Looking back over 2024 reveals a busy and fulfilling year. I was very honored to travel to all thirteen sections, minister in twenty-one of our Louisiana churches, and participate in pastoral elections, section banquets, building dedications, pastoral and church anniversaries, and pastoral installations. We have the best!

Representing the Louisiana District in other districts continues to be an honor. 2024 travel included ministering in Mississippi, Texas, Florida, California, Missouri, and Canada at camp meetings, men’s conferences, church growth conferences and seminars, as well as leadership retreats. Additionally, administrative and leadership duties required my attendance at two General Board meetings as well as two Strategic Growth Initiative meetings.

As the Chairman for the Church Growth and Revitalization committee, I worked with Assistant General Superintendent Darrell Johns, as well as General Superintendent David Bernard, to produce new resources for our pastors and districts which focus on growth in the local church. Some of these new resources are available at ministrycentral.com on the SGI page. I also serve as the Cohort Leader over the five largest districts in the UPCI – Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Illinois, and Florida. It is a joy to interact with these wonderful Superintendents as we share growth strategies and ideas to help our districts effectively add new ministers, add new churches, assist churches in the area of growth, and provide spiritual and emotional care for our ministers.

Being appointed by Brother Bernard, I also serve as the General Board Liaison to the Building the Bridge Department of the UPCI. It is my responsibility to represent the General Board at the annual BTB planning meeting, usually held in Atlanta, as well as attend the national BTB Conference. This year, I ministered at the BTB Conference in Miami, Florida.

Our Louisiana District Board met four times this year. Two of those meetings included licensing of new ministers as well as license advancement to General and Ordination status. A subcommittee, led by Presbyter Zale Lewis, gathered new ideas to help make our licensing process more effective and streamlined. Out of these ideas, we created a new structure for the licensing process in Louisiana which only requires applicants to be on the campgrounds for half a day. In times past, applicants would wait on the campgrounds for an entire day during this process. In the past three years, the Louisiana District has awarded Local license to 125 men and women for a total of 837 licensed ministers in Louisiana. To put this in perspective, the average number of ministers per district in North America is 310.

Another subcommittee, led by Presbyter David Hairford, gathered research and ideas to formulate a Section Policy Manual. This new manual will assist our presbyters, secretaries, and section department leaders with consistent planning, finances, events, and other operations of all sections. It is also a guide to help our presbyters lead their sections by providing events and resources to assist pastors and congregations in the areas of leadership, church growth, and ministerial care. Another goal of each presbyter is to identify villages, towns, and cities as potential preaching point, daughter work, or new church plant locations, then work with the NAM department to realize those goals.

I don’t say this enough, but I greatly appreciate our Louisiana District Board. These are some of the greatest men I know. I am privileged to see their Christian character displayed over and over. They are men who can be trusted with the weighty decisions which are made on behalf of our district. These men love the ministry and the work of God. I believe in these men.

Mission Louisiana

In the midst of all the travel, all the meetings, and the immense amount of planning and implementation, there is the care and upgrading of our campgrounds. The Louisiana District Campgrounds is the spiritual Mecca to the UPCI ministers and congregations of our state. For over 70 years, these grounds have provided a place for our congregations and ministry alike to gather to worship, find divine direction, be renewed spiritually, and enjoy rich fellowship. I know that our district would not be as unified and strong without these campgrounds. This place provides an atmosphere where men, women, and children can be filled with the Spirit of God. I know no greater place where miracles are any more available than when we gather together to believe in God’s glorious power on these holy grounds.

The goal is to make sure these wonderful acres filled with cabins, dorms, and meetings spaces continue to be that place of anointing and blessing for today as well as tomorrow. This is the purpose of Mission Louisiana!

We celebrate $1,456,238 given to the cause of Mission Louisiana thus far.

We have raised 72% of the fund required to begin construction of our new boy's dorm! Our vision of a new dorm on our grounds is coming together and, with a little more funds, we can begin the work! Originally, we shared our need to expand the boys' dorm space for camps—but we’re also thrilled to say this new building is designed for multi-use!

Here’s what makes it special:

➡️ Flexible Setup: The dorm will be designed to accommodate both male and female groups with a designated side for each, if needed. Perfect for church events, leadership or youth retreats, and more!

➡️ Dividable Quarters: Several sections can be closed off individually, so groups can have their own space. For example, at events like Ladies Conference, one section can house tech staff,  another can house volunteers, etc.

We are well on our way, but we still have a little further to go to bring this project to life. Thank you for being a part of this journey! Every bit of support helps us move closer to the finish line!

