Between the Tangipahoa River and the Amite River lies the Two Rivers Baptist Association. With 28 churches total, this scenic land in northern Tangipahoa Parish holds much more than just its peaceful outward appearance. The two rivers could never run as deep as Christ’s love in this association.
AMITE AND MORE – Between the Tangipahoa River and the Amite River lies the Two Rivers Baptist Association. With 28 churches total, this scenic land in northern Tangipahoa Parish holds much more than just its peaceful outward appearance. The two rivers could never run as deep as Christ’s love in this association.
Joe Baugh has been the director of missions for 16 years and sees the big heart that the people have in the Two Rivers Association.
“This association is really willing to do things to help people come to know Christ as their Savior,” Baugh said.
These efforts are shown through many programs put on by churches in the association.
In March, 22 churches in the association participated in an On Mission Celebration. The celebration began with a missions rally at First Baptist Amite, which included a parade of flags from different nations, special music, and missionary testimonies.
Many missionaries also brought goods that reflect the places where they serve.
“It was a special celebration that got our people excited about missions,” Baugh said.
The celebration was to expose missions to the association and let the people know what the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board and North American Mission Board is doing to share the gospel across the globe.
One high point in the rally was the international recipes that were shared.
“Recipes from each country were prepared. We had one from Mexico, the Caribbean, Egypt, and even Nevada,” Baugh said. “The people really enjoyed the interesting recipes.”
The following day after the rally, participants spread out throughout the 22 participating churches, where they each heard testimonies from two IMB missionaries, one NAMB missionary, and one Louisiana missionary.
“The celebration was a huge success,” Baugh said. “In the end, I think the people knew a lot more about missions and how to support missionaries in simple ways such as prayer.”
This association has a huge heart for missions. This is obvious through its programs and ministries such as one that the associational WMU has begun.
Once a year in the spring, the WMU gathers toiletries and other items to put together care packages to hand out to migrant children in the area.
“Ministries such as this are just simple ways that Two Rivers has found to share the love of Christ,” Baugh said.
With hurricanes sweeping the southern part of the state in the last several years, the association has found another way to minister to people. The association has begun a certified SBC Disaster Relief chainsaw ministry, where willing men and women become the hands and feet of Christ to hurting people.
Chainsaw teams are trained and sent out whenever needed to aid in clearing out fallen trees after storms.
“These people not only want to be trained, but they want to get out and get dirt under their fingernails,” Baugh said. “They don’t want to just support financially, they want to be active and do things to share the gospel.”
The people in Two Rivers care about reaching the lost for Christ, and they also care about training up others in the ways of Christ. This is evident in one unique quality that the association possesses.
According to Baugh, many of the association’s pastors are seminary students. Baugh is working with these young pastors to guide them in church leadership.
“Despite being student ministers who have busy lives with school and other responsibilities, they are just as committed to their churches as other pastors,” Baugh said.
Heath Roner, a newly-graduated seminary student, has recently started Crosspoint Baptist Mission in Roseland. Although the church still has no building to meet in, its congregation consists of about 35 people, Baugh said.
Despite hurricanes and storms that have blown through the southern part of Louisiana, including this association, Two Rivers is still on the map and is growing by reaching out with the love of Christ.