Vision and Purpose

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Louisiana is a network of cooperating Baptist Christians and churches. Together we seek to be the presence of Christ in our state and the world beyond. We partner with our national Fellowship organization in "serving Christians and churches as they discover their God-given mission."

Our National Coordinator, Dr. Daniel Vestal, describes us this way: "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 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 to others 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

Reid Doster, Coordinator, also serves as the Louisiana Fellowship Disaster Response Coordinator and is the pastor of a new church Bridgewater Church in Madisonville. Reid is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He can be reached at 985-778-6049 or reid.cbflouisiana@gmail.com.  Learn more about Reid and Bridgewater at www.bridgewaterchurch.info

Kyle Kelley, serves as part time 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 active in the formation of a new church in Shreveport. Kyle can be reached at 318-780-4127 or cbflouisiana@gmail.com

Stephanie Vance, began in 2010 as the Louisiana Fellowship's first full time state missionary in the Together for Hope Program.She has a Master of Divinity degree from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. She lives in Lake Providence and can be reached at 318-418-4075 or at sthepny@gmail.com

From left to right: Shannon Rutherford, Jarrett Banks, Larry Davis, Mike Anderson

Shannon Rutherford, serves as Moderator, and is Minister to College Students at University Baptist in
Baton Rouge.

Jarrett Banks, serves as Moderator Elect, and is Pastor of Broadmoor Baptist in Baton Rouge.

Larry Davis, serves as Past Moderator and is a lay person at Broadmoor Baptist Church in
Baton Rouge.

Mike Anderson, is 2nd Past Moderator, and pastor of Haynes Ave. Baptist Church in Shreveport.

Ted Holmes, a layman who lives in the Monroe area, fills the role of Secretary. His son and daughter-in-law serve as Fellowship 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 the national Fellowship. 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

These are churches that have either formally aligned or identified with the Fellowship, or have members who support the Fellowship by giving money and volunteer hours to missions or ministries of the Fellowship. Web site information is given when available. For information to connect with Fellowship members in churches not listed in your area contact us at cbflouisiana@gmail.com

Bridgewater Community Church - Madisonville

Broadmoor Baptist -- Baton Rouge

Emmanuel Baptist – Alexandria

First Baptist – Shreveport

First Baptist – Winnsboro

Harmon Baptist -- Coushatta

Haynes Avenue Baptist -- Shreveport

Lakeview Baptist – New Orleans

Laurel Heights Baptist -- Winnfield

Mt. Lebanon Baptist – Gibsland

Northminster – Monroe

Pleasant Hill Baptist -- Bogalusa

St. Charles Ave. Baptist – New Orleans

University Baptist – Baton Rouge