To donate today: missionlouisiana.com/giving

Karen and I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

For this Thanksgiving month I would like to share a study I came across many years ago. I am sorry that I do not remember the author’s name, but the study helped me produce this lesson which I taught to our congregation in Lafayette.

When you begin to search in the Old Testament for examples of Thanksgiving, you find that God so wanted people to be thankful that Nehemiah chapter twelve tells us that God placed six priests in the tabernacle over the duty of doing nothing else but giving thanks unto God. Nehemiah gives the names of these six priests: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah. Looking at these six priests, we find there is great significance to their names. I believe their names tell us what we should be thankful for.

Jeshua

The first priest of thankfulness is Jeshua. The Hebrew meaning of the name is, “The one who saves”. This name was pointing toward our glorious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I don’t think this name is mentioned first by accident because, the first thing for which we should be thankful in our lives is the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ! If you have anything to be thankful for today, it should be, first and foremost, that you have Jesus in your life!

Binnui

The second priest of thankfulness is Binnui. In Hebrew, the name means “to make repair”. Not only should we be thankful for our Savior, Jesus, but for the repair, the mending, and the restoration He has brought to our lives!

The Bible describes a leper who was restored by Jesus. He ran, fell at the feet of the Lord, and thanked Him. Jesus asks him, “Were there not ten, where are the nine?” His point was: All ten received, but only one was thankful. So, Jesus turns to the thankful leper and says “Go thy way, thy faith has made you whole”. Thankfulness positions us for wholeness.

Kadmiel

The name of the third priest of thankfulness was Kadmiel which means, “The Presence of God”. If you are able to feel the presence of God, you should be thankful. There are many people who have moved so far from the Lord that they wish they could feel what you feel when you so effortlessly enter into the presence of God. There is something special about still being able to feel the presence of the Lord in your life.

• Genesis 4:16 tell us that Cain went out from the presence of the Lord.
• Genesis 28:16 tells us that Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, surely the Lord was in this place, and I knew it not.
• I Samuel 16:14 gives us a candid picture of the Spirit of God departing from Saul because he allowed an evil spirit into his life and was greatly troubled.

Feeling the presence of God in your life is a wonderful blessing. The Psalmist said it best “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; FOR THOU ART WITH ME”! We should be thankful to be able to feel His presence!

Sherebiah

Sherebiah, in Hebrew, means, “The Fire of God”. Somewhere in our thankfulness, we should be able to thank God for the fire.

Malachi talks about the refiner’s fire. The refiner was a metal-smith who heated the metal until it melted so that he could remove the dross or the impurities. The Refiner’s only concern was bringing the gold or the silver to its purest state. The beauty of trust in the Refiner is that he sits before the fire, fixing his eye on the metal, making sure that the heat is not too great, and keeping the metal in the fire only until he sees his own image reflected. When he sees his own reflection, he knows the dross is completely removed.

We don’t need to curse the fire. We need to thank the refiner, because He’s controlling the heat that causes impurities to come to the top so He can see His reflection in our lives. God prepares you for the great things He has planned for you by tempering and testing you in the situations of life. That’s why the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Thessalonians, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”. Be thankful that the refiner is removing things that will stand in the way of His anointing and His power in your life!

Judah

The priest of Judah was symbolic of our “Praise unto God”. It’s no coincidence that praise comes after the fire, because the fire is the true birthing place of real praise.

Notice the connection between the fire and praise:

1 Peter 1:7: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto PRAISE and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”.

Mattaniah

The last priest mentioned is Mattaniah which means, “Gift of God”. If there is anything we should be thankful for, it’s the Gift of the Holy Ghost!

1 Timothy 4:14 reminds us, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery”.

His Spirit is the most precious gift we could ever receive in our lives! 2 Corinthians 9:15 calls it an “unspeakable gift”. We must be thankful for the Holy Ghost in our lives!

MISSION LOUISIANA

As we approach one year and three months of giving to Mission Louisiana, we celebrate an incredible total of $1,415,521! We are just a little over one million dollars away from the total cost of our New Boys’ Dorm which will sleep 280.

THANK YOU, Louisiana pastors and congregations, for your faithful giving to the upgrading of our Louisiana District Campgrounds. Let’s continue to give to make sure our campgrounds remain a place where God can touch generations.

Romans 10:14-15 offers insight into God’s plan for the lost of our world to be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Through these verses we see that God’s vision includes people who answer the call to preach this glorious Gospel so lost men and women can hear the Gospel and be saved. Since it is one of God’s priorities, one of our district goals is to provide a way for men and women to become credentialled ministers with the UPCI.

