NOBTS, Louisiana Christian College announce partnership
By Gary D. Myers/NOBTS
NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Officials from Louisiana Christian University (LCU) and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) signed a historical partnership agreement April 13.
The partnership re-affirms transfer options for LCU graduates who study in the NOBTS Accelerated Master of Divinity program (M.Div.) established in 2019. The new agreement offers NOBTS students the opportunity to transfer credits toward the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Social Work (MSW) degrees. The partnership will expand the training options available for God-called men and women in Louisiana and help students save time and money.
Rick Brewer, president of LCU, and Jamie Dew, president of NOBTS, signed the agreement on the NOBTS campus in conjunction with the seminary Spring trustee meeting.
“We are very excited about the leadership of Dr. Brewer, and we are so grateful to have Louisiana Christian University as a partner,” Dew said. “We are trying to do everything we can to make the pathways to ministry more efficient, for the Kingdom.”
Brewer said that he wants LCU to stand with partners who proclaim “thus sayeth the Lord” like NOBTS. He sees the expanded partnership as a way to address a culture that is increasingly hostile for the Gospel.
“This should be a model for more Baptist universities to link up with seminaries for Kingdom work and to address the challenges before us,” Brewer said. “We are grateful for the partnership with the seminary.”
The NOBTS Accelerated Master of Divinity Program
The agreement offers LCU graduates the opportunity to start the NOBTS Accelerated Master of Divinity program with advanced standing by transferring pre-approved courses from their undergraduate program. The program reduces educational redundancy and the time it takes to complete the M.Div. by leveraging the quality biblical studies and ministry instruction students receive at LCU.
Potential Accelerated M.Div. students from LCU must apply to NOBTS and meet all the admissions requirements for the school. Students must have earned a “B” or higher in a qualifying undergraduate course to receive credit toward a master’s course. In addition, the credits can only be applied to the Accelerated M.Div. program within five years of a student’s baccalaureate graduation.
Man attempts to set fire to Louisiana church building
By BP Staff
Surveillance video at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La., appears to show a man attempting to set fire to the church’s building just before 11 p.m. April 17, according to a time stamp on the footage. He was unsuccessful.
Firefighters were called to the church the next day at 7:28 a.m., the Baton Rouge Advocate reported. By that time, the fire had long been out. Arson investigators are searching for the suspect.
A statement on the church’s Facebook page says the staff is working with investigators.
“The incident did not result in any structural damage and required minimal clean-up,” the statement says. “We are grateful for God’s protection over our people and facilities and thankful for our first responders.”
FBC Istrouma has been very involved in disaster relief in the aftermath of severe weather in the region, including most recently after Hurricane Ida.
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