By Norm Miller, Louisiana College News PINEVILLE (LCNews) - The societal ills poverty brings are indisputable. From health risks to increased crime rates, and from a sense of helplessness to illiteracy, poverty claims many victims. A Princeton University study states that children living below the poverty threshold “are 1.3 times as likely as non-poor children to experience learning disabilities and developmental delays.” Best-selling author Linda Karges-Bone addressed the challenges poverty levies on college students at Louisiana College’s annual faculty workshop in a presentation titled “Three Strikes and You’re In: The Truth about Meeting the Needs of First-Generation College Students Who Live in Poverty.” Bone’s research reiterated the long-standing poverty rates in Louisiana, with CenLa graphically noted among the most impoverished regions in the state. Drawing from her best-selling book, “Rich Brain, Poor Brain: Bridging Social and Synaptic Gaps in Schools,” Karges-Bone used the August 14 session to both motivate and inform faculty and staff on brain-friendly strategies to increase retention and success of all students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds. “Retention, retention, retention,” she … [Read more...]

LAKE CHARLES - The problem seemed insurmountable for two senior citizen ladies whose backyard was covered with a fallen tree. However, their prayers were answered when a team from Carey Baptist Association showed up Saturday, Aug. 19, to remove the tree that fell two months earlier after a powerful storm came through the area. Association disaster relief coordinator Rob Tibbitts said the team of 15 worked tirelessly to cut up the tree and stack it on the curb. Because of the massive size of the tree, only half of the tree would fit on the curb. Once the City of Lake Charles removes the first pile of debris, the team will return to finish the tree removal. "We were able to pray with the homeowner, give her a Bible signed by each of the team members, and share Christ with her through our words and our actions," said Tibbitts, also pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in Vinton. "She was blown away people still cared enough to do this kind of stuff for her." Of those who served on the team, some were first-time volunteers. Among those were parents who came with their children. Tibbitts said that each of the team members expressed their desire to return for future projects. "They got to not only serve in their community … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA - Central Louisiana’s first pregnancy center has found its director. Leaders with the Cenla Pregnancy Center have scheduled a press conference for noon Friday, Aug. 25 to introduce the director and announce the date of when it will open. Marksville’s Clair Lemoine, who has worked more than 20 years in maternal child nursing, will be at the helm when the center opens. According to board president Brian Gunter, senior pastor at First Baptist of Pollock, Lemoine has 10 years of experience serving low-income, first-time pregnant women in a home setting. Located next to the Baptist Building at 1254 MacArthur Drive in Alexandria, the center will offer pregnancy decision coaching by trained advocates, free pregnancy tests, free ultrasounds, information about pregnancy options, maternity and physical resources and post-decision support including parenting education and abortion recovery groups. More than 200 churches of multiple Christian denominations have worked together to establish the pregnancy resource center, a non-profit, pro-life organization that will provide compassionate support to women and men faced with difficult pregnancy decisions. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE – Students wishing to further their education at Louisiana College now have even more options with the addition of three graduate level degree programs and a bachelor of science in computer science, school leaders announced Aug. 17. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-Commission on Colleges approved the new programs along with permitting LC to offer classes completely online. “When you look at the demographics, there is a declining number of young people available for traditional undergraduate education,” LC President Dr. Rick Brewer said. “But there is still a demand, still a need for Christian education.” Brewer noted that the “heart and soul of Christian education is not to equip students for just a job. But the heart and soul, the purpose of what we do, is to equip students for life.” When Brewer came to the school in 2015, only the Master of Arts in Teaching degree was offered. Now, LC has expanded its graduate level degrees with the addition of the Master in Social Work and Master in Education in Educational Leadership and the RN to MSN track that will enroll registered nurses practicing with an associate degree in nursing or hospital diploma to … [Read more...]

By Message Staff MORGAN CITY – The 15 churches of Gulf Coast Baptist Association are devoting the month of August to a series of prayer meetings in preparation for a harvest of souls during its crusade featuring evangelist Bill Britt. Scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27-30 at the Bayou Vista Community Center in Morgan City, the Gulf Coast Crusade will include powerful messages by Britt and special music by Dwight Fitch, worship leader at Celebration Church in New Orleans. Throughout this month, the churches have participated in a pre-crusade rally at Little Pass Baptist Church in Charenton. Also scheduled is a prayer meeting at Unity One Baptist Church in Centerville at 7 p.m. Aug. 23 and a prayer walk at 4 p.m. Aug. 26 on the grounds of Bayou Vista Community Center. Individual churches also plan on holding prayer meetings in their members’ homes. Director of Missions Steven Kelly said since eight of his 15 churches have an average weekly worship attendance of under 50 people, the combined effort allows them the opportunity to participate in a revival featuring Britt, who is well known in Baptist circles for seeing many people saved during his revivals. For such harvest to take place during the Gulf Coast Crusade, Kelly … [Read more...]