In the past three years, our district has ordained 27 individuals, issued General License to 50 individuals, and awarded Local License to 125 men and women. This brings us to a current total of 835 licensed ministers in the Louisiana District, an astounding number when you realize that the closest district to us is the Missouri District with 599 ministers.

I am thankful that our district consistently sends out Louisiana ministers to serve in other districts as well as answer the call to the mission field. Louisiana is a sending district. This is why God is calling so many to answer His call here in our state, because He knows our pastors will release them.

As the spiritual leader and guide, a pastor should create a pathway for men and women in their congregations to answer the call of God to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This should include regular training which answers questions and prepares the ministers God has placed in their hands by helping them:

1. Identify the call
2. Answer the call
3. Prepare for the call
4. Follow the call

While pastoring in Lafayette, we offered a monthly Ministers’ Class. As many as 25 would attend, including those answering a call to preach, those preparing for their calling, and those who were licensed or serving in their area of calling. In each class, we assigned three of these ministers to speak for 7-10 minutes each, giving them public speaking opportunity. Then I would teach on subjects pertinent to growing and developing in the ministry. On different occasions, Karen would speak to the spouses and lady ministers in a separate setting.

Every month, each of our ministers would submit an Accountability Calendar which showed they prayed at least 20 minutes per day, read at least one chapter of the Bible each day, fasted at least three days that month, as well as witnessed, invited others to church, and were teaching a Bible study.

Our goal was to train up and send out. The results were amazing. Today, numerous evangelists, pastors, church planters, missionaries, youth pastors, assistant pastors, and more are currently laboring in the Kingdom after being trained and developed in Lafayette.

A number of pastors have asked me, “How do I know if a minister is ready for licensing?” Just because one desires to be, does not necessarily mean they are ready to be licensed. There are elements to consider before taking this step.

1. First, it is not necessary for all ministers to be licensed. It is my personal opinion, and one which I practiced as a pastor in Lafayette, that if a minister plans to remain in the local church as a lay minister who serves in a support role for their pastor, there really is no need for licensing. Of course, this does not mean that a minister in this role cannot be licensed. Remember, it’s just my opinion.

       My belief is that licensing should be considered when a minister takes on a titled role in the church, such as Youth Pastor, Assistant Pastor, etc., or if             that minister foresees a role of ministering at other UPCI churches or events. When traveling to other UPCI churches, a credentialled minister is more           apt to be accepted because the inviting pastors know the minister is accountable to a pastor, to the leadership of the UPCI, and to its biblical and                 ethical principles.

2. Secondly, a candidate for licensing should already be:
   1. An example of consistency
   2. Loyal to leadership
   3. Faithful in attendance, worship, giving, etc.
   4. Involved in personal evangelism
   5. Practicing personal consecration (prayer, fasting, study of the Word), and
   6. Submitted to their pastor, just to mention a few.

The minister seeking license should already adhere to the UPCI Manual in areas of our Articles of Faith which include doctrine, holiness, ethics, etc. They also should be ready to support every event in their section, as well as the district, which pertains to them. This promotes the uncommon unity which has been a vital component to our district’s success.

For pastors who are looking for a training venue for ministers in their congregations, I highly recommend Purpose Institute. We presently have two locations in Louisiana with two more to be added soon. Purpose Institute is a UPCI-endorsed ministry training program with session topics of doctrine, leadership, evangelism, and more. For more information, contact our Louisiana District Purpose Institute Director, Mark Christian (pastormchristian@gmail.com) or check the resources page at ladistupc.com. 

Finally, pastors must be willing to release these ministers should God call them to ministry outside their local church. I am so thankful for my pastor who guided me on this path, helped me answer the call, then directed me as I followed that call. Pastor Anthony Mangun did not try to keep me in local ministry, but willingly released me to locations as God directed. That call has taken me on quite a journey over the years: evangelizing, assisting, church planting, and ultimately to the office of district superintendent. I am here because a pastor released me.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to talk more about setting up a ministers’ training program in your local church.

Mission Louisiana

It has been encouraging to see our pastors and congregations excited about and committed to giving toward Mission Louisiana. As I travel the state, I find more and more pastors expressing their support and thankfulness for the upgrading of our magnificent campgrounds.

I am glad to announce that our Mission Louisiana giving has reached an incredible $1,415,521!

I still believe that giving opens the door for blessing. I also believe that the Louisiana District UPCI is incredibly blessed because we continue to open our hearts and hands to give to support God’s mission globally.

Pastors, please stay faithful to give toward this immeasurable cause, Mission Louisiana. We are 57% complete with the gathering of the amount of funds needed to build our New Boys’ Dorm!