Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Louisiana

About Us

Vision and Purpose
CBF-LA is a network of cooperating Baptist Christians and churches in Louisiana who together seek to be the presence of Christ in our state and the world beyond. We partner with our national CBF organization in "serving Christians and churches as they discover their God-given mission."

Our National Coordinator, Dr. Daniel Vestal, states "we are a Jesus people...we follow Jesus and seek to be like Him. We study His teachings, especially His Sermon on the Mount, to form our behavior and character. The Kingdom He announces and embodies is our passion. The ethic of discipleship is a Kingdom ethic and it is radical. Forgiveness of our enemies, compassion for the poor, simplicity in life and speech are to mark us because that is what God's order of things is all about. Christ calls us to follow Him in His sufferings. In the cross of Christ is our salvation."

In the Baptist, evangelical tradition we believe in a personal transformational experience with Jesus that changes us, and the way we live. God calls us to change the world, to align ourselves with the Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed.

We partner with churches throughout the state in missions, outreach, church planting, education and fellowship. Together we are Church - God's instrument for reconciliation in our world.

The task is much larger than ourselves, and possible only through the work of the Holy Spirit. We follow the Spirit in obedience which leads to joyful, abundant living. In the truth of Jesus we have been set free.

In the freedom of Christ we reach out to others. Knowing forgiveness and the grace of God we are compelled to go forth in both boldness and humility. Our basic litmus test is "Jesus is Lord." Grounded by biblical faith we reject the post modern view of relativism. God's truth is eternal and our salvation.

Having been set free by Jesus, we reject the new bondage of fundamentalism or any narrow interpretation of God's Good News that would quench the movement of the Spirit. We are open to all who seek to be in relationship with us, and those who need "a cup of water given in Jesus name."

Knowing that we "see through a glass darkly," we are humbled by our own fallibility, but confident in the One "in whom we move and have our being."

Leadership

Dr. Reid Doster, newly elected Coordinator also serves as CBF-LA Disaster Response Coordinator and is the pastor for the new church start known as Bridgewater Community Church in Madisonville. Reid is also a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He can be reached at 985-222-6900 or reid_doster@hotmail.com. You can learn more about Reid and Bridgewater at www.bridgewaterchurch.info

Kyle Kelley, was recently elected as Associate Coordinator. He has responsibilities with Louisiana Together for Hope, edits the state newsletter and is web master for the state website. He is a licensed clinical social worker by trade, and is a deacon and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Shreveport.

Rev. Mike Anderson, serves as Moderator, and is pastor of Haynes Ave. Baptist Church in Shreveport.

Mr. Larry Davis, serves as Moderator Elect, and is a layman at Broadmoor Baptist - Baton Rouge.

Dr. Jay Hogewood serves as Past Moderator. A graduate of Samford and Truett Seminary, Jay has done additional study at Hebrew Union College and Brite Divinity School. Jay is pastor of University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge.

Ted Holmes, a layman who lives in the Monroe area, fills the role of Secretary. His son and daughter-in-law serve as CBF Global Missionaries to the Romany people (Gypsies) in Europe.

Kenny Crump serves as Treasurer. A deacon at Temple Baptist in Ruston, Kenny has a PhD in math, is a professor at Louisiana Tech and is actively involved in cancer research.

Charlene Kelley is the State Representative to CBF National. She received her M Div from Southern Seminary, served as missionary journeyman in Japan and has worked as a campus minister. She currently teaches English as a second language for Caddo Parish schools and is a deacon at First Baptist Shreveport.

Find a Church

A number of churches have formally aligned or identified with CBF. Other churches in this list have not, but have members who have supported CBF in the past year by giving money and volunteer hours to missions or ministries of CBF or provided support in other ways. Web site information is given when available.

Bridgewater Community Church - Madisonville

Broadmoor Baptist -- Baton Rouge

Chinese Mission FBC – Shreveport

Ebeneezer (Hispanic) – Shreveport

Emmanuel Baptist – Alexandria

First Baptist – Shreveport

First Baptist – Winnsboro

Harmon Baptist -- Coushatta

Haynes Avenue Baptist -- Shreveport

Highland Outreach FBC – Shreveport

Lakeview Baptist – New Orleans

Laurel Heights Baptist -- Winnfield