Yesterday, I preached the fourth anniversary celebration of the Beacon Light Baptist Church of Houma, LA, which is about 45 minutes from New Orleans. Under the leadership of Pastor Herbert Andrew, this fast growing congregation is touching many lives in its community and beyond. The two morning services I preached (7:30 & 10 AM) were rich worship experiences. It would have been worth it to be here just to participate in the worship services. Their reverence, passion, and excellence in worship are quite uplifting. I thank God for the new friend I have in Pastor Andrew. And I pray God's continued blessings on this young but strong church.
I was hooked up to Pastor Andrew through his spiritual mentor, Bishop Daryl Brister – senior pastor of Beacon Light Church in Houston and New Orleans. In meeting Pastor Brister earlier this year, a new friendship quickly developed. And he introduced me to Pastor Andrew, who was his 1st assistant pastor until Brister planted him in this Houma congregation four years ago. In fact, Beacon Light Houma is the first of five churches in Louisiana that Bishop Brister has planted in the past four years.
I came back to New Orleans to preach for Bishop Brister at the "mother church" in the afternoon, which meets at Greater St. Stephens' West Bank location (Bishop Paul Morton). Beacon Light's facilities was heavily damaged during Hurricane Katrina. In the aftermath, Brister began a site in Houston. At this point, Brister preaches in Houston on Sunday mornings, and then flies to New Orleans in the afternoon. He then teaches Bible Study in Houston on Tuesdays, rotates among the daughter churches on Wednesdays, does the New Orleans Bible study on Thursdays, and then heads back to Houston to start all over again the next week. That makes me tired just typing it. I preached the New Orleans service for him yesterday. And it was another great experience. Being in the service revealed to me where Pastor Andrew picked up the wisdom he has in leading worship and shepherding a congregation. God is moving this congregation from devastation to restoration. Please pray for Bishop Brister and this great congregation, as they restore their facilities and continue to changes lives in this area that so desperately needs the gospel of Jesus Christ.
