[1]EDITOR’S NOTE: BP Ledger carries items for reader information each week from various Southern Baptist-related entities, and news releases of interest from other sources. The items are published as received.
Today’s BP Ledger contains items from:
Louisiana College
Baptist Record (Mississippi)
Boyce College
Louisiana College receives
update from SACSCOC
By Norm Miller
PINEVILLE, La. (Louisiana College) — Louisiana College president, Dr. Rick Brewer, received notice today that the college’s probationary status has been extended to allow the college to provide more information regarding Comprehensive Standard 3.2.4, External Influence.
“Our accreditation remains intact,” Brewer said, “and our academic reputation speaks for itself. We remain encouraged because of the recent upsurge of interest in and support for the college. Our stakeholders continue to entrust their students into our care as evidenced by our enrollment numbers that are on track,” Brewer added.
An official of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) notified Brewer of its governing board decision via telephone, saying that a detailed letter about the matter is forthcoming.
[2]During the coming weeks, officials from both SACSCOC and LC will confer prior to the college filing an official response later this year.
“We are crafting several academic and revenue development initiatives that we anticipate launching this year. We believe these efforts underscore our commitment to preparing graduates and transforming lives in a culture that is relational, rigorous and relevant,” he said.
“We are confident that the good work God began on the hill in Pineville back in 1906 will continue for his glory and the sake of the gospel,” Brewer said. “Our commitment to the intellectual and spiritual growth of LC’s students remains firm and strong.”
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Norm Miller is director of communications at Louisiana College.
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Miss. WMU welcomes
new director
By William H. Perkins Jr.
JACKSON, Miss. (Baptist Record) — Cindy M. Townsend was unanimously elected May 15 by the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB) executive committee and the Mississippi Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) executive board to serve as the fifth executive director-treasurer of the WMU auxiliary to the Mississippi Baptist Convention.
Members of WMU’s executive board also approved a change to the job title to reflect the organization’s expanding ministries.
Townsend, director of the Global Leadership Institute at Jackson Preparatory School, has a rich history with Mississippi Baptists. Her father, the late Byron R. Malone, was a longtime pastor in the state. She has served as minister of students and discipleship at Highland Colony Church, Madison (1996-2002); student minister at First Church, Jackson (1987-96); interim education and youth/singles minister at Woodville Heights Church, Jackson (1983-87); and music and youth director at Lena Church, Lena (1979-1980).
“I’m sure all members of the Mississippi Woman’s Missionary Union rejoice with me in The Lord’s provision of a new leader, Dr. Cynthia Malone Townsend. Cindy has strong leadership abilities, great creativity, and a winsome personality,” said Janet Green, Mississippi WMU president. “It is her desire to help individuals grow in their spiritual depth and commitment to The Lord Jesus Christ. She has a heart for the nations and is uniquely gifted with the skills, insights, and experiences needed to lead the women of Mississippi forward in the culture of today.”
“The search committee is excited about the future of Mississippi WMU and its ministries with Dr. Townsend in leadership. She is devoted to involving people in missions. It is her heart,” said Marion Duncan of Starkville, chair of the WMU executive director-treasurer search committee that brought about the recommendation of Townsend.
“Cindy works with teenage girls in her local church through Acteens, leading them to develop a missional lifestyle. She looks forward to visiting in the nine geographical areas of Mississippi WMU and getting to know the women involved in local missions opportunities,” Duncan said.
Jim Futral, executive director-treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, said upon her election, “While Cindy Townsend has spent most of her life in Mississippi, her ministry experiences have touched every age group and reached to the ends of the earth.”
Townsend holds two degrees from Baptist-affiliated Mississippi College in Clinton: a B.S. in music education (’89), and a M.S. Ed. in music (’82). Her husband of 35 years, William R. (Bill) Townsend, is vice-president of institutional advancement and legal counsel to the president of Mississippi College.
She also holds two degrees from New Orleans Seminary: M.A. in Christian Education (’91) and D.Ed. Min.(’12). She served as director of women’s missions and ministry for the Louisiana Baptist Convention (2002-2006).
The Townsends reside in Flowood and have two adult children.
“During this season of my life, I know this call has been orchestrated by God for His purposes,” said Townsend in written remarks provided to The Baptist Record. “The call is to encourage Mississippi women of all ages (children, youth, adult) to be on mission for Christ and to equip women to give to missions, learn about missions, pray for missions, do missions, and ultimately live the mission’s lifestyle in their community, state, nation, and world. (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.)
“I am standing on my tiptoes anticipating a great movement of God in the lives of women across our state.”
The WMU executive committee also approved the search committee’s recommendation to make an addition to the executive director’s title, which will now be known as executive director-treasurer of Woman’s Missionary Union and Women’s Ministries of Mississippi.
“Looking toward the future of Mississippi WMU with a creative, innovative new leader in place, we need to make provision for her to be welcomed and well-received in groups of women and churches across our state to share new ideas and methods of missions education and involvement in missions ministries,” according to a statement released by the search committee.
“The expanded title expresses more fully all the avenues of ministry for which the office is responsible and allows Dr. Townsend and her staff to minister more effectively in Mississippi Baptist churches,” Green said. “I am so grateful to the prayer warriors, who make up our Mississippi WMU executive board, for their foresight in affirming these far-reaching decisions, leaving us poised for the future.
“May we continue to depend on the Lord, asking Him to guide and empower us as we seek to answer His Great Commission call.”
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William Perkins is the editor of the Baptist Record, newsjournal of the Mississippi Baptist Convention.
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Boyce College adds men’s
soccer program for 2015 season
By Staff
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) — Boyce College, the undergraduate school of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is adding soccer to its slate of sports, according to its athletic department in a recent announcement. A men’s soccer program will begin competition this fall in the Mid-East region of NCCAA Division II. Along with men’s basketball, it will be the second sport offered to students at the college.
“As Boyce has continued to grow, there has been a growing desire among the students to have another team,” said athletic director Blake Rogers. “Athletic programs uniquely provide students the opportunity to rally around a common identity. This creates good fellowship opportunities and enhances their experience.”
Rogers is currently conducting the search for a head coach, whom he hopes to have in place soon. Because the season starts in August, Boyce has three months to schedule opponents and recruit players from the student body. He hopes the program is built upon coach-to-player discipleship.
“Our student athletes will develop strong relationships with one another that will be used to hold one another accountable both physically and spiritually,” he said. “The coach will also have a key focus on discipling the players towards Christlikeness and to be well-equipped future ministers, husbands, fathers, and workers.”
Rogers said he believes soccer will help the athletes learn life-long lessons and further engender school pride and a “strong identity” among the student body. He also believers soccer with have an appreciable effect on the kingdom of God, allowing the college to minister to the international community of Louisville through the “beautiful game.”
“There will be innumerable ministry opportunities that our soccer team will be able to embark upon here in the city with this internationally famous sport,” he said.
More information on the soccer program and Boyce College athletics is available online at boycebulldogs.com.