https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZwkJeT34i0 RUSTON - The days can be long and difficult for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief workers. But what helps these volunteers get through the hard times, the long days and the back-breaking work is the knowledge they are bringing hope and healing found in Jesus Christ to those in need. "We know in a disaster God is working all around us," said Eddie Blackmon, Director of Disaster Response and Recovery with the North American Mission Board. "And in disaster relief we are joining God every day where he is working." Since March 28, Blackmon has manned the incident command trailer at Rolling Hills Ministries in Ruston where he has been overseeing disaster relief efforts caused by the worst flooding Louisiana has seen in decades. He and other volunteers have assessed 1,267 homes, cleaned up 308, and served 53,915 meals. They also have  presented the gospel 331 times, resulting in 29 decisions to accept Christ. For more information on volunteering with disaster relief efforts in Louisiana, click here. … [Read more...]

PINEVILLE - The state of our nation and world continues to decline, burdening the heart of Christians around the world. In the Old Testament, alarming circumstances, such as we see in America and in our state would have caused men of God to call for a solemn gathering of God’s people to pray. Dr. Brewer has heard the call from the Lord concerning the situation that we face concerning the state of our nation, our churches, and our college. As a result, we are gathering either in front of Alexandria Hall or in Guinn Auditorium, depending upon the weather, to praise the Lord and pray for spiritual awakening around the world. This effort will bring the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, and students together for a time of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (ACTS) before the Lord. I would like to encourage all faculty and staff to attend this service today at 4 p.m. as we seek to praise and pray for the Lord’s direction and favor upon our nation, churches, and college. See you there! Dr. Rick Brewer, President … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LC communications PINEVILLE - While Louisiana’s legislature continues to discuss the future of TOPS funding, recent action by the legislature means that Louisiana College students will not receive the final 20 percent of previously allocated TOPS funding. However, because of strategic budgeting, a commitment to the stewardship of available funds, and a concern for the finances of our students, Louisiana College will voluntarily absorb any TOPS funding shortfall for the 2016 spring semester. “Although Louisiana’s private colleges and institutions were not required to absorb the loss of the final allocation of TOPS funding, we chose to do so,” said Dr. Rick Brewer, president of LC. “Alleviating the additional stress of this financial burden for our students and their parents was first and foremost in LC’s assignment of budget resources.” … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message PINEVILLE (LBM) - On Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Bolton Chapel, Manny Klepper will share his memories of Kristallnacht – “The Night of Broken Glass.” On that night in November 1938, members of the Hitler Youth, SS and Nazi storm troopers attacked Jewish places of business and worship. They broke into Jewish homes and brutalized Jewish men, women and children. This night of violence was a precursor to the “Final Solution” – Nazi Germany’s systematic attempt to annihilate European Jews. Students, faculty and members of the public are invited to hear  Klepper discuss his experiences of growing up as a Jewish boy in Nazi Germany and the lessons he learned from the Holocaust.  Students attending this presentation will receive one cultural credit. … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, LC communications PINEVILLE (LC News) - On March 5, 2015, the Louisiana College Board of Trustees unanimously elected Dr. Rick Brewer as the ninth president of LC. On April 7, Brewer officially took office. A year ago, Brewer shared his vision for the college with trustees, faculty, staff, students and local media, saying he initially would “listen, learn and lead.” Brewer did lots of listening. He met with small groups on campus that represented LC’s various academic and administrative leaders and members. Proving his claim to be student-centric, Brewer -- on the night of his election -- met with students for coffee and conversation in the inaugural “Brewing with Brewer” get-together. He continues to attend other student activities. From Tennessee to Texas and across the Bayou State, Brewer has met with alumni groups, has preached, led worship, played piano concerts, and met with pastors, parents and prospective students -- all the while listening carefully to the heartbeat of the Louisiana College family. Undaunted by the vestige of problems that hampered the college in the few years prior to his arrival, Brewer used the listening sessions for assessment, planning and developing rebuilding … [Read more...]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT1uELyYuD8&nohtml5=False HAMMOND – The body of Christ came together following record flooding that fell in Louisiana in mid-March. In virtually every area of the state, churches and various organizations helped those affected clean up their homes. Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Southeast Regional Coordinator Tom Long said the unity is a great witness to the world. “A lot of the local churches and other groups are involved,” Long said. “Many of them were able to get going actually before we were this time because of the widespread deal we had to deal with.” … [Read more...]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bILONfKJ7nk By Message Staff Last month’s flooding in Louisiana flooded more than 14,000 thousands structures, including 14 Southern Baptist churches. In response, many churches have taken up special ‘love’ offerings to help the affected congregations clean up and rebuild as well as to help their sister churches with their efforts to restore or rebuild their facilities. “That’s what I love about Southern Baptists,” McMillan said. “When there’s a need and Baptists know about it, they’ll pray and they’ll give and many will go in response so they can help make a difference.” … [Read more...]

By Deanna Wallace, Louisiana Right to Life BATON ROUGE -  The Louisiana House of Representatives has passed two important pieces of pro-life legislation, HB 386, the Women's Enhanced Reflection Act, and HB 488, the Board Certification Requirement for Abortion Providers Act. The bills now move to the Senate. HB 386, authored by Rep. Frank Hoffmann (R-West Monroe) and approved by a vote of 89-5 on Wednesday, would increase the current time for reflection between pre-abortion counseling and the actual abortion procedure from 24 hours to 72 hours. Louisiana Right to Life Legislative Director Deanna Wallace said, "We are thrilled that the Women's Enhanced Reflection Act passed the House floor in a strong bipartisan manner.  This important bill empowers women considering abortion with additional reflection time before an abortion so women can can consider their options more effectively. Not only would this protect women from future emotional and psychological harm, but it would give victims of coercion and violence more time to reach out for help before being forced into an abortion they do not want." HB 488, authored by Rep. Katrina Jackson (D-Monroe) and unanimously approved on Wednesday, would require that abortion … [Read more...]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bZaiQnnEUA By Message Staff COVINGTON – Waylon Bailey has a message for all those affected personally by the recent flooding in Louisiana – the key on the road to recovery is to lean on one another and God for encouragement. Bailey speaks from first-hand experience. He also knows just how beneficial Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams can be to people trying to recover from a natural disaster. In late 2005, after Hurricane Katrina devastated parts of southeast Louisiana, disaster relief teams from Louisiana and throughout the US showed up in force. For several months, teams worked out of the parking lot at First Baptist Church in Covington, where Bailey serves as pastor. Throughout that time, teams not only helped rebuild homes but offered a spiritual uplifting to many who were hurting. Ten years later, disaster relief teams have come to the state once again to give a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name. “Based on Hurricane Katrina, remember the same God who is always been with you in the past is going to be with you,” Bailey said. “There are people who are going to show up and they are going to continue to show up and help and encourage. “We all need church,” he said. “We … [Read more...]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhHC_8bRsCg HAMMOND – The need for more volunteers to respond to clean-up efforts in the state is great said Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Southeast Regional Coordinator Tom Long. “Get involved,” Long said. “We can get people involved who haven’t been trained. We have a program set up where we can sign them up to send them out with our regular teams.” For more information on donating or volunteering with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief efforts, go to louisianabaptists.org/DisasterRelief. … [Read more...]