by Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE (LCNews)--Louisiana College’s inaugural C3 Conference April 8 will focus on the necessity for Christians to discern among the world’s competing philosophies, and to proclaim the superlative character of biblical truth. “In a culture where truth claims are as variant as they are plentiful, there has never been a more critical need for the singularly exclusive truths of Christianity to be taught and told,” said  Rick Brewer, president of Louisiana College. Featuring a professor and a pastor, LC draws keynote speakers from the academy and the church for the conference, which is part of the college’s Great Commission Seminar. Rhyne Putman, assistant professor of Theology & Culture at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, will present a biblical view of sexuality with his topic: “Identity & Faithfulness in a Gender-Confused Culture.” “Sexuality is one of those issues that Millennials naturally feel very different about than previous generations. We are the grandchildren of the sexual revolution,” Putman said. “Sex outside of marriage is so normalized in our cultural programming, as is every sexual preference under the sun. The problem, even for many Christians, is that it … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BASTROP – Bonita Road Baptist Church has been in revival for three years and all signs point to this spiritual renewal continuing for the foreseeable future. Since Casey Johnson joined this Morehouse Baptist Association church as pastor in 2015, worship and Sunday school attendances have increased and more than 70 people have been baptized. Furthermore, the congregation is in the midst of constructing a new 11,000-sq.-ft. worship center that will seat 500 people to accommodate the growth – with even more new members added from revival services that took place in early March. “It has been an absolute joy watching God change so many lives in such a short time,” Johnson said. “I think the greatest thing, apart from the salvations, has been watching people truly understand the freedom they have to worship God because of their identity in Christ. From a pastor’s perspective that is a treasure and a victory worth celebrating.” In the time Johnson has been pastor of Bonita Road Baptist Church, worship attendance has grown from 200 in one worship event to a combined 375 in two morning services. Sunday school attendance now stands at 230, up from 130. He points to a … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptist church plants enjoyed great health and growth during 2016, and to date are on pace for another banner in 2017. A BANNER YEAR According to a recent report by Louisiana Baptists’ missions and ministry team, church plants recorded 26,933 evangelistic contacts and 1,329 decisions to follow Christ in 2016. In all, 33 new churches were started and 360 people baptized by new congregations last year. A STRONG START With only partial data for 2017, things are looking good for this year as well. In January, church plants reported 1,859 evangelistic contacts and 83 new commitments to Christ. Also during that month, five new churches were started and 12 were baptized. The number of new church plants for February and March will be reported together at one time in April. However, baptisms and evangelistic contact statistics were released for February, showing church plants had baptized 60 people and recorded 4,615 evangelistic contacts. A REASON FOR HOPE Lane Corley is optimistic that when the numbers for how many churches were planted in February and March are released, the trend will show Louisiana Baptists are on track to plant 35 new … [Read more...]

By Jerry Love, LBF Communications ALEXANDRIA – The story has been told numerous times already, but it is worth telling again. The boat ride began on a beautiful summer day under the cool shade of live oak trees that spread across the bayou with the sunshine glistening on the water. Pushing the boat to its limits in the small confines of a curvy narrow waterway was both thrilling and fun. And then it happened… There was no warning … no “check engine” light or bells or chimes.  One minute the boat owner was cruising along and the next minute he was adrift, drifting in the bend of the bayou where his boat broke down. St. Clair Bower was the boat operator on that glorious day in the early 1930’s. It was supposed to be a day off from his pastoral duties in the communities of Maragouin and Krotz Springs and points all along the bayou in between. As he went ashore to find help, he encountered a mother and her son and began to share Jesus with them. Right there near the bend of the bayou, close to where the boat lost power, this mother and son, who had not heard the Gospel before, accepted Christ as their Savior. Two new souls won to the Lord turned into many days of Gospel meetings, and, not long after, a church was … [Read more...]

By Jerry Love & Wayne Taylor, LBF Communications ALEXANDRIA – Investment consultant and financial author Charles Ellis is attributed with saying, “Las Vegas is busy every day, so we know that not everyone is rational.” Oftentimes in the course of our lives we receive “good news” or we are presented with an opportunity that elicits the response “That’s just too good to be true!” All of these “too good to be true” moments can be initially exciting. However there are times when these moments occur around the presentation of investment opportunities. At these times our antennae should be up, radar tuned in and a healthy dose of “rational” close at hand. There is a fundamental principle in the world of finance regarding risk and return: The greater the potential return, the greater the risk. If a salesperson offers a product that purportedly is going to bear a higher than normal return, you have to find out what the risks are. If the salesperson claims this high yielding investment has “no risk” or that the investment is “guaranteed,” slowly back away from that “opportunity.” Either the salesperson does not understand the risk themselves or they are being dishonest. This type of situation merits a special word of … [Read more...]