By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University will kick off its fifth annual fall fitness challenge on Oct. 1, thanks to a $30,000 grant from The Rapides Foundation. “Walking through October” is a local Step Up CENLA program designed to help residents become more physically active. It runs through Oct. 31. The program offers fitness challenges and educational workshops on physical activity. The goal is to make physical activity the norm in Central Louisiana. The program is virtual, and participants will track their steps each day and submit them online weekly. This year’s challenge features three categories: - Individual: Winners will be determined by the highest step count within each age group; - Student-Athlete: A separate division will recognize the efforts of student-athletes; and - Team: Participate as a team with your family, friends or colleagues. Results will be calculated using the average step count (total steps divided by the number of members). You may have up to five members per team. (If you are part of a team, you may not also participate in the individual category). The top participants in each age group, the student-athlete category and the … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University will hold a Presidential Gala, Oct. 1, to celebrate its 120th anniversary and kick off a 5-year capital campaign. “The gala is about bringing people home,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement Beth Palmer. “Whether you graduated last spring or 50 years ago, there’s a place for you.” There are more than 5,000 LCU alumni in the Central Louisiana region and more than 15,000 across the state. “My heart is full as the 10th president of Louisiana Christian University, as we celebrate 120 years of faith, education, and service in Central Louisiana, a milestone made meaningful by our alumni and the people who carry this legacy forward,” said President Mark Johnson. “Thanks to our team’s tireless work, I look forward to welcoming our university family and friends to the Presidential Gala for music, performances, heartfelt alumni honors, and a fantastic evening of laughter, connection, and memories we’ll cherish for years to come.” The gala will be held during the university’s Homecoming week festivities. The event will also start the university’s 5-year capital campaign to Restore, Rebuild and Reimagine, a vision of … [Read more...]

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University will hold its annual fall revival, Sept. 22-24, at 11 a.m. in Guinn Auditorium. Jordy McKaskle, executive pastor with North Monroe Baptist Church in Monroe, will be the speaker. McKaskle graduated from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, then earned a Master of Theological Studies from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Master of Applied Theology and a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The revival is open to the public. … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University will hold the opening reception for the first art show of the 2026-27 academic year on Thursday, Sept. 3, from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Weathersby Fine Arts Building Gallery. Oftentimes, those who love art and those who love athletics have different interests, but sports lovers, this show is for you. Local painter Gavin Stevens’ entire exhibition centers around baseball. “The ‘Past Time Past’ collection revisits the baseball heroes of my childhood, portraying these figures prominently on the canvas,” Stevens said. “I hope to invoke a sense of nostalgia for those who felt a sense of awe watching these athletes.” Stevens serves as the art director for Louisiana Baptists and is a 2005 graduate of Nicholls State University. “We are very excited to show Gavin’s work in the WFAB Gallery,” said Assistant Professor of Art Michael Williams. “His depiction of America’s favorite pastime makes a great addition to the work shown in our space. His paintings are superb. This is not a show you want to miss.” If you miss the opening reception, you may still view the exhibition through Sept. 25. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday 9 … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – How best to prepare students for the future with the use of artificial intelligence was the topic of the second Guinn Conversations discussion at Louisiana Christian University, Aug. 20. For this conversation, LCU President Mark Johnson brought together faculty members from different disciplines to discuss aspects of AI and how best to train students in this new technological tool. Participants were Vice President of Academic Affairs Natalie Maxey, Dean of Education Victory Lindo-Lemons, Director of Distance Education Jason Mercer, Dean of Science Theodore Chiasson, and Evan Stewart, associate professor of physics. Chiasson, an early adopter of AI, has been interested in it since he was in graduate school in the 1990s and said it has gotten much smarter over time. However, it also has downsides if users choose not to use it ethically. “It’s basically a force multiplier,” he said. “It can multiply your efficiency, and it can also multiply your laziness." Stewart has been following the use of AI in the news, he said, and has seen it used to great effect in the last year solving long-term problems that are thousands of years old. “They have just gotten … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Hannah Fulton, assistant professor of art at Louisiana Christian University, has had a photograph chosen to be part of the 2027 Promotional Calendar for the Louisiana Office of State Parks. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Office of State Parks announced last week the winners of the 2027 Promotional Calendar Photo Contest, which celebrates the spectacular landscapes, wildlife, outdoor adventures and historic treasures found throughout Louisiana. “Louisiana state parks are some of the most beautiful places in our state, and these photographs do an incredible job of capturing what makes them so special,” Nungesser said in a press release. “We are proud to showcase the incredible talent of these photographers and hope these images inspire even more people to get outside and experience Louisiana State Parks for themselves.” Fulton’s photograph of Forts Randolph and Buhlow’s nature boardwalk trail will be featured for August. “It’s a beautiful historic location,” Fulton said. “I remember a school group having a field day while I was there. I really enjoyed being immersed in the forest, seeing wildlife and capturing a place subjected to time. It makes me … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University held its annual Founders Day and freshman convocation Chapel, Aug. 18, welcoming its incoming Class of 2030 into the Wildcat Family. President Mark Johnson told the freshmen they are now part of the 120-year story of LCU (formerly known as Louisiana College). “Today marks more than the beginning of a semester,” Johnson said. “It marks the beginning of a new chapter in your life. Class of 2030, today you become part of a story that began 120 years ago.” Student Government Association President Journi Singleton welcomed freshmen into the Wildcat family. “You have people here who are not only going to challenge you but also encourage you,” she said. “They’ll celebrate you and walk alongside you on your journey.” Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director Steve Horn encouraged students to plug into a local church while in college and cultivate lifelong friendships. Darrell Basco, chief operating officer with the City of Pineville, welcomed students on behalf of the mayor and the city. He graduated from LC in 1997 in criminal justice and worked as the chief of police for Pineville, serving the police department for … [Read more...]

