center for Church Excellence to facilitate the scholarship process. The NOBTS Board of Trustees approved the center’s creation on April 16, during their spring meeting. “The NOBTS Trustees are excited about the wonderful gift for the Caskey Center for Church Excellence,” said Trustee Chairman Tom Harrison. “It is exciting that more students will be trained and equipped for ministry through our School of Providence and Prayer. We are blessed to be a part of an institution that seeks to broaden the Kingdom of God.” NOBTS President Chuck Kelley expressed excitement about the potential of the center to impact the small churches of Louisiana. “We are grateful for the vision God has given this donor,” said NOBTS President Chuck Kelley. “We are a seminary in a city and state in which the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 04/18/2014 - 09:55 Joe Aguillard (left) is out as LC's President and Argile Smith has been named as interim president By Kelly Boggs, Editor PINEVILLE – When Joe Aguillard was elected as president of Louisiana College in Jan. 2005 it was under a cloud of controversy. After the LC Board’s action during its most recent meeting, it seems he will leave office in similar fashion. After weeks of news reports that questioned Aguillard’s leadership, which included leaked private documents, LC executive committee minutes of a black mail attempt which included allegations of forged documents, secret recordings and a lawsuit filed against the president and the college, the LC Board of Trustees voted on April 15 not to renew Aguillard’s contract as president of the college. While his contract as president is set to expire on July 31, the board did approve an agreement which will allow Aguillard to remain on campus as president emeritus of the college beginning Aug. 1.  The word emeritus, according to the Cambridge Dictionary means: “honorably discharged from a profession but retaining one’s former job title.” Additionally, the board approved Argile Smith as the interim president of the college once … [Read more...]

By Kelly Boggs, Editor “Within any important issue, there are always aspects no one wishes to discuss,” said George Orwell. I suspect the English novelist and critic, best known for his books 1984 and Animal Farm, is correct. However, in light of all that has transpired in reference to Louisiana College over the past year or so, I feel the need to discuss a few things. Let me begin with last May. Just a few days after the LC Board of Trustees voted in favor of LC President Joe Aguillard in regard to whistleblower complaints brought against him by two of the college’s vice-presidents, I wrote an editorial offering my opinion of the situation. I want to reiterate, it was an editorial and not a report, wherein I offered my two-cents worth. The title of the column was “Leaked documents, ballot votes and being Baptist.” In the first portion of the column I dealt with the issue of confidential documents that had been leaked to The Town Talk. A law firm report, that concluded Aguillard misappropriated funds and mislead the LC board, was given to Alexandria’s daily newspaper and it in turn reported on it. What was not leaked to The Town Talk was a folder of information that Aguillard had compiled which was at odds with the law … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 04/18/2014 - 10:03 After putting more than $4.2 million in repairs on the former Joe D. Waggonner Federal Building in Shreveport which was to house the Judge Paul Pressler School of Law, Louisiana College has abandoned its efforts and placed the building up for sale. Editor’s note: Leigh Guidry, reporter for The Town Talk, provided a thorough treatment of the circumstances regarding Louisiana College’s Judge Paul Pressler School of Law in a recent issue of Alexandria’s daily newspaper. The Baptist Message offers its readers the results of Ms. Guidry’s research, with permission from The Town Talk.  PINEVILLE – Louisiana College has spent about $5.5 million on a law school that never opened its doors nor admitted a student. LC announced formation of the Judge Paul Pressler School of Law in 2008 and subsequently purchased the former Joe D. Waggonner Federal Building in Shreveport in 2011 to house it. The college’s administration has consistently declined to release information on the cost of the law school. A real estate listing from August 2010 put the Waggonner Building’s value at $1.5 million. However, according to records at the Caddo Parish Assessor’s Office, LC paid $400,000 for the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 04/18/2014 - 10:07 Angola inmate Wayne Fritz looks at a tract explaining salvation given to him by Louisiana Baptist men during the recent Angola revival. By Mark H. Hunter, Regional Reporter ANGOLA - Ben Raney was walking through a large, crowded dormitory in the Main Camp of the Louisiana State Penitentiary when he noticed inmate Gabe McCkeel sitting alone on his bunk-bed. The men chatted for a moment then Raney sat down next to McCkeel, gripped his hand and prayed for him. When Raney got up to leave both men were smiling. “He said he was a Christian but just needed some assurance,” Raney said later. A member of Pedico Baptist, this was his fourth visit to Angola. Altogether 180 Baptist men from 25 churches visited about 4,000 Angola inmates on April 4 and 5 for the 18th annual Louisiana Baptist Convention revival. The men led 84 inmates to salvation and 98 other decisions and also distributed 3,020 personal hygiene kits that were collected over the winter by many of the state’s Baptist churches, according to Wayne Jenkins, director of the LBC’s Evangelism and Church Growth office. “I get more joy coming here than any other work - whether it be professional work or ministry work,” … [Read more...]

By Joey Martin, Special to the Message VIDALIA – First Baptist Church Vidalia members Dawn Moss and Carrie Vest of Vidalia will have no practice run when they rappel off the 24-story, 308-foot tall One America Place building May 9 in downtown Baton Rouge. Then again, it serves as a good illustration for their cause. “You don’t get a practice run in foster care or adoption,” they both said. Currently, Moss and Vest, who call themselves “Forever Moms,” are two of six volunteers set to rappel for the very first time. Louisiana First Lady Supriya Jindal and Duck Dynasty star Korie Robertson will also be participating in the “Over the Edge for Adoption” Mother’s Day Weekend Rappel. The program, an initiative of the Louisiana Family Forum, aims to unite more than 300 foster care children awaiting adoption in Louisiana with a family. “Adopting one child won’t change the world, but for that one child the world will change,” Moss said. “There are no unwanted children,” Vest added. “Just unfound families.” Both ladies decided to accept the challenge of rappelling from their pastor, Bill McCullin of First Baptist Church Vidalia. “Brother Bill asked (husband) David if I was brave enough to do it,” Moss said. “I am scared of heights. … [Read more...]