English
Korean
Spanish
PINEVILLE, La.?”The battle for the Bible is never over,” Jim Richards, executive director of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, said during Louisiana College’s 102nd Founders’ Day observance on Oct. 2.
Thirty-five years earlier, Richards, as a Louisiana College student who was answering a call to the ministry, became upset along with other students upon hearing the truths of the Bible challenged.
“It was the first time I had ever heard the veracity of the Bible questioned,” Richards said. He did not like what he heard, and neither did many of his fellow students, who protested.
Their protests caused quite a stir on the tiny campus and eventually led to a chapel service where Richards heard a de-emphasis on the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. It led to his leaving the college and eventually to his and others’ involvement in fighting for biblical inerrancy. That fight has led to a return to “a high view of Scripture” among the Louisiana Baptist and Southern Baptist conventions, “and we give God the glory.”
Richards, along with Tony Perkins, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council, were presented with the Trustees’ Distinguished Service Award during a special chapel service in Guinn Auditorium as part of the annual celebration of LC’s founding on Oct. 3, 1906. On that date, LC began as a private, Christian, liberal arts college funded by the Louisiana Baptist Convention.
Every year several individuals are chosen for the Trustee’s Distinguished Service Awards based on their exceptional service to others. Recipients are outstanding leaders in their church, to their community, state and nation. All follow Christ and by his example are servants of others.
Many also have exemplary giving in philanthropy to the needy, the arts or to Louisiana College.
In presenting the honor, Mike Holloway, president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and a Louisiana College trustee, said Richards embraces all of the attributes a recipient should have.
“He is someone who has influenced the kingdom of God, not only as a great preacher of the Word of God, but as a warrior for the kingdom of God and as a mentor and a great friend.”
In accepting the citation with his wife, June, Richards said, “It is an honor beyond my worthiness.”
Perkins’ wife, Lawana, accepted in her husband’s absence the citation on stage from Mark Sparks, chairman of the LC board of trustees. Perkins, though, did address the gathering in a video response projected on a screen above the stage.
After the conferring of the awards, LC President Joe Aguillard said he could confirm Louisiana College has “remained faithful through the condemnation and ostracism of liberalism.”
