By Staff, LCUNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCUNews) -- Louisiana Christian University welcomed the Class of 2026 to campus over the weekend, Aug. 19-21, with several LCU traditions and some new activities to help them get initiated into the Wildcat family. The freshmen moved in Friday afternoon, got unpacked and hung out with their navigators -- upper-class leaders who are assigned a group of freshmen to mentor for the year -- before participating in servant leadership exercises the following day. On Saturday, Aug. 20, the entire freshmen class served the local community by working at the food bank and hosting a back-to-school giveaway for community children. “We are excited to have the opportunity to prepare our graduates at LCU by teaching our incoming class about servant leadership,” said Meredith Rennier, director of The Center for Calling and Career. “It is amazing to see how serving others can quickly bring a group of students that barely know one another together,” said Brian Manuel, dean of students. Classes officially began this morning, Aug. 22. Freshmen Convocation will be Tuesday, Aug. 23, at 11 a.m. in Guinn Auditorium. President Rick Brewer, who is starting his 36th year in Christian higher education … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) — Louisiana Baptists are invited to recommend candidates to serve on state convention boards and committees, and, are asked to submit resolutions for possible consideration by messengers at the 2022 Louisiana Baptist Convention. COMMITTEES The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Committees will be conducting its work early this fall to fill 17 openings on five state convention committees: Credentials; Moral and Social Concerns; Nominations; Order of Business; and Resolutions. Nominations should be sent not later than Aug. 12 to Jake Roudkowski, interim pastor, First Baptist Church, Zachary, who is the Committee on Committees chair. Please forward your recommendations via email, jaker@nobts.edu, or the U.S. Mail, Dr. Jake Roudkowski, 78689 Hwy. 25, Folsom, LA 70437. BOARDS The Louisiana Baptist Committee on Nominations will begin its work, also in early fall, to fill 18 vacancies on the LBC Executive Board as well as the trustee bodies of the Louisiana Christian University, Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, Baptist Message, and Baptist Foundation. Nominations should be sent not later than Aug. 12 to Ron Thompson, member, First Baptist Church, … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer DEVILLE, La. (LBM) – A fire damaged the worship center at Richey Baptist Church, Deville, in January 2021, leaving the congregation of 80 seeking God’s help to rebuild their facility. Fifteen months later, their prayers were answered in even greater ways than the congregation ever could have imagined, according to their pastor, Grady Dodge. Dodge told the Baptist Message he was encouraged so many churches stepped up to assist in the rebuild, modeling the body of Christ. “When the fire happened, I thought it was the end of the world,” said Dodge, also the Louisiana Baptist Building maintenance supervisor. “God showed me so much through it. He showed me unity in the community and unity in the churches.” The fire began at 11 a.m., Jan. 9, 2021, and engulfed the worship center. Fire crews from Effie and Ruby-Kolin extinguished it later that same evening. While most of the worship center was destroyed, a steeple and Bible located near the front doors miraculously survived. Rather than fold, the church, pressed forward with the insurance company paying half of the $700,000 needed to rebuild, and churches and individuals from around the state donating the remainder. During … [Read more...]