By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13
CENTER POINT, La. (LBM) – Just four years ago, Hopewell Baptist Church was down to 15 in worship when Ricky Belgard felt led to accept God’s call to become pastor.
Reluctant at first to leave his position as prayer minister with Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville, Belgard instead chose to put aside his security and join God in an adventure that eventually led to a prolonged season of revival and a drastic increase in worship attendance, decisions for Christ and baptisms.
“I had told (PBC Pastor) Philip Robertson I’d be there with him ‘til I died,” Belgard told the Baptist Message. “You probably shouldn’t say that because God has a tendency to change your thinking and change your mind for you. We preached that first seriice, and the power of God just moved and fell in that place. What was meant to be just a few months turned into something that has continued and we continue to see God move.”
PRAYER MOVEMENT
Belgard, who became pastor in October 2020, preached for the first six months on prayer. Additionally, his members began to gather before the Sunday worship service and Sunday school to lift their concerns to the Lord in prayer.
As his members began to pray, the Holy Spirit moved and added to their number, he said. During the first six months, the church saw its first baptisms in several years, as four were baptized during that time. Since then, Belgard has baptized more than 40 new converts, with an additional seven awaiting baptism and Sunday worship attendance has increased to between 90 and 140. Furthermore, prayer groups continue to meet on Sundays but have begun to gather on Wednesdays both inside the worship center and student building.
“The most critical ministry of any church is the prayer ministry,” Belgard said. “Prayer is the foundation for everything in the church or else the foundation will not support the ministries. Oh, you can have work and busyness – but you will not have ministry that will grow Christians and reach the lost.”
EVANGELISM EXCITEMENT
Prayer has facilitated evangelism, Belgard offered.
He adopted an evangelistic method used when he was with PBC. Hopewell’s members are given a
“You’re Invited” card that they distribute to individuals they encounter. Each card has a space to list which member invited the guest, the church mission statement “Sharing the hope of Jesus with others” and the name and address of the church.
“I taught our members about lifestyle evangelism so it would become their lifestyle to where no matter where they go, they can witness at any time and share that hope of Jesus that lives within them,” Belgard said. “They may never come darken the door of our church, but we’re planting seeds. And that’s what God wants us to do.”
“Our purpose is to share the hope of Jesus with others, and they’ve caught that vision,” he continued. “What is going on at Hopewell is a supernatural move of God. Our services every Sunday are like a revival service with altars filling up and people praying. It’s incredible what God’s doing.”
Eric Long, a longtime church member and deacon, said he has been amazed by the unification that has come about in recent months.
“We have experienced unity since Brother Ricky came and our prayer life has really reached a new level,” Long said. “God has blessed our church and has drawn more people at the church, which has risen the excitement level even more. We are at a point as a church that no matter what the devil tries to throw at us, we have God who gives us comfort to withstand anything. For me, I’ve always led my family but not like in the last few months thanks to Brother Ricky and others at the church. I’m praying more, sharing Jesus more and enjoying being a member here even more.”
Cheryl Corbitt, HBC worship leader, said Belgard’s passion and excitement to see others develop a deeper prayer life and come to know Jesus has “rubbed off” on the entire church.
“We prayed for so long that God would send us someone to be our new pastor,” she said. “Then came Brother Ricky who is on fire for God. To see the church growing is a direct answer to prayer. People just feel the love and feel welcomed when they come in. We can’t wait to see what else God has for us.”
