Two Sunday Mornings in Baker
On any given Sunday, Blackwater United Methodist Church offers two very different worship experiences under one roof on Blackwater Road in Baker. The Traditional gathers at 9:00 am in a stained-glass sanctuary with pews, liturgy, and a choir. The Table gathers at 11:00 am in a more informal room with relaxed seating, a coffee bar, and a full band. Both celebrate communion, both share the same message, and both are part of a congregation that has been rooted in this part of East Baton Rouge Parish for more than 175 years.
The two services are described as diverse expressions of worship "unified in the one body of Blackwater United Methodist Church, enriching lives through the proclamation of grace, transformational discipleship, and impactful outreach." A Mission Cafe open from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm keeps the morning fed along the way.
The Traditional at Nine
The Traditional service is a multigenerational, formal gathering that moves through liturgy and creeds each week. Music is led by a directed choir, with Choir Director Jamie Leonard and Pianist/Organist Kristyn Van Cleave at the front. Seating is in pews, with ushers and acolytes serving. Communion is observed on the first Sunday of the month. Worshipers who grew up in a Methodist sanctuary will recognize the rhythm: familiar hymns, the prayers of the people, and a sermon that ties the week to the Christian story. Stained glass surrounds the room, framing worship with a quiet beauty that has welcomed Central community Methodists for generations.
The Table at Eleven
For those who prefer something looser, The Table meets at 11:00 am with modern Christian music led by a full band. Worship Leaders Jacob Braud and Myranda Mayo lead from the front, the room is arranged with tables where guests sit together, and greeters and service hosts help everyone feel at home. Communion is part of every Sunday, and a coffee bar keeps things relaxed before and after the service. The Table's inclusive feel has become one of the congregation's calling cards, well suited to first-time visitors and longtime members alike.
Kids, Youth, and a Preschool Next Door
Children have a place in the Sunday rhythm too. Nursery care for infants through age three runs from 8:50 am to noon, and BUMC Kidz Ministries offers a PreK through fifth grade program from 10:00 to 10:45 am. Older students gather as Amplify Youth Ministries, meeting Sundays from 10:00 to 10:45 am and again from 5:00 to 6:30 pm.
Blackwater also runs a long-standing Parents' Day Out program for children from 9 months through K4. Directed by Terry Little, with Lynde Sunday serving as assistant director, the program runs August through May on the Central Community School schedule. Hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 am to 2:00 pm and Friday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with two-, three-, and five-day options. K3 and K4 classes use the A Beka Christian curriculum, and a daily Bible lesson is taught by the PDO director. Tuition ranges from $260 a month for two days (Tuesday/Thursday) to $360 a month for the full Monday through Friday week, with sibling discounts available. Summer programming through Blackwater Camps serves both littles (up to age 7) and bigs (ages 8 to 12).
Mission Cafe and the Wider Work
Sunday mornings at Blackwater are not just about worship - they are also about food. The Mission Cafe, led by Chris Kaiser, serves breakfast from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Beyond the cafe, the church runs an extensive network of outreach ministries through its Missions program:
- BUMC Love Fund - fellowship and financial help for neighbors facing hard times, with applications and documentation reviewed on site.
- Veterans Mission Outreach - cards, hospital visits, Gold Star family support, holiday care packages, PTSD support, and pastoral services for veterans.
- Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival - the annual pumpkin and gourd sale and family festival each autumn.
- Hope Ministries - gathering and delivering food donations to feed the wider community.
- Global Ministries - faith and fellowship with international communities.
- Journey to Bethlehem - an annual drive-through live-actor experience of the Nativity.
- Common Threads - a sewing and crafting group that makes comforting items for those in need.
- Uniform Drive - two drives each year serving students in the Central Community School system.
- Community Cook Team - a newer food ministry serving different segments of the community.
Beliefs, Mission, and the Team
Blackwater's stated mission is "Making disciples of Jesus Christ from generation to generation." The congregation offers what it calls a cradle-to-grave discipleship pathway, supported by a collaborative team of clergy, laity, staff, and members. Senior Pastor Rev. Amy Duhon Castro leads the church, with Ian Carney as Creative Engagement Director, Ashley Foretich as Kids Ministry Director, and Cheyenne Noel as Youth Ministry Intern.
The church's missions philosophy is drawn straight from the United Methodist Book of Discipline: serving as servants of Jesus Christ by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for the stranger, freeing the oppressed, being a compassionate presence, and working to develop social structures that are consistent with the gospel.
Giving is described as one of five disciplines - prayer, presence, gifts, service, and witness - offered for the glory of God. Online giving is available through Tithe.ly, by texting "give" to (877) 705-2054, or by mail to the church address.
Visiting Blackwater
Blackwater United Methodist Church is located at 10000 Blackwater Road, Baker, LA 70714. The church office is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and can be reached at (225) 261-4646 or churchoffice@blackwaterumc.org. Worship services are livestreamed on YouTube every Sunday morning, and a weekly newsletter from the pastor goes out every Wednesday at 3 pm.