(NOTE: recent events — February 2013 — have caused me to rescind my endorsement of the Presidency of Joe Aguillard. I still love Louisiana College, however, and pray that Louisiana Baptists will “right the ship” and make the College once again a place of which we can all be proud.)

For too long, Louisiana College has been called “The best kept secret in Louisiana”.  It is time the secret got out!  LC is our state Baptist college – the only one owned and operated by the Louisiana Baptist Convention.  Last week I participated in a two-day series of meetings at LC, where I am on the Board of Trustees.  I just have to write something about what is going on there.

LC is on the other side of a turn-around.  Some time ago, I read the testimony of the Executive Director of one of our Baptist state conventions, who said that the first time he ever heard the basic doctrines of his faith questioned was in a religion class he attended at Louisiana College.  Not exactly what Baptist church members hope for when they send their students off to the college they are supporting with their Cooperative Program funds!

But LC has experienced a dramatic and unusual change for a college – one for the better!  With a more conservative Board of Trustees, LC is now an institution absolutely committed to Christian values.  Every professor in every class at the college must abide by a morals clause, and must teach in accordance with “The Baptist Faith & Message 2000” statement.  Some teachers were not comfortable with this new direction and left, but the result is now an institution that provides what one hopes for from a Christian college: an education with a genuinely Christian worldview. 

The results have been dramatic: students are being saved on campus.  Ministerial students are now flocking to LC for training.  Enrollment is rising dramatically, and the budget has increased from 16 to over 24 million dollars a year.  Among the biggest problems now are housing for the new students, and keeping up with all of the growing pains, which are a-plenty as you can imagine – though understandable with the exceptional growth and the positive changes at the school.

But Louisiana College is a wonderful place to send one’s children for an education.  I know, because before I became a Trustee, I had two children at LC.  My son David graduated with a degree in Religious Studies last May, and my daughter Libby is currently a junior at LC.  Both have had overwhelmingly positive experiences at the school.  David was involved in an automobile accident during his sophomore year, and the personal attention he received from President Aguillard, Dr. Peggy Pack (Dir. of Student Development) and others in the administration was exceptional.  We quickly saw that LC was not just a school; it was a family.  I would recommend that every Louisiana Baptist give Louisiana College their very first look for their students’ college education.

Now, I know that often there is a hesitancy among prospective families regarding LC because of price.  That is understandable, because a private education is not cheap; but let me suggest a couple of things:

— First of all, the cost difference may not be what you think. Louisiana’s TOPS scholarship program still applies to private schools, and LC often matches that scholarship for students!  And there are numerous other scholarships available, as well as financial aid.  Call LC’s Financial Aid office (318-487-7386) and talk to Byron McGee; he is wonderful at showing you how the bottom line difference between LC and a public institution is not as great as you might think. 

— But beyond that, would you give some thought to the ultimate “cost” of your child’s college education?  Not all costs can be measured in dollars and cents.  What is it worth for your student to have a genuinely Christian education, taught by professors who impart to them godly values and a Biblical worldview?  What is it worth not to have the co-ed dorms and the party atmosphere that corrupt so many students at such an impressionable age?  What is it worth for your child to have the opportunity to meet and court – yes, and marry – fine Christian students like your own?  Our son David met the sweetest little girl from Covington at LC who, like he, is committed to missions.  They were married this January!  And next week, our daughter Libby will be married to a young man from Louisiana College who has a powerful Christian testimony, and who is going into the ministry as well.  What is it worth for your son or daughter to make such friends, and to find such a life partner?  Can you measure that in dollars and cents?  When I think of the stories I hear about the co-ed dorms, and parties, gay/lesbian agenda, and godless professors who ridicule and tear down the faith of their students – which IS happening at secular, public institutions – I have to wonder if parents are taking into account the real “cost” of a college education?  Remember the old saying: “You get what you pay for!”

Obviously, I am a big fan of Louisiana College.  But I have good reason to be.  It’s time the secret got out.  If you have kids looking at attending college any time soon, I hope you’ll look at Louisiana College.  Even if they’re young, start now and encourage them to plan on going to our state Baptist college.  Our youngest son Michael, who is 12, is already excited about going.  In fact, he recently said that he was going to go to Louisiana College and become a Wildcat and study ministry and marry a great girl there!  I wonder where he might have gotten such an idea? 

“Go ‘Cats!”