District Conference 2025 is in the books, but what a story was written! I have already received many testimonies from ministers and ministers’ spouses concerning the services and sessions – testimonies of restoration, refreshing, encouragement, understanding, and a renewed passion to move forward in ministry.
Wednesday evening, I was amazed to see the Delisa Cox Center nearly full of hundreds of ministers, leaders, and families who came to celebrate the Ordination of four candidates: Rev. David B. Bunch, Rev. Kyle Dillingham, Rev. Byron Reeves, and Rev. Daniel Wilson. A huge congratulations to these good men and their families. There was such a powerful presence of God that evening, filled with worship, preaching, celebration, and closing with prayer over our wonderful Ordination recipients.
The Thursday morning sessions were very refreshing and filled with laughter and ministry medicine. Dr. Carl Wilson, from the Southern California District, taught two sessions emphasizing the importance of taking care of your body through sleep, the proper diet, and prioritizing your time. He taught, “before taking care of everyone else, the ministry should first take care of themselves”. Of course, not only a good physical diet was important, but a good spiritual diet as well. His session on “Balancing Family and Ministry” should be heard by every minister and their spouse. Our priority should be God first, balanced with spending quality time with our family so that our family is not neglected. It was a very good session as well.
Sandwiched between Dr. Wilson’s two sessions was our Forum moderated by Bro. Ryan Franklin. The Forum participants were Dr. Kerri Wilson (TX), Bro. Donnie Underwood (LA), and Bro. Scott Sistrunk (MO). Their theme, “Beyond the Pulpit”, dealt with spiritual and emotional health. These three participants exhibited their deep knowledge and experiences and shared vital thoughts on emotional exhaustion and spiritual dryness. During this Forum we laughed together, but I am sure there were a few tears in the house.
I highly recommend that you contact our District Book Store (
Our Thursday evening began with the 100% Cooperation Awards. Once again, we set an all-time record of 185 churches who received this grand award! WOW! Thank You Pastors & congregations of the Louisiana District for joining together and supporting the mission of our departments.
Also, that evening we awarded our Top Five Givers of 2024 (previous year) for World Missions:
1st Place ($555,311) – The Pentecostals of Alexandria / Pastor Gentry & Bishop Anthony Mangun
2nd Place ($291,797) – First UPC of New Orleans / Pastor Richard Dykes, Jr.
3rd Place ($287,200) – The Pentecostals of Bossier / Pastor Ryan & Bishop Jerry Dean
4th Place ($282,812) – Wallace Ridge Pentecostal Church / Pastor Tyler Stevison
5th Place ($245,690) – First Pentecostal Church of Denham Springs / Pastor Billy Johnson, Jr.
Congratulations to these pastors and their amazing churches on such a remarkable year of giving!
Our UPCI NAM Director, Bro. Scott Sistrunk, closed the evening with a message sent from God. His message spoke to and ministered to everyone present. If you missed this powerful message, you owe it to yourself to reach out to our Louisiana District Book Store (
We began Friday morning with our annual District Business Session. I am always amazed at the unity which is displayed when we get together. Congratulations to the following men and women who were re-appointed, elected, or re-elected:
Children’s Ministry Director – Bro. Eddie Gorden
Global Missions Director – Bro. Eddie Tilley
Ladies Ministry Director – Sis. Mikelle Maxwell
Ladies Ministry Secretary – Sis. Michelle Jenkins
Men’s Ministry Director – Bro. Damon Magee
North American Missions Secretary – Bro. Dewaine Parker
Youth Ministry Director – Bro. Drew Galloway
Presbyter-At-Large: Bro. Lionel Thierry
Presbyter-At-Large: Bro. Joseph Zambrano
I want to personally thank Karen (Weber) for her 7 years as Section 3 Ladies Director and then 6 years as our District Ladies President. She has been a tremendous blessing to the Ladies of the Louisiana District. Our Ladies Department presented her with a parting gift for the years of excellence served.
Also, in the business session, we received Camp Meeting Pledges in the amount of over $69,000! Thank You, Pastors, for your continued assistance with the costs of our most incredible Camp Meetings.
Resolutions
Both Resolution #1 (updating the approval process for new church plants & daughter works) and Resolution #2 (updating the Children’s Ministry portion of the Louisiana Constitution) passed with a voice vote.
Mission Louisiana
Part of our Thursday evening service included an update for Mission Louisiana.
As of March 2025, in just twenty-one months, we have given $1,604,742 to Mission Louisiana!
This year at our Louisiana District Camp Meeting, we will celebrate two years into our three-year giving campaign for Mission Louisiana. Our pastors have pledged over $3,000,000 to help build our New Boys’ Dorm. It’s nearly a reality. With cash-in-hand we will build the first new District Building that has been built in over 50 years. What a consolation to know that our giving to Mission Louisiana is helping to assure that our Campgrounds will be around for generation to come should the Lord tarry His return.
Statewide Youth Rally
2025 Louisiana District Conference was everything and more than we expected. But to close out the week, on Friday evening our youth gathered from all over the state to attend our Louisiana District Statewide Youth Rally on the Campgrounds. There were at least 3500 in attendance that night. We have the most talented and anointed young people who led us in worship. And the message by our Youth President, Bro. Drew Galloway, was outstanding as he challenged our youth who flooded the altars in response. Only God knows the calls, healings, life directions, and renewed passions that were received that Friday evening in the Tabernacle.
Once again, I want to say how blessed and honored I feel to be a part of such a glorious group of ministers and congregations across our state. May God help us to prepare for the greatest outpouring of the Holy Ghost and revival we have ever witnessed!