By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
NATCHITOCHES, La. (LBM) – Nearly 400 members and guests of First Baptist Church, Natchitoches, sought reconciliation and laid down their own idols during a recent four-day Thirst Revival Conference.
Hosted by Niles, Michigan-based Life Action Ministries, the gathering featured nightly messages on the need to trust in God even in the hard seasons of life, removing idols, dangers of bitterness and examination of one’s own love for the Lord, himself and others.
The conference also included high-energy music, children’s programming and a women’s luncheon led entirely by Life Action’s ministry team.
In the end, the church came away more unified and ready for God’s next step in their lives.
Tommy Rush, senior pastor of FBCN, told the Baptist Message that every night entire families filled the altar and others gathered in pews as they sought reconciliation and offered long-overdue encouragement.
“It was more of a focus on being refreshed and restoring relationships in our family and church,” FBCN Senior Pastor Tommy Rush told the Baptist Message. “Sometimes you don’t realize how hungry people in the church are to restore broken relationships.
“The revival focused a lot on families needing to be closer and dads stepping up to be spiritual leaders,” he continued. “Our people were so hungry for this and every night we had a packed house. They were bringing friends and neighbors and family members because it was such a good time of worship and they wanted more of it.”
Though the conference has ended, the revival among members has continued.
The Sunday after the conference, the church experienced an above average attendance in its morning fellowship groups.
“They have a greater drive now for personal discipleship and a burden to reach the lost,” FBCN Pastor of Discipleship and Administration Brent Shoalmire said. “Many have expressed a deeper concern for lost neighbors and we believe we will see that only continue for the foreseeable future.”
Brett Rodriguez, who teaches a fellowship group, said his members were so impacted by the conference that they spent their allotted time the Sunday morning afterward.
“People in the class were revived,” he said. “Every person had something to say that stood out to them and the fact they are talking about this a week after it happened is a good sign.”
Sarah Perot, another church member, said for months her quiet time and fellowship group meetings dealt with some of the same subjects brought up during the revival conference.
“God prepared me for the six months leading up to the revival by bringing up some of the same material that was preached on during the revival,” she said. “God used that to prepare my heart for that time. I learned quickly that for the church to enter into revival, people have to be revived personally first and that definitely is what happened with our church.”
Life Action Ministries has additional conferences planned for the remainder of 2025, including Oct. 26-29 at Calvary Baptist Church, Many. For more information on how your church can host such a conference, visit lifeaction.org
