By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM)—U.S. Representative Steve Scalise (R-Jefferson Parish), who as minority whip is the number two ranking Republican in the House, took time May 10 to speak to members of the Louisiana Baptist Committee on Moral and Social Concerns. The group was holding its spring meeting in Baton Rouge at the Pentagon Barracks office of Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. Scalise thanked the committee for Louisiana Baptists’ strong pro-life stances and shared about his efforts in Congress to force a vote on the “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act." The legislation, which has been blocked by the Democrat majority in the House, would mandate that babies who survive an abortion procedure be given the same standard of medical care offered to a baby of the same gestational age who is born prematurely. “Who would have ever guessed we would have to debate in America whether a baby born alive should be protected?” Scalise said. “But our ability to protect innocent life has never been more in jeopardy.” Scalise added that President Joe Biden’s rolling back of protections for the unborn was a key reason Republicans needed to get focused on “taking back the House … [Read more...]
Strong spring storms hammer state, causes extensive damage
By Baptist Message staff HALL SUMMIT, La. (LBM) – Fifteen members of a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team spent Tuesday, May 11, clearing debris from around homes in Hall Summit that sustained damaged from a storm that came through the area the prior day. Marvin Leleux, incident commander for the team comprised of members from Natchitoches, Red River and Sabine parishes, and Keith Bryant and Matt Trahan with the Shreveport Volunteer Network, removed trees that fell on or near three homes in the community. Leleux, who is also a pastor of Springhill Baptist Church in Ringgold, said the team was grateful to be a part of being Christ’s hands and feet to those in need. “We were thankful in getting those people back on their feet as soon as possible,” Leleux told the Baptist Message. “You can’t pay me enough to do this, but in Jesus’ name I would do this all day long.” The storm destroyed at least one home, ripped off roofs from other homes, damaged vehicles and downed utility trees and poles throughout Red River Parish, KSLA News 12 reported. Hail produced from the storm also knocked out car windows in Caspiano and vehicles at the Joe D. Waggoner Jr. Lock and Dam No. 5, located on Red River south of the … [Read more...]
FRC plans Baton Rouge expansion of its nationwide operations
By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – The Family Research Council has purchased the former Trinity Lutheran Church and Christian school campus in Baton Rouge to use as an additional location for its nationwide operations. FRC President Tony Perkins told the Baptist Message that COVID-19 restrictions, the “tense and turbulent atmosphere” in Washington, D.C., and a need for additional studio and video production space prompted the acquisition. The organization still will use its other office, headquartered in Washington, D.C., and Perkins plans to have a presence at both locations. He has commuted from his home in Baton Rouge to Washington, D.C., for the last 18 years. “The nation has experienced a lot over the last year and we should not be quick to dismiss it as a one-time occurrence,” Perkins said. “What this last year did was expose vulnerabilities and opportunities going forward. In a conversation I had with Dr. Ben Carson, who served on President Trump’s coronavirus taskforce, he predicted that it was very improbable that life would return to the way it was pre-pandemic.” Perkins, who shared the news with a roomful of 25 pastors at the Baton Rouge location May 7, said the FRC’s future … [Read more...]
Robinson ‘followed God’s call,’ earns degree at Louisiana College at 71
By Elizabeth Clarke, LC News PINEVILLE, La. (LC News) - When Mary Robinson came to Louisiana College in 2016, she had already experienced a full lifetime of professional and personal accomplishments—as a teacher, an ordained minister, a mother and grandmother—the Peabody Montessori elementary teacher was happy with the challenges God had placed before her. But the Lord knew Mary was up for a new challenge. “My journey was God’s journey,” Mary said. “I enjoyed working with the children, but I heard the call from God to go back to school.” So that’s exactly what she did at age 67. Mary, now 72, earned her degree in missions and ministries, with a psychology minor, last year during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She participated in Louisiana College Commencement ceremonies May 8. Mary, who grew up in Shreveport, said she has always had the call of God on her life— becoming ordained at 15 as an evangelist. As an adult, she spent many years living all over, as a military wife, finally settling down in Cenla. Robinson worked at Pinecrest State Hospital in Pineville for 30 years, 28 as a manager, before retiring in 1998. Always active in church—the Rose of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church is her current … [Read more...]
LC 166th commencement honors God, celebrates graduates
By Elizabeth Clarke, LC News ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson told the Louisiana College Class of 2021 graduates that there were “only a handful of institutions in America where God could be honored” the way he was at the Louisiana Baptist Convention college’s 166th Commencement Saturday at the Rapides Coliseum. In his commencement address, Johnson, who represents Louisiana’s fourth congressional district, offered the students words of encouragement on the beginning of their journeys as college graduates. “Walk with the Lord; it’s that simple,” Johnson said. “Be humble and faithful in the little things God entrusts you with today. God will reward your faithfulness with more, and you will be set apart.” LC conferred 178 undergraduate and 65 graduate degrees at the day’s ceremony, which also included many of the 2020 graduates, whose commencement exercises last year were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. President Rick Brewer recognized the first seven graduates from the C.S. Lewis Honors College. Four students from the first cohort (2017) of C.S. Lewis Honors College graduated Saturday: • Aaron Howe, B.S., biology • Ragan Delrie, B.S., biology • Carson Elliott. B.S., biology and … [Read more...]
