By Staff, Baptist Message
DUSON – Reaching out with God’s love to people through compassion ministries is of growing interest to the leaders and members of Duson Baptist Church.
“It’s the ministry Jesus Christ did himself as he walked the streets – he had compassion on the least of these,” said Toby Ryder, Duson pastor for the last two years. “Compassion ministries and evangelism go hand-in-hand. Often people who need compassion ministries also need the gospel of Christ.”
Jeremy Touchet is youth pastor and director of what the church calls “Community Hub.” In a former warehouse next to the church parking lot houses several ministries:
“We have a lady who does purity classes and teaches about abortion and the hazards, and post-abortion healing,” Touchet said. “It’s Dani Richard; she’s a member of Vatican Baptist Church in Carencro.
“We have Wild Spirit; this is for 11-17 boys who don’t get to spend time with a father or an adult who could help shape and mold lives in a Christian way,” Touchet continued. “This is hunting and fishing from a biblical perspective, and mentoring.” Duson member Daniel Benoit and the pastor, Toby Ryder, provide leadership for this group.
Food from the area food bank – paid for by the church – is given out from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the third Saturday of every month. Duson member Penny Fontenot leads in this ministry. At the same time, the church hosts a free “café,” with muffins, pies or similar items baked by the pastor.
“The café is a ministry as well,” Touchet said. “We use it to cultivate relationships with the people getting the food.”
Duson Baptist plans to open the café every Saturday, as awareness of it grows, the Community Hub director continued.
Another ministry: Stay Sharp. It provides counsel about drug and alcohol abuse, and referrals to Christ-centered treatment programs.
“It’s usually Pastor Toby and his wife Olivia, and me,” Touchet said. “We go into schools – middle and high schools, as well as churches and youth groups. We show a video and each give a testimony of our lives. In schools we can’t use the name of Jesus, but we can invite them to meetings after, in which we can share Jesus.
“It’s the Jesus factor that changes lives,” Touchet continued. “We also teach congregations, give them the tools they need to deal with someone in addiction or someone who loves someone in addiction.”
As God calls additional people with a heart for a specific ministry – such as a clothing ministry, at this point an unrealized dream – the number of ministries connected with the Community Hub are expected to expand, Touchet said.
“We’re working toward people making professions of faith,” Touchet said. “We’re really hoping and believing that we start seeing the fruits of these ministries, like the kids to be able to talk about their parents. It’s almost like a relief for them, and that’s such a blessing. … God’s fingerprints are all over what’s going on here.”