By Matt Coker, Special to the Baptist Message
MONROE, La. – A routine day distributing food became a powerful reminder of why the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries Compassion Center ministry exists—to provide love, care, and hope in Christ to children and families in need.
The encounter also illustrates the heart behind LBCHFM’s 2026 ministry theme, “One Home. Eight Ministries. One Mission.”
DIVINE APPOINTMENT
While serving families during a recent outreach, volunteer Danny Watt, member, First Baptist Church, Calhoun, shared Gospel tracts and a Bible with two young men who arrived seeking assistance. As the conversation developed, Watt connected the men with Pastor Marc Daniels, who was serving with a volunteer team from his First Baptist Church Avondale congregation.
When Pastor Marc approached the vehicle, one of the men was holding the Bible and made a statement that opened the door to a deeper spiritual conversation.
“I think about this all the time,” the young man said.
When asked what he meant, the visitor explained that he frequently thought about death and eternity, and he even expressed confidence that he would be with God because he had “tried to live a good life.”
But Pastor Marc lovingly explained that salvation is not earned through good works but is a gift of God’s grace received through faith in Jesus Christ. He also shared how every person is born into sin and falls short of God’s standard, making it impossible to earn salvation through personal effort. Instead, he underscored, forgiveness and eternal life are found only through Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins and rose again.
DIVINE AFFIRMATION
As the conversation continued, the young man turned to his friend and remarked, “Man, he’s making a lot of sense.”
Both men gladly accepted an offer to pray together, and afterward the young man shared that he had surrendered his life to Jesus. Staff members continue to pray for opportunities to reconnect with him and encourage him in his new faith journey.
Still, the encounter serves to affirm the Compassion Center’s ministry outreach through direct food assistance. Meeting physical needs often opens the door to address the deepest need of all—a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
PARTNERSHIPS ARE KEY
The Compassion Center meets the physical needs of thousands of individuals each year through partnerships with churches and Gospel-centered ministries across Louisiana. Volunteers distribute food, clothing, diapers, and other essentials, and most importantly, seek opportunities to share the Gospel.
This has been the ministry model for the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries for 127 years in providing love, care, and hope in Christ to children and families in need. On this day at the Compassion Center, that mission approach resulted in a changed life and the promise of eternity through Christ.
Louisiana Baptists continue to pray, give, and serve alongside the LBCHFM team, and through this partnership in the Gospel God continues to demonstrate that He is working through one home, eight ministries, and one mission to transform lives across Louisiana.
Learn how to partner with the Compassion Center via matt@lbch.org or 318-387-2422.
