Day 3

Matthew and Annie Delaughter have a passion for the people of New Orleans. With the help of their sending church in Kentucky, and the cooperative spirit of Louisiana Baptists, Immanuel Community Church was planted. The journey through growth has been challenging, but Matthew and Annie have seen God’s hand every step of the way. Built on land once occupied by a Baptist church destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, Immanuel Community is truly the rebirth of a neighborhood church.

With a heart for the city, Immanuel Community seeks to reach their diverse community by showing hospitality to anyone who walks through their doors. The location of their building offers easy accessibility to those in the surrounding Gentilly neighborhood. Matthew explained, “The biggest feedback that we’ve had from the community is that they grew up around Christianity in New Orleans, but this is the first time that they have heard Scripture read and explained to them.”

Immanuel Community moved into their new worship space in May 2023 through help from the Georgia Barnette Louisiana Missions Offering. Over the past year, the congregation has grown from 85-90 people to an Easter Sunday attendance of 165. Immanuel Community is thankful for Louisiana churches who partnered with them and for the Louisiana Baptist Mission Builder program that aided in constructing their new building.