Religious liberty resolution moves forward in legislature
By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – A resolution to protect pastors from civil and criminal penalties for doing essential ministry during an emergency order has moved forward by a vote of 7-4 out of the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee. H.C.R. 5, authored by Rep. Danny McCormick, a member of Trees Baptist Church in Vivian, “Suspends the enforcement of criminal penalties relative to religious assembly … as they relate to emergency proclamations and violations of emergency proclamations.” McCormick invited Gene Mills, president of Louisiana Family Forum, and Will Hall, director of the Louisiana Baptist Office of Public Policy, to join him in advocating for the measure before the committee. Hall said the governor’s office was active in seeking inputs from Louisiana Baptists, the largest non-Catholic religious body in the state, during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, regarding the implementation of emergency orders. But he said the resolution offered to de-escalate situations where a conflict might arise from a pastor doing essential ministries during emergency proclamations. “This is a way, by just taking away the penalties, of avoiding escalation in a situation that … [Read more...]
LBC’s Horn, Bridges, Bailey lead prayers with governor
By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Three Louisiana Baptists were among 10 pastors and other leaders from multiple denominations around the state who led prayers during a special call with Gov. John Bel Edwards on Thursday, May 6. Held on the annual National Day of Prayer through Zoom, Edwards and others prayed for children, teachers, health care and other essential workers; those impacted by a Seacor lift boat that capsized April 13; state and local leaders, including Edwards and his family; Louisianans hurt by the pandemic, hurricanes and winter storms last year; and President Joe Biden and his traveling party as they visited Lake Charles and New Orleans on Thursday. “The National Day of Prayer is a pretty simple recognition that God is in control and we are not,” Edwards said during the opening prayer. “And no matter our station in life, whether you are governor in the sixth year or a pastor, the higher your station in life, the more dependent you are, that I am, that we are, on God. “And I think we know that sometimes (our prayers) match with His plan and sometimes they don’t,” he continued. “But when they don’t, it’s because His plan is perfect and our prayers are not. That should reinforce the need for … [Read more...]
Pastors, morals mocked, but prostitution bill blocked
By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Witnesses mocked the authority of pastors and questioned whether morals should be a consideration for a bill that would have elevated prostitution to legal status. But H.B. 67 was pulled, May 4, by its author, Rep. Mandie Landry (D) of Orleans Parish, when it was clear her proposal did not have majority support on the committee. Bruce Reilly, deputy director of Voice of the Experienced, “a growing network of currently incarcerated people, formerly incarcerated people (FIP) and their loved ones,” according to the group’s website, told the committee “there’s things that are criminalized in our society that are moral and there’s things that harm other people” and argued “there isn’t a victim” in prostitution. “We heard earlier about gambling, which 30 years ago was illegal; and I’m sure some of you have different opinions, morally, about whether gambling is okay or not,” Reilly said. “Maybe your pastors have different opinions about whether it’s okay or not. Things that are legal you don’t have to partake in. You might have a moral opposition to Bama fans living in the state of Louisiana, but the fact is they can live here.” Stacey Lunan, a … [Read more...]
It’s too pristine
By Chuck Kelley Rarely does Hollywood contact a Southern Baptist seminary, but rarely is not never. One day location scouts for a major motion picture to be filmed in New Orleans called NOBTS and asked to tour the campus. They were looking for a place that with a bit of movie magic could be made to look like the United States Coast Guard Academy. As they looked around, the location scouts absolutely loved what they saw. The star of the movie, who was a major Hollywood player, also had to sign off on the location before they could make a formal request to film some scenes within our gates. After looking things over, he overruled the scouts and rejected the recommendation to use NOBTS, saying it was “too pristine,” meaning too unspoiled and fresh. When news of the Hollywood conversation reached the president’s Office, I found it amusing, Upon reflection, I realized how instructive it was for the future facing Baptists. Having lived and worked on the campus for more than four decades, I was accustomed to hearing people speak of how beautiful the campus was and how different it felt when entering our campus from the city of New Orleans. The classic academic quadrangle was designed by A. Hays Town, a legendary Louisiana architect, … [Read more...]
Former Gov. Jimmie Davis to be honored with historical marker at alma mater
By Elizabeth Christian, LC News PINEVILLE, La. (LC News) - Louisiana College will unveil a historical marker in honor of the late two-time governor of the State of Louisiana, Jimmie Davis, in a public ceremony May 7. The musician-turned-politician, Davis served as the governor from 1944-1948 and again from 1960-1964. Perhaps his most lasting legacy, however, is the Grammy-award winning song “You Are My Sunshine,” written in 1940 and named one of the greatest songs of the century by the Recording Industry Association of America. “Gov. Davis is one of Louisiana College’s most famous and successful alumni,” said President Rick Brewer. “We are honored to pay tribute to his lasting legacy as governor and as a prolific songwriter and musician.” Former Louisiana State Sen. Jim Brown and local historians Michael Wynn and Mike Tudor, whose great-grandfather was a friend of Davis, will speak at the unveiling ceremony. Davis graduated from Louisiana College in 1924 with a degree in history and went on to earn his master’s degree at Louisiana State University, before starting a career in music and later politics. Known as the singing governor, Davis often performed for crowds on his campaign stops around Louisiana … [Read more...]
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