Louisiana Baptist University

{{Short description|Christian university located in Shreveport, Louisiana}}

{{Infobox university

| name = Louisiana Baptist University

| image = Louisiana Baptist University (logo).png

| established = 1973

| type = Private

| affiliation = Baptist Bible Fellowship International

| president = Greg Lyons

| city = Shreveport

| state = Louisiana

| country = United States

| enrollment = 650 (in 2010{{cite news|url=http://directory.abhe.org/Details.aspx?id=235 |title=Louisiana Baptist University |publisher=Association for Biblical Higher Education |year=2010 |access-date=2010-04-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202164929/http://directory.abhe.org/Details.aspx?id=235 |archive-date=December 2, 2010 }})

| faculty = 39

| website = http://www.lbu.edu/

}}

File:Louisiana Baptist University at Shreveport IMG 0927.JPG in Shreveport.]]

Louisiana Baptist University (LBU) is an independent Baptist Christian university located in Shreveport, Louisiana.

LBU has both an on-campus program and a distance education program which teaches subjects pertaining to the Bible and Baptist theology. The school houses five departments: School of Biblical Studies, School of Communications (Leadership), School of Christian Counseling, School of Christian Education, and Theological Seminary.

History

In 1973, Baptist Christian University was founded by Jimmy G. Tharpe (1930–2008) as part of the Baptist Tabernacle, offering distance education for full-time ministers to complete degrees without leaving their pastorates.http://www.lbu.edu/download/LBU%20Catalog%202012-2013.pdf LBU 2012-2013 Catalog pg 20 In February 1993, the trustees restructured the school's charter and changed the name to Louisiana Baptist University.

Kathleen Blanco, then governor of Louisiana, declared the month of April 2005 as "Louisiana Baptist University Month".[http://www.gov.state.la.us/assets/docs/Proclamations/honorary/3_louisianabaptistunmth.pdf United States of America, State of Louisiana, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Proclamation] Signed March 29, 2005. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025191202/http://www.gov.state.la.us/assets/docs/Proclamations/honorary/3_louisianabaptistunmth.pdf |date=October 25, 2006 }}

In its beginning, LBU was housed in the Centrum Building on Hollywood Avenue. It later relocated to a {{convert|12500|sqft|m2|adj=on}} facility off Interstate 20 at 6301 Westport Avenue in the center of West Shreveport, where the campus remains today.Tharpe, Mr. Baptist, pp. 135-137

In May 2013, the university expanded their campus with the completion of the Neal Weaver Conference Center.https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151530148444492.1073741826.264062789491&type=3 LBU Official Facebook Page {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}} The center is equipped with the latest audio/video equipment which enables the university to host webinars in addition to their conferences.

Accreditation

LBU is accredited by the Accreditation Service for International Colleges [https://website.brand.asic.ryze.uk/directory/international-directory#intro (ASIC).]{{Cite web |title=ASIC |url=https://website.brand.asic.ryze.uk/directory/international-directory |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=ASIC |language=en}}

Academics and staff

The school employs around forty faculty and staff. The current President of LBU is Greg Lyons.[https://www.lbu.edu/leadership LBU Staff Page]

Alumni

Seminary

Carl Baugh – author and founder of Pacific International University.Tobia, P.J. [http://www.nashvillescene.com/Stories/News/2006/10/19/Reading_Writing_and_Jesus/index.shtml "Reading, Writing and Jesus: What nearby schools don’t know about the Bible class they soon may be teaching"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120155311/http://www.nashvillescene.com/Stories/News/2006/10/19/Reading_Writing_and_Jesus/index.shtml |date=2008-01-20 }}, Nashville Scene, October 19, 2006. Accessed December 19, 2007. "While there are a few reputable legal and theological minds from solid universities associated with the group, they are far outnumbered by the likes of Carl Baugh, who holds a Ph.D. in theology from Louisiana Baptist University."
Mal Couch – author and founder of Tyndale Theological Seminary.Perkes, Kim Sue Lia. "Fort Worth school sues to call itself "seminary'", Austin American-Statesman, April 15, 1999. "Tyndale has about 350 seminary students, about two-thirds of them taking courses by correspondence, said Mal Couch, the school's president and founder. He said he holds five degrees, including a doctorate of theology from Louisiana Baptist Seminary..."
Rick Scarborough – author, activist, and founder of Vision America.Murray, Shailagh. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/07/AR2005050701266_pf.html "Filibuster Fray Lifts Profile of Minister: Scarborough Has Network and Allies"], The Washington Post, May 8, 2005. Accessed December 19, 2007. "After receiving a master's of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and a doctorate in ministry from Louisiana Baptist Theological Seminary, Scarborough hit the national revival and crusade circuit for 14 years."[http://www.visionamerica.us/site/PageServer?pagename=SpeakersLanding Rick Scarborough] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909023515/http://www.visionamerica.us/site/PageServer?pagename=SpeakersLanding |date=2006-09-09 }} Vision America

University

Larry Bagley – member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 7{{cite web|url=https://plus.google.com/103515186974249288909/about|title=Larry Bagley|access-date=October 27, 2015}}
Bob Cornuke – author and director of the Bible Archaeology Search and Exploration Institute (BASE).Wilson, Jennifer. [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,645192466,00.html "Is Noah's Ark on mount in Iran? Man scours the world looking for religious artifacts"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120707212938/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,645192466,00.html |date=2012-07-07 }}, Deseret Morning News, August 11, 2006. Accessed December 19, 2007. "Bob Cornuke doesn't have a degree in archaeology; he holds a doctorate in Bible and theology from Louisiana Baptist University."
Bill Gothard – former president of the Institute in Basic Life Principles{{cite web |url=https://www.suntimes.com/news/28159812-418/story.html |title=Ex-head of religious group acted inappropriately, not criminally: investigation |last=Knowles |first=Francine |date=June 18, 2014 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=July 2, 2014}}

Grant Jeffrey – author and teacher
Roland S. Martin – American journalist, syndicated columnist, and author.
Chuck Missler - author and founder/operator of Koinonia Institute
Robert Morey – author and founder of the unaccredited California Biblical University and Seminary.Arellano. [http://www.ocweekly.com/news/news/dr-jihad/24608/?page=2 "Dr. Jihad"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110081525/http://www.ocweekly.com/news/news/dr-jihad/24608/?page=2 |date=2007-11-10 }}, OC Weekly, March 2, 2006. Accessed December 19, 2007. "Morey also claims to have received a doctorate from Louisiana Baptist University. Two problems: LBU is unaccredited by the United States government, which means no serious academy would recognize it. Then there's this: LBU doesn’t offer a Ph.D. in Islamic studies."
Mark Tronson – businessman
Adrienne Southworth - member of the Kentucky Senate for District 7{{Cite web | url=https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/Pages/Legislator-Profile.aspx?DistrictNumber=107 | title=Legislator-Profile - Legislative Research Commission }}