By Gary D. Myers and Marilyn Stewart NEW ORLEANS, La. - The inauguration of Jamie Dew, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College, reflected the tone that is the mark of Dew’s new presidency—humility and service like Jesus. Since Dew’s election on June 5, 2019, his challenge to the seminary family, and all who would join him, is to take up the towel and the basin and follow Jesus’ example of serving others. Dew opened his inaugural address by reading from 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 – a passage that describes how God uses the common and humble things of this world to accomplish His purposes. Glory, the passage says, is reserved for God and God alone. “I am humbled to say the least. I feel the weight of this moment unlike any other moment I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I am humbled by the trust that has been placed in me and the love you have expressed to my family and to me,” Dew said. Despite the historic nature of the inauguration, Dew directed listeners’ focus to the mission rather than to himself. He called those gathered to ponder the brokenness of the world and their roles in proclaiming the name of Jesus throughout the nations. Dew thought of the thousands of hurting people in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) -- A partnership between Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and Home Depot has generated more than $950,000 in funds for disaster relief responses since 2017. This money represents a financial windfall from donations by Home Depot amounting to 5 percent of all purchases made by Southern Baptists who had registered their credit or debit cards for the program. This additional funding from Home Depot stores has supported deployments of disaster relief teams to help impacted areas across the United States, according to Louisiana Baptists State Disaster Relief Coordinator Gibbie McMillan. Funds are given to the North American Mission Board, which disperses money equally to the Southern Baptist state conventions. Rebates from the partnership funded 92 percent of the costs of a $4,500 disaster relief trip taken by an Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association chainsaw team to an area of Connecticut devastated by a tornado in late May 2019, McMillan said. Team members saw four people accept Christ during their week of ministry in Southbury, Connecticut. “What eternal souls are you engaging when you respond to a need like this,” McMillan said. “Only eternity will … [Read more...]

By Louisiana Right to Life NEW ORLEANS – Today, the national pro-life policy organization Americans United for Life (AUL) announced that Louisiana is the most pro-life state in America. AUL released its 2020 "Defending Life" report after analyzing progress made legislatively or in litigation in 2019. The annual report contains its annual "Life List ranking all 50 states based on each state's body of law associated with the life issues, ranging from abortion to euthanasia. AUL's decision to place Louisiana at the top of the list was based on the strong Louisiana pro-life legislation passed in 2019, Louisiana’s role in the upcoming June Medical Services v. Gee Supreme Court case, the presence of the Love Life Constitutional Amendment on the 2020 ballot, and the continued bipartisan commitment to the pro-life cause. "We are thankful that Louisiana has been named the most pro-life state in the nation by Americans United for Life," said Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life. "In Louisiana, we are proud of our commitment to the protection of every human life and the safeguarding of the health and safety of mothers. We appreciate our Legislature and Gov. Edwards for their steadfast and bipartisan … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – The next generation of young professionals will be challenged to be a voice for biblical truth during the upcoming Collegiate Evangelism Conference, set for Feb. 14-15 at Louisiana College’s Guinn Auditorium in Pineville. The theme for the conference is “thrive.” “We are encouraging students to develop in discipleship and understanding and application of God’s word in their lives so they may thrive in Him,” Louisiana Baptists state Baptist Collegiate Ministry Director Mark Robinson told the Baptist Message. CEC will feature three speakers: James Doughty, pastor of First Baptist Church in Monroe, Stephen Daigle, associate pastor of Celebration Church in Metairie, and Robinson. Leading music will be the Jason Lovins Band, a Christian contemporary band from Ashland, Kentucky. Those attending the conference will have a chance to learn about possible summer jobs and missions opportunities at booths manned by various national camp staffs situated throughout the foyer of Guinn Auditorium. Students also will have a chance to attend breakout sessions that center around the conference theme. Robinson said a highlight of the conference each year is a chance for … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer SOROCABA, Brazil (LBM) – David Denton has issued a call to prayer ahead of a Louisiana Baptist-led annual summer mission trip to Brazil. Among the most pressing needs are funding for construction of a chapel that the team will build and guidance as Denton, coordinator of the trip, and Gene Jenkins travel to Brazil to finalize logistics in mid-February. Jenkins is construction coordinator and the brother of Wayne Jenkins, former Louisiana Baptist evangelism and church growth director who passed away Nov. 13, 2018, after leading 34 mission trips to the country. “This preview trip will not only enable us to take care of details like housing and transportation but will also provide opportunity for face to face conversations with our coordinator and local Brazilian pastors who will be participating in the work,” Denton told the Baptist Message. “I am praying that God will lead us to have meaningful conversations about kingdom cooperation. These Brazilian pastors have a big task as they seek to mobilize their people for this effort. Please pray for all these things as they are all essential for our trip.” Last year, 56 participants led 1,835 Brazilians to the Lord. These new believers … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Executive Eidtor PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) — A Louisiana College bachelor’s degree is one of the best investments of tuition paid in the state, according to research conducted by Georgetown University. Comparing earnings at the 10-year point to the debt held for the degree earned, this collegiate ministry of Louisiana Baptists ranked second in the state among the 22 four-year colleges and universities that offer more than an associate’s degree or certificates. Among the eight private nonprofit schools against which it competes, Louisiana College ranked first on this metric. Meanwhile, the Town Talk, a public newspaper in Alexandria, citing christianuniversitiesonline.org, reported that Louisiana College “is the fourth most affordable Christian college in the South, North and Midwest.” In comments about the Georgetown University study rankings, Louisiana College President Rick Brewer told the Town Talk he is committed to doing even more to make Louisiana College “affordable and accessible, especially for those who value a liberal arts education built upon a biblical worldview.” “The more affordable and accessible our undergraduate programs are,” he continued, “the more likely the opportunities our … [Read more...]