Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Louisiana church reaching Lake Charles area through parking lot ministry

  • September 10, 2021
  • Louisiana Baptist Message
  • Latest News, Louisiana, Missions
Members of Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Church in Lake Charles greet a motorists during a weekly food distribution out of its parking lot.
(Baptist Message photo)

Louisiana church reaching Lake Charles area through parking lot ministry

Each Saturday morning, Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Fellowship Church’s parking lot is transformed into a massive feeding operation where up to 150 Lake Charles area motorists line up to receive a boxed meal, some as early as three hours before the official start.

Since opening the parking lot ministry in 2020 to serve individuals impacted by Hurricane Laura, the church whose worship attendance averages 15 members, has seen God move mightily, according to Pastor Clyde Lewis. Their efforts to show Christ’s love has encouraged many food recipients and even has led to 20 professions of faith.

“The church is in worship on Sunday but on Saturday the church is working,” Pastor Clyde Lewis told the Baptist Message. “You see the cars line up around the building and block and it just fires me up.

‘Jesus has called us to love all people’

“The thing I keep pushing to my members is this is our assignment,” he continued. “We are called to the people’s business. People matter to God so people have to matter to us. You can’t do it unless they are your passion. When you talk about people, it’s all people. Jesus has called us to love all people. You get a chance to minister to people not just by telling them about Christ but through your actions.”

Lewis, who has been pastor of Bethel Metropolitan Baptist for 10 years, said his members have embraced a call to reach others with the gospel. They distribute food to the homeless each month, host gatherings for the community at a nearby civic center, serve meals to pastors several times a year, assemble care packages for inmates and perform acts of kindness to law enforcement and firefighters.

“The Lord blesses you when you are blessing and being a light to the community,” Lewis said. “He will never let a church fail that will serve others. Churches that die are churches that aren’t reaching people but churches that are committed to reach people and the Great Commission tend to be around for a long time.”

EDITOR’S NOTE — This article was written by Brian Blackwell and was originally published by Louisiana’s Baptist Message.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Supreme Court upholds TN law banning transgender hormone therapies for minors
    Supreme Court upholds TN law banning transgender hormone therapies for minors
    June 18, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Study asks pastors about relationship between home, work life
    Study asks pastors about relationship between home, work life
    June 18, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Christ for the Nations, where suspect in Minnesota shooting attended, denounces actions
    Christ for the Nations, where suspect in Minnesota shooting attended, denounces actions
    June 18, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Supreme Court upholds TN law banning transgender hormone therapies for minors

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on June 18 in favor of a Tennessee law banning medical treatments and procedures, including puberty blockers, for transgender adolescents seeking gender transition.

Study asks pastors about relationship between home, work life

Among married pastors, 9 in 10 (89%) say their spouse is enthusiastic about their life in ministry together.

Christ for the Nations, where suspect in Minnesota shooting attended, denounces actions

The search for a motive has put a spotlight on Christ for the Nations Institute, an influential Dallas-based Bible college for nondenominational charismatic Christians, where Boelter graduated in 1990. 

Riders celebrate 10 years with record amount for Baptist Children’s Homes of NC

Today, what has become known as “Ride to Clyde” has grown from a $19,000 charity ride in 2016 to an initiative that raised a record $261,367 in 2025, the ride’s 10th anniversary.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel