June 2, 2025

Evangelistic Team Leads Crusade in Louisiana

The Crusade started with a gathering at the Vicksburg, Mississippi local church on Saturday, March 22, to prepare materials, sort tracts, discuss the schedule, and have a devotion and prayer.

On Sunday, March 23, the team enjoyed a pre-evangelism revival service with the local members before departing for Hammond, Louisiana, where we checked into an Airbnb for the week of March 23-29. Each morning, one team member led a morning devotion to encourage the team.

Monday afternoon, we got our feet wet going door-to-door at a housing complex that the Regional Overseer felt should be visited from a prior visit to the area. Four groups began visiting, praying for, and witnessing to residents. Several great contacts were made for follow-up, and one teenage girl asked to be picked up for the Tuesday night outdoor service.

On Tuesday, the team broke into two groups, with one group visiting Southeastern Louisiana University and another team visiting the neighborhood where Brother Glen Whiteside lives (Brother Whiteside is pastor of the local church in the neighboring city of Ponchatoula). Over 320 flyers, tracts, and business cards were passed out. On Tuesday evening, the team went to the Railroad Park in downtown Hammond to set up a sound system and music equipment. For two hours, we sang songs, gave testimonies, and preached the Word of God. Praise the Lord that one soul was saved—the teenage girl that had asked to attend from the visit the day before (she also attended church in Ponchatoula the next Sunday and stays in contact with several team members to this day).

On Wednesday, the team held a service in the home of Sister Audrey King. She is a retired female evangelist who is 96 years old. Three other members of the local church in Ponchatoula were present, and the Lord blessed us with a two-hour home service full of the power of the Holy Ghost, prayers, and exhortation from the Word of God. The team then drove to Thibodaux, Louisiana, to the home of Brother Mike Grobe, who pastors the local church there. Brother Grobe has set up his living room to resemble a small church sanctuary. The team was blessed to hold another hour-long service full of praise, exhortation from the Word, and prayer for Brother Grobe, who needs healing. Then, the team traveled to Bayou Vista Community Fellowship Church. The local pastor, Brother Brian Head, and the local church welcomed the team with food and fellowship before the service. The building was packed with nearly 100 attendees! Our team was introduced by the local pastor and given the opportunity to lead worship and preach the Word. The power of God was present, and the altars were filled with many seeking the Lord. Praise the Lord that three souls were saved! We are thankful that this local congregation has offered an open door for our ministers to come back and visit anytime! Glory to God!

On Thursday, the team traveled to the city of New Orleans. After eating lunch at a famous Po’Boy restaurant, the team ventured into a nearby park where a farmer’s market was being held. Little did we know, we were entering a dark place. Several team members encountered resistance. As we gathered to prepare our move to another location, we learned that our team had witnessed to a witch, an atheist, a satanist, and a Muslim. We then set up on a property we had previously reserved for a time of singing, prayer, and exhortation in the Word of God. No doubt we were in enemy territory, but principalities over New Orleans saw The Church of God flag waving as we sang, “When the Church of God Arises!”

Our final journey on Friday took us to Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, where we held a bilingual evangelistic service in a single-wide mobile home with over 30 people present due to heavy rain. The mighty power of God was also with us, and we thank the Lord for several new contacts that were made there.

The Church of God members of Louisiana wish to thank everyone who helped evangelize our state: Ricky Aldridge, Alex Itzep, John and Renee Douglas, Glen Whiteside, Ben and Payton Harper, Noah Green, Jackson Wammack, the Shulers (Jacob, Shannon, Ariel, Shiloh, and Eden), and the Montgomerys (Rob, Amy, Emma, Kaylee, and Lydia). We look forward to following up with the many contacts made and can’t wait to share more about our crusade at the General Assembly!