By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
HAMMOND, La. (LBM) – Door-to-door evangelism has been a way of life for Pastor Les Fogleman for the last 40 years but in 2023 he felt led to use the parking lot of New Beulah Baptist Church in Hammond as a Gospel tool.
Since June 2023, Fogleman has placed signs on grassy areas near the parking lot to alert motorists to the opportunity of sharing their prayer needs. Through this ministry that operates on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons, Fogleman has shared the Gospel with more than 350 people and seen 10 of them surrender their lives to Christ and follow through with baptism in a portable baptistery on the church parking lot.
“A lot of people will honk and wave at me as they see me on the parking lot,” Fogleman told the Baptist Message. “I never know what problems and difficulties people may share when they come and ask for prayer. I’m thankful the Lord has allowed me the opportunity and honor to be there to pray with someone in need.”
The idea to start the parking lot prayer ministry came to Fogleman while he was praying in front of the church. He noticed 15-45 cars at a time would pass through a red light by the church and knew that the community could benefit from someone who would be a visible prayer warrior for them.
A few months after he opened the parking lot for prayer, Fogleman visited Abbie Lane Retreat Center, Coushatta, and was introduced to the book “100 Days at the Cross: One Man’s Journey to Understanding the Power of the Cross of Christ.”
After reading the book, Fogleman felt led to create and place a wooden cross on the parking lot in November for individuals to nail cards containing prayer requests. More than 140 people have placed cards on the cross, even when Fogleman is not at the church.
Fogleman said the prayer ministry has helped his own prayer life.
“I pray before I go out to the parking lot and will sing a couple of hymns to prepare myself,” Fogleman said. “Once I am through with that, I walk up and down the parking lot waving at people.
“I have no idea how many people are impacted by this prayer ministry, but I do it because this is
what the Lord wants,” he continued. “I’m 81 years old and will continue doing this as long as there are people to respond, and I am pastoring here. I don’t know the future, but I know for now this is what the Lord wants me to do.”
