By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
HAUGHTON, La. (LBM) – Koran Baptist Church, for many years, has worked to be a Gospel lighthouse to the community, state and world, but recently decided to take their commitment to a new level.
Koran Baptist Church, which averages 150 in worship, felt led to increase their giving to state mission causes through the Georgia Barnette Louisiana Missions Offering. In 2020 the church gave more than $12,000 but a year later increased that to $65,000 ($433 per person).
Pastor Michael Reichard said the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricanes exposed the breadth of the need for Christ in Louisiana and his congregation subsequently felt led to give more to mission causes in the state.
“The mission field is ripe, right here, and is filled with opportunity,” Reichard said. “If we don’t speak to them, who will? That’s why we give to missions in the state.
“Our prayer is that God would give us the wisdom to know what to say and that He would not leave us alone until we obey,” he continued. “And we pray that God would continually motivate us — not just once, but all the time.”
Reichard said he feels blessed to be a part of such a mission-minded church whose efforts have translated into 12 baptisms since January and changed lives in their community.
A van ministry that transports as many as 85 children, youth and adults on Sundays and Wednesdays has resulted in some of those accepting Christ as Lord and Savior.
Additionally, the church provides backpacks filled with food for needy children that attend Wednesday night activities; volunteers at a rescue mission in Shreveport; collects school supplies for families in the community; and donates to families 50 pounds of grass-fed beef that a church member “tithes” off the 500 pounds he produces from his cattle.
Reichard said he is blessed to be a part of a church that embraces their community for Christ.
“We are praying that God will continue to burden us for His purposes and not ours,” he said.
The goal for the 2022 Georgia Barnette Louisiana Missions Offering is $1.7 million, an amount that supplements what Louisiana Baptists give through the Cooperative Program, the primary funding channel for state and national Baptist causes. For more information, visit georgiabarnette.org.