By Message Staff PINEVILLE (LBM) - Moving day can be hectic, and even a little chaotic, but the presence of a large welcoming committee Saturday, Aug.12, made all the difference for Louisiana College’s incoming freshmen and transfer students. Campus administration, members of the community, campus staff, football players and even the cheerleaders were on hand to welcome the new arrivals while also offering a ‘helping hand’carrying in their personal items. While final enrollment numbers will not be available until the final day of registration Aug. 28, LC President Rick Brewer is optimistic that the incoming freshmen class will be larger than last year’s. He said it is possible 330 new freshmen and 70 transfer students could enroll at LC for the fall semester, an increase from 250 freshmen and 50 transfer students for the 2016-2017 academic year. “The growth the college is experiencing is a result of the Lord blessing the work of our faculty, coaches, staff, administration through innovative strategies for student recruitment, scholarships, spiritual development, athletics and academic programming,” Brewer said in an e-mail to the Baptist Message. “The LC family passionately pursues the college’s mission for … [Read more...]

By Message Staff   DEVILLE (LBM) – CEO of one of the largest businesses in Central Louisiana, Roy O. Martin III realizes his company is a mission field Employing more than 1,200 people in the plywood and timber industry, Martin emphasizes each Christ follower has his or her own specific God-given purpose in the workplace and community. And ultimately, all Christians share Jesus’ commandment to make disciples and share the Gospel. “We are programmed to be disciples of Jesus Christ,” said Martin, a long-time Sunday school teacher at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria. “We are built for that purpose.” Martin was the keynote speaker during the ReGroup conference attended by 261 people at Philadelphia  Baptist Church in Deville, one of three such sites for the Aug. 12 event. First Baptist Church in Covington drew 248 people while First Baptist Church in Mandeville had 105 at the first-ever Hispanic ReGroup. The conference also featured music and breakout sessions for small group leadership in the areas of Sunday school, discipleship, bi-vocational pastors, special needs ministry, recovery and support groups, youth and children. Bee Keen attended ReGroup with others from First Baptist Church in … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil – In the 33 years Wayne Jenkins has participated in mission trips to Brazil, 26 times while representing Louisiana Baptists, he has seen multitudes saved, including 2,568 this year, and 65 church buildings erected, counting the three added in July. But one of his most special memories took place this year when his grandson, J’Von, was baptized – the first time a member of the U.S. team has done so in Brazil. Already a believer before the summer mission trip, J’Von had not followed through with baptism. It was while experiencing God’s presence during the mission trip that he felt compelled to take that next step of obedience. His father, David Denton, pastor of Highland Baptist Church in New Iberia, baptized him in the team hotel pool. SINGULARLY SIGNIFICANT “Two years ago I had two grandsons make professions of faith while on a mission trip and now to have J’Von follow through with a decision is an added blessing,” said Jenkins, director of evangelism and church growth for Louisiana Baptists. “God does a work in the lives of those who go on mission as well as those we go to minister to.” Denton said J’Von had been exposed numerous times to the … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA (LBM) – Evangelist Bill Britt has been guided 40 years by the message of Luke 14:23 to “go out into highways and hedges” and share the Gospel, compelling him to go near and far to reach the lost with a message of hope. The result has been multitudes of new believers who now enjoy saved souls from placing their trust in Jesus, but who also live saved lives because of the discipleship Britt ensures through such follow up activities as the seminary training of pastors to lead the new flocks that result. A TEAM EFFORT Britt is not alone in his ministry and he credits his wife, Wendy, for taking on critical out-front and behind-the-scenes roles that have helped Compel Outreach International change hearts with the Gospel, and, to alter the human condition of many through the aid of compassion ministries. “She is the voice and face of COI with our sponsors for 200 orphans, and she keeps up with the orphans – how they are doing physically, and with their school,” Britt said. “She’s the point woman for taking care of their needs – raising money for school supplies, collecting clothing and more. “These are important relationships and functions,” he said, adding, “and she has to … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH – Fourteen students said yes to Jesus during the final day of the last Kids Camp. Overall 40 campers made professions throughout all three camps which saw a total of 997 camp participants. “Jesus does for us what we can’t do for ourselves,” camp pastor Corey Olivier told the second through sixth graders. He said to say “yes” to Jesus who was the only person able to rescue them from their sin. “We’ve been teaching them, going through some of the key passages of the old testament, showing how God invites them to be a part of some pretty amazing things,” Olivier said. “It’s a great camp for us to share the gospel and disciple kids. It’s a joy to be a part of all that’s going on.” Olivier’s message came during the third and final Kids Camp of 2017 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, which began July 30 and concluded Aug. 2. More than 330 children and adults leaders took part in worship sessions, Bible studies, archery, paddle boat rides, bazooka ball and basketball at the final of three camps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLERyhW0HuA The theme was Let’s Go to Camp, based on various passages from the Exodus story, which many campers took to … [Read more...]