By Norm Miller, Louisiana College communications PINEVILLE - The inauguration ceremony of Dr. Rick Brewer is the highlight event of a two-day celebration at Louisiana College, Sept. 17-18. Scheduled for Sept. 18 in Guinn Auditorium, the inaugural service begins at 2 p.m. The celebration begins officially with a Sept. 17 student chapel service in Guinn that will feature Michael Joe Harvell, pastor of Grace Place Ministries in Greer, South Carolina. Harvell also will keynote a special inaugural worship service at 7 p.m., Sept. 17. Keynoting the inauguration ceremony will be Dr. Don Wilton, pastor of First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina. No stranger to Louisiana and CenLa as well, Wilton is a graduate and former professor of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. During the early 1980s, Wilton had an Alexandria-based evangelistic ministry. The Sept. 18 ceremony also will feature several members of the LC family, as well as Dr. David Hankins, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, and Pineville’s Mayor Clarence Fields. “These are exciting and invigorating days for Louisiana College,” Brewer said. “Cathy and I are humbled that God has allowed the opportunity to serve at … [Read more...]

By Norm Miller, Louisiana College communications PINEVILLE - The sense of confidence that buoyed Louisiana College’s employees and stakeholders when Dr. Rick Brewer arrived as president in March of this year remains intact and even thrives with the prospects of recent accomplishment and future goals. “We have hope again,” said Byron McGee, who recently became vice president for institutional advancement. “What we are hearing from pastors, business leaders and alumni in CenLa and beyond is that Louisiana College’s future looks bright with Dr. Brewer as president. We all have been waiting for a leader who is not only a visionary, but is one who seizes the dream and makes it a reality,” McGee said. Having arrived only a few months ago, Brewer said he brings “decades of experience and success in growing an academic institution as evidenced by the double-digit and even exponential categorical successes God granted.” “We are grateful for the 1,109 students now enrolled at Louisiana College,” Brewer continued. “And though our enrollment has trended downward during the last 5 years, we need to remember that an institution the size of Louisiana College can hardly reverse a trend of several years in only a few … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS – In the days following the death of her husband, a beloved professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Christi Gibson has seen the Christian community rally around her and her family. And she now wants others to know they should feel free to reach out to others for help in overcoming a certain sin in their own lives. “The message we hope to get out is that we must do life in community,” Christi Gibson said. “And that means having some sort of environment where we hold each other accountable, are transparent, and talk about our struggles. She said we must adopt the attitude that “whatever it takes for us to get real in the Christian community, we are ready to do it. We are going to walk in truth.” Tragedy  Christi Gibson arrived home from work at approximately 5:30 pm. Aug. 24 when she discovered her husband, John, unresponsive at their home on the seminary campus. She immediately notified emergency medical services. Unfortunately, EMS responders were unable to revive him, and they pronounced him dead at the scene. Leavell College students were notified of their professor’s death during the first class period Aug. 25 and morning classes were … [Read more...]

By Staff, Louisiana Right to Life Two protests against Planned Parenthood will be held in Louisiana tomorrow in conjunction with Women Betrayed: The Real Stories Rally and Lobby Day at noon in Washington, D.C. Locals will gather in Baton Rouge from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside Planned Parenthood Baton Rouge (3955 Government St., Suite 2) and from 5-6:30 p.m. at the new Planned Parenthood construction site at 4636 S. Claiborne Ave. in New Orleans. Protests are being held around the country Thursday in conjunction with the Washington, D.C. rally as citizens show their opposition to Planned Parenthood's abortion and baby-parts selling business. Pro-lifers will be urging Congress to defund the abortion business in this year's budget as they stand in solidarity for the unborn. There are no official programs at the local events, but Louisiana Right to Life officials, as well as leaders of Louisiana Students for Life, will be present and available for interviews. … [Read more...]

By Staff, Baptist Message NEW ORLEANS -- The Orleans Parish coroner has yet to release an official cause of the Aug. 24th death of 56-year-old John Gibson, a beloved professor, at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. However, Trey Gibson, the professor’s son, shared his father’s death appeared to come at his own hand during a chapel service Sept. 8. Dr. Chuck Kelley, president of NOBTS, said he could not comment further on the cause of death until the coroner’s report is complete. “On the first day of classes, we had the unexpected death of a much loved professor, colleague, and friend Dr. John Gibson,” Kelley told the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary family during a chapel service Sept. 8. “We learned that he made some very sad and unfortunate choices in his life, and his son shared in his memorial service his death appeared to come at his own hand.” Gibson was discovered at his home on the seminary campus at approximately 5:30 p.m., Aug. 24, by his wife when she arrived home from work. After finding Gibson unresponsive, she immediately notified emergency medical service. EMS workers were unable to revive him, and Gibson was pronounced dead at the scene. Leavell College students were notified of … [Read more...]