By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
MORGAN CITY, La. (LBM) – Churches in the state have embraced their mission to further the Gospel through establishment of hospitality rooms for law enforcement officers.
Through their efforts, churches such as Bayou Vista Baptist Church, Morgan City, and Live Oak Baptist Church, Denham Springs, have built Christ-like relationships with policemen and policewomen in their areas.
“Being in law enforcement, I knew some of the struggles,” Bayou Vista Baptist Church Pastor Ronnie Mabile told the Baptist Message. “I knew some of the pitfalls and I’ll always have a heart for those in the military, those who serve locally in local sheriffs and police departments, and fire departments.
“It’s hard on them and they have a tough job, especially in today’s climate,” he continued. “They don’t always see the best in people, and we wanted to show them the best we could by opening the room inside our church.
“Our facilities are not ours; the facilities on the Lord,” he said. “So how can we not use our facilities to reach and minister to them?”
Mabile spent eight years patrolling the highways and byways of Assumption Parish and after he resigned still had a burden to reach those serving in law enforcement.
After months of praying, Mabile learned that Live Oak Baptist had opened a dedicated room sheriff’s deputies use.
The result was opening a “Deputy Room” on March 2.
The room, converted from its former choir room, provides a secure and private place for deputies to safely secure their duty rig while using the restroom. Deputies also can enjoy fresh coffee, snacks and cold bottled water, and there is a table with Bibles.
Meanwhile, Live Oak Baptist has hosted a law enforcement room since early 2024. Pastor Johnny Morgan said the room has allowed him to deepen relationships with the 12-15 Livington Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies who patrol the area near his church. Deputies have sought his guidance on issues they have struggled with and one even asked him to officiate his wedding.
“This gives us a real open door to law enforcement officers,” he said. “A lot of them will come in, sit down and tell me what happened in their day. It’s opened a lot of doors for me to be able to pray when they needed help the most.”
SMPSO Sheriff Gary Driskell said these rooms are an example of effective community policing.
“This is a really nice place for our deputies,” he said. “The room will meet the needs of deputies on shift and makes their jobs easier. This kind of partnership and support from our community is such a big deal for us. We want to thank Pastor Ronnie Mabile and the people of Bayou Vista Baptist Church for this.”
