Special to the Message
[img_assist|nid=7631|title=Mike Walker|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=72|height=100]LAFAYETTE – Mike Walker, pastor of East Bayou Baptist Church, Lafayette, is to be nominated for the position of president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention during the LBC’s 2011 annual meeting, according to a press release distributed by Mike Hollway, pastor of Cook Baptist Church in Ruston.
The LBC Annual Meeting is set to meet Nov. 14-15 at First Baptist Church in Covington.
Walker, who has been pastor of East Bayou for more than 27 years, is described in the press release as a “man with a heart for the lost.” Among the accomplishments listed the release are leading “his church through strategic changes that have transformed East Bayou from a mission, birthed through the ministry of Emmanuel Baptist Church, to the vibrant ministry center it is today.”
Advances made at East Bayou during Walker’s tenure include launching multiple worship venues, building a strong Celebrate Recovery program and implementing a comprehensive ministry to families to help guide parents in building strong families, the release indicated.
According to the release, Walker has led East Bayou to plant churches throughout south Louisiana. Among the church starts are Maurice Baptist Church, Memorial Baptist Church in Metairie, Vintage Church in New Orleans, Church Without Walls in Youngsville and Water’s Edge Church in Lake Charles.
“A key facet of East Bayou has been supporting scores of other Louisiana Baptist churches through mentoring church planters, pastors and leaders by means of the Innovative Pastors Network,” the press release stated. “Mike would meet monthly with 20 to 40 church leaders and give them three hours of undivided encouragement, teaching, coaching and mentorship.”
Additionally, according to the release, “East Bayou’s commitment to training ministers for the Gospel is strong. For several years now the church campus has been the location for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s southwest Louisiana campus.”
Under Walker’s leadership East Bayou has been involved in numerous mission projects “throughout the state and over the past two years has begun mission partnerships in Ghana, West Africa, New York, Alaska, Guatemala, Peru and Haiti,” the release stated.
The press released included the following information:
n “East Bayou averages more than 2200 in worship each weekend.
n “Currently, East Bayou allocates 14 percent of their church budget to projects outside the walls of the Lafayette location.
n “The church has averaged 227 baptisms annually over the past three years.
n “In the past eight years East Bayou has baptized 1,259 people.”