Join us as we follow Jesus and share His hope with Acadiana.
Our mission—everything we do—is to invite every single person in Acadiana to know God, find community, and make a difference.
We believe none of us are designed to do life alone. God created us with a deep and fundamental need for relationships and connection. As a church, we work together to create environments where these kinds of Christ-centered, life-changing relationships can happen.
Engagement in these activities is evidence that Jesus is transforming our lives.
There are four fundamental values that guide our decisions and behaviors.
“I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.”
Philippians 1:9–10 (NLT)
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Matthew 22:37–39 (NIV)
“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’”
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT)
“‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’”
John 10:10 (NIV)
The Bayou Church began as a faithful group of believers from Emmanuel Baptist Church. Their obedience to plant a church east of the bayou on a dirt road has come to fruition and impacted thousands in Acadiana.
Emmanuel Baptist Church purchases 4.5 acres to plant a church on a two-lane country road now known as Kaliste Saloom Rd.
East Bayou Baptist Church met for the first time in Beadle’s Furniture Store on Kaliste Saloom Road. 31 people attended the first service.
On a barren cow pasture, East Bayou constructed their first building which included an auditorium, preschool, and fellowship hall.
The church quickly outgrew the first building, and East Bayou opened the doors of its second building in 1984. A month later, they welcomed a new pastor.
East Bayou welcomed Pastor Mike Walker and his wife, Paula, to lead the church into the next century.
After renting space from Roller City, East Bayou purchased Roller City and the surrounding land for a new ministry center.
East Bayou took a step of faith to reach people by changing from a traditional music style to a contemporary and innovative style so people could connect.
East Bayou Baptist Church moved into the current two-story building, which expanded the auditorium seating to nearly 1,000 people. Additionally, the Ministry Center was renovated after Hurricane Lili.
East Bayou purchased an additional five acres behind the Ministry Center in anticipation of future growth.
East Bayou expanded Sunday morning services by offering multiple venues including the Cafe, Family Room, and graded spaces in our kids and student ministry.
Through members’ sacrificial giving and prayer, East Bayou made a final mortgage payment to the lending institution to become debt free.
East Bayou Baptist Church took a bold step of faith to shorten the name to The Bayou Church, allowing a broader reach in Acadiana.
Pastor Sean Walker was installed as the new senior pastor as his father, Mike, shifted into a new role.
Hurricane Delta significantly damaged our 45-year-old Ministry Center, which propelled our leaders to imagine and invest in what could be rather than repair what had been.
Through a two-year discipleship and generosity initiative called Decades, we expanded our campus with new ministry spaces, a centralized lobby, and a whole lot more.