BOSSIER CITY – Airline Baptist Church’s congregation is growing a lot. Educational and Evangelism Minister Brother Bruce Edwards said God is using church programs to bring souls into His Kingdom.
“Through the summer we had a special emphasis in the Sunday Schools to go visiting,” Edwards said.
This has continued into the fall; and now evangelism teams are visiting too.
“Faith Teams” go out every Tuesday night to visit community members, he added.
Because of these visits, the church’s MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Group and AWANA, new families are attending services almost every Sunday.
“Last (church) year we baptized 75 people,” Edwards said. “And we’ve already had several baptisms this year.”
On an average Sunday, 700 people attend Sunday services at Airline Baptist Church.
And two hundred children attended Airline’s VBS program this past summer.
“We had quite a few professions of faith (there),” Edwards said.
All this growth is causing a welcome problem.
“We’re running out of space,” Edwards added. “We’re excited!”
AVONDALE – According to Pastor Donald Paul Miller, he and his congregation are working hard in the trenches to combat crime in the name of Jesus.
One area he and his people are working hard in is the Iberville Housing projects which were hit hard by Katrina. It is an area composed of 600 households; violent crime is a real problem for the residents.
“We are going back there (regularly) with…the Gospel and trying to stop the murder,” Miller said. “The murder rate has dropped.”
Spiritual fruit has also been harvested.
“In the projects, I’ve seen five people accept Christ,” Miller added. “We channel them to local churches” for discipleship and fellowship.
Personally, Miller has been going to the French Quarter, passing out literature that says, “Smile, Jesus loves you.”
He’s celebrating Jesus with the people there.
“I’m trying to reduce the suicide rate,” Miller said. “If you take it to the people personally, it’s more likely (they’ll listen) . . . They want to know we are concerned about them.”
North Rapides Baptist Association
PINEVILLE – Things are going great for God at Alpine First Baptist Church, according to Administrative Assistant Iris Williams.
The church had great attendance at VBS this past summer.
“It went wonderfully well,” Williams said. “We had between 225 and 300 children attend.”
Williams couldn’t remember how many people accepted Jesus through VBS, but she knows four children from their church were baptized soon after.
On the last Sunday of September, the church family celebrated the church’s 113th anniversary. Scheduled for October 31st, is the church’s Fall Festival.
“We usually have about 600 to 700 people come through,” she said. “We have a real large Family Life Center.”
Most of the church members get involved in the celebration. It’s held on Halloween as a safe alternative with a Christ-centered theme, she said. Tracts are given out along with candy and hot dogs and prizes. Williams said there is usually someone doing balloon creations and face painting which kids love,” she said.
“People come back year after year,” Williams added. “It’s a safe place. We have it annually.”
Most of the people who come through are from the neighborhood; they and see the light of Jesus shine bright,” Williams said.
Gulf Coast Baptist Association
MORGAN CITY – God has been using the congregation at Bayou Vista to reach people in unique ways.
Pastor Charles S. Gilder said, his church family started an “English as a Second Language” program in February.
“Initially, we had two classes, during the day with 18 (people) enrolled.”
Recently, a few more people have been trained in his congregation to teach the classes, and so a night class has recently started. Nine men from the community are taking part in the evening class.
“It’s a slow-go,” Gilder said. “It’s laying a foundation.”
A woman from one of the day classes has started attending church.
“It meets a need in our area,” he added.
A member of the Bayou Vista congregation recently started “Friday Night Church” in a separate location.
“We’re sponsoring that,” Gilder said.
Many of the people who attend the Friday night service are what many would call the “unchurched.”
God is meeting needs in Gilder’s area, the pastor said.
Gilder also mentioned the church will be having revival later this month. He has already baptized 13 people this year and many more are waiting to be baptized. Most of those who were baptized were either teens or adults.
“The Lord is doing an awesome thing (here),” the pastor added.
Gilder mentioned one more area of ministry where God accomplished some unexpected and wonderful things. Recently, the Gulf Coast Baptist Association had a missions celebration for four days. Bayou Vista was one of the host churches.
“Out of that, we had one young man who felt the call to become a music minister,” Gilder said. “A young couple (felt the call) to become international missionaries…and another young man felt called into the ministry.”
Bayou Baptist Association
HOUMA – Pastor Garland Reed admitted that the recent hurricanes have been and continue to have an affect on his congregation.
“With the storms, it’s been a struggle,” Reed said.
It’s interrupted one ministry that has gotten a lot of press, the congregation’s part with Angel Food.
“We were providing 2,000 boxes a month,” he said. “We became the number one distributor for Angel Food in the nation.”
Right now they are dealing with hurricane clean-up and haven’t been able to do as much as before.
“Our church was flooded,” he said. “It’s a real mess. Folks were already in need (before hurricanes). It’s such a low-income area.”
But Reed sees how God is already using this situation for His glory and His kingdom.
“We are going to be an anchor in the community for years to come,” he said.
The church is experiencing great growth and many are coming to know Jesus.
“They’re coming off the street,” he said.
The new converts don’t have any expectations. They come wanting to be fed and wanting to serve.
“They come with open arms,” he added.
Reed had been preaching for months that church isn’t about a building. Now, God is showing that literally. Last Sunday the congregation had service in a gymnasium. The people still come. They are having a nomadic-like following the pastor said.
“Please pray for our people,” Reed said. “We took two storms in a row…What the first storm didn’t blow away, the second storm washed away …We need help.”
Most of Reed’s congregation is older and cannot physically do what a younger crowd could do. He gave his two numbers to pass out – the church number and his cell phone.
“Pass (the numbers) on to anyone who wants to come and help,” he said.
The church number is 985-868-3091. Reed’s personal cell phone is 337-853-0834.
“The Lord has sent some teams down,” Reed said. “It’s been a brilliant opportunity to share Jesus (with people).”
He also asked for prayer for finances for the church. Insurance will cover rebuilding but the deductible is $50,000. Reed knows that isn’t a big deal for God, but prayer would be appreciated.
“Our God owns cattle on a thousand hills.”
Bayou Baptist Association
THERIOT – Though Pastor’s wife Cindy Moser might not say that the hurricanes are sent from God, she, her husband Pastor Jerry Moser, and their congregation have seen God use the hurricanes to open hearts that might not have been open to Him otherwise.
When speaking with her two weeks ago, they were dealing with the winds from Hurricane Ike. The power was out, but Moser took time to tell stories about God’s goodness from the days after Hurricane Katrina.
“People know we’re here,” she said. “Four families actually stayed in the church for months and months (after Katrina)…One of the couples gave their lives to the Lord recently.
“They’ve been coming ever since.”
The Bayon DuLarge Baptist Church stands 13 feet in the air to protect it from winds and water. She said it’s often used as a supply center for local people when storms come.
“We’ll get 18 wheelers of furniture and (other) things that they may need,” she said.
Pastor Moser and their three grown sons have rebuilt homes for people.
“It’s all related to the hurricanes and how we can minister to people’s needs,” she added.
She and her husband have been ministering at the church for almost 26 years now. They’ve seen many changes, but through them all, she said God has always been faithful.