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - The Louisiana Christian University Department of Convergence Media attended the National Metro Media & Communications Association annual summer conference, July 21-24 in Pensacola Beach. Media Professor Jeff Young and students Jacob Mercer and Danny Cobb represented the university at the conference, which focuses on worship, professional media training, breakout sessions and networking opportunities. MMCA is a professional organization of full-time church media directors from across the nation, who are dedicated to providing community, technical instruction and spiritual support for individuals serving full-time in media, production and communication ministries. “Connections were made in recruiting students and securing internships for students,” Young said. “While representing the university, the students were able to attend general sessions on leadership and spiritual growth along with educational sessions.” Seventy-five full-time media directors attended, along with 25 national vendors representing state-of-the-art media equipment that many churches use today. “Networking is the key and the students made many connections with potential employers,” Young said. … [Read more...]

By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Artificial intelligence is not only one of the hottest topics but also one of the most frightening in our world today. Education is one of the sectors of society where changes are already being felt. Louisiana Christian University held its first in a series of online roundtable discussions on AI, July 28. “Guinn Conversations: AI & Education—What AI Can’t Replace” was hosted by LCU President Mark Johnson and included some of Central Louisiana’s education leaders—former LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil, LSUA Chancellor Elizabeth Beard, Rapides Parish School Board President Jeff Powell, and former Central Louisiana Technical Community College Chancellor Jimmy Sawtelle. Johnson said the idea for these conversations came from the fifth president of LCU, G. Earl Guinn and his dedication to engaging with the community and society. The impact of AI on education and today’s society as a whole are significant, Johnson said, and that’s only going to continue to increase. It’s important that we engage with each other on ways to both embrace and tame this power. “It’s important to know the pulse of the community, not just to educate students,” Coreil said. Beard said it is the … [Read more...]

By LCU News PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) - Louisiana Christian University will hold Guinn Conversations July 28 at 6 p.m. live on its YouTube channel. The event will be a roundtable discussion on artificial intelligence and its growing impact on education.   “AI and Education: What AI can’t replace” will feature Central Louisiana educational leaders including LCU President Mark Johnson, former LSUA Chancellor Paul Coriel, LSUA Chancellor Elizabeth Beard, former CLTCC Chancellor Jimmy Sawtelle, and Rapides Parish School Board Superintendent Jeff Powell.  The event will stream live from LCU's YouTube channel. This is a virtual event. There will be no live audience.  … [Read more...]