By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)–Via Dropbox and video messages Louisiana Baptist Convention entity heads delivered their respective reports to the Executive Board, May 5.
LOUISIANA COLLEGE
Louisiana College President Rick Brewer told board members that God is working despite challenges presented by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
He shared that the school has received more than $15,000 toward production of a 3D printer to make frames for the protective face shields that are in demand by hospitals and clinics. Natalie Maxey, an assistant professor of engineering at Louisiana College, has used an on-campus lab to make the shields since March 25.
“Almost every minute of almost every hour she is making essential items that we are sending to places like Lafayette, places here in central Louisiana, places around our state who need this protective equipment and who will continue to need it,” Brewer said.
Another innovation has been to shift all instruction online, March 30, to facilitate remote learning – a move made possible by a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Brewer said the school received the grant in 2019, and saved Louisiana College more than $100,000 in costs to launch internet classes.
“Online education is not just like flipping a switch,” Brewer said. “It’s an art and a science to do it well. And our students deserve that. They are paying money to get a great Christian education from Louisiana College. So they deserve the best.”
Brewer reminded board members that Louisiana College offers numerous scholarships to help lessen the financial burden for families. These awards include the recently-announced Governor Jimmie Davis Scholarship, which offers full tuition to eligible, incoming freshmen.
“Consider these scholarships as we move into this upcoming year,” Brewer said.
“We face the most challenging period ever in the history of Louisiana College. We can get there. It’s going to take the Lord’s help. It’s going to take your help,” he said in his recorded report. “We are your college. Not only that, we are the only college supported by you, by Louisiana Baptists, through the Cooperative Program, and we are pleased to serve. We are a place that’s preparing graduates, transforming lives, and we hope you will partner with us by encouraging young people to enroll with us.”
CHILDREN’S HOME
For his part, Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries President and CEO Perry Hancock announced that no one on campus has tested positive for coronavirus, so far, and that he is grateful for God’s protection. He noted that administrative staff are working from home;, Granberry counselors are meeting with clients via teleconference; and, cottage parents continue to care for children.
Hancock said Louisiana Baptists’ donations to the annual Fall Food Roundup have helped provide an above average amount of food that is provided to those children who have remained on campus since mid-March.
“Our cottage parents continue with devotions and some have reported unique opportunities to discuss with the children how God provides during difficult times,” he said. “So many of you have called and written asking if you can help. Thank you so much for your concern and your support. We are doing quite well right now.”
Hancock asked that Louisiana Baptists take care of themselves, pray for the children and pray for the cottage parents.
“We all know that God is going to see us through this crisis,” Hancock said. “He is faithful. We know that He is going to give us his presence, his power, his strength, everything that we need. In turn, we need to be faithful to him. We need to continue in our service to each other and we need to be faithful in our walk with the Lord.”
LOUISIANA BAPTIST FOUNDATION
Wayne Taylor, who officially retires this month as Louisiana Baptist Foundation executive director, thanked Louisiana Baptists for allowing him to serve in this role for nearly 25 years; and, he commended those who have invested in Baptist causes for the Kingdom’s sake.
“It’s been a great privilege to meet pastors of churches and people in churches and all the entities and the directors of those entities,” he said during the foundation’s report. “It’s been a great experience.”
Taylor introduced Jeffrey Steed, who assumed the role of executive director April 1.
Steed said he relishes the opportunity to meet Louisiana Baptists and share how they can use their financial gifts to further the Gospel and advance the Kingdom. He also offered to visit LBC congregations to teach a Sunday school lesson or to preach a message about the importance of stewardship.
“We exist to serve you and your church and other ministries around the state of Louisiana,” he said. “If you as an individual want to discuss privately, confidentially, how to benefit the kingdom with a special gift, we’re glad to help. If you’re a church or another ministry or entity that has cash reserves or designated accounts or endowments, the Foundation would be honored to manage those funds. And then if you are a church and interested in scheduling an estate planning seminar for the adults in your church and/or preaching in your church, we’d love to do that.”
BAPTIST MESSAGE
Will Hall provided updates on the Baptist Message as well as the Office of Public Policy. He serves as the executive editor of the paper as well as the director of Louisiana Baptists’ efforts to shape laws with a Christian point of view.
He offered that the Baptist Message, like so many at this moment, is experiencing unprecedented times, noting that a dramatic drop in revenue from advertising as well as decreases in Cooperative Program gifts and subscription payments contributed to a decision for the Baptist Message to temporarily pause the print edition. The publication continues posting breaking news and feature articles on baptistmessage.com.
“This was an unprecedented move, but it was not extreme action,” Hall said. “It was a needed preemptive step under the circumstances in order to keep the Baptist Message viable and vibrant now and in the future.”
Despite the changes, the Baptist Message remains financially stable, he said, pointing out that operating funds have remained steady with the elimination of publishing expenses and that as a result no reserve accounts have had to be used. Additionally, Hall said the Small Business Administration approved a CARES Act loan equal to two-and-a-half months of payroll.
Hall underscored the vital importance of the Baptist Message during the novel coronavirus outbreak on two fronts:
— First, the publication has shared information about extraordinary efforts by churches to overcome obstacles which inspired other news services to do follow-up stories about Louisiana Baptists.
— Second, the Baptist Message played a critical role in alerting Louisiana Baptist churches and evangelists about the developing opportunities offered through the CARES Act to nonprofits.
Regarding his work as director of public policy, Hall said the work of this office has been altered considerably because of state restrictions on gatherings, which caused a postponement until recently of the regular legislative session in Baton Rouge.
Nevertheless, he said work continued on: research and responses to filed bills; participation on two task forces inspired by LBC resolutions (one focused on reducing divorce [assigned to oversight by the Senate], and the other charged with protecting children from online exposure to pornography [placed under the auspices of the Attorney General]); and, the establishment of the Rose Long Foundation (by an ad hoc panel of the Moral and Social Concerns Committee) to engage Louisiana Baptists in the restoration of the lives of children rescued from the ravages of sexual trafficking.
Hall noted the most significant work his office has undertaken this year likely was giving feedback to help shape the CARES Act to include churches and evangelists as qualifying nonprofits (or self-employed persons) with regard to eligibility for the relief loans that will be forgiven if employment goals are met. He added that because of relationships formed with key influencers in Washington, D.C., Louisiana Baptists helped move policy makers to make last minute changes in the SBA’s guidance to banks to clarify specifically that “churches … integrated auxiliaries of churches, and conventions” qualified for the Payroll Protection Program loans and were protected from interference from the government on such things as beliefs regarding marriage.
