Lakeshore Church sits on Brewster Road just north of Covington, on Louisiana's Northshore. Pastored by Bryan and Jeni Bilac since 2002, the church describes itself as a Pentecostal congregation anchored in the Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths, and its whole program of services and small groups flows from one motto: the words of Jesus in John 10:10, "I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full." Three weekly services, an active children's and youth wing, and a deep bench of men's and women's ministries give Covington-area families a rhythm of teaching, fellowship, and prayer seven days a week.
Two Sunday Mornings and a Wednesday Night on Brewster Road
The week at Lakeshore is built around three primary gatherings. Sunday mornings bring two identical worship services at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, each running roughly ninety minutes with singing, prayer, scripture, and a message from one of the pastors. Wednesday nights add a 7:00 PM service for anyone who wants a midweek touchpoint with the body. All three happen in the main sanctuary at 15261 Brewster Road, and parents can choose either Sunday service knowing that the full children's ministry is available at both.
The campus is open Monday through Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed Thursdays) and can be reached at (985) 809-0020 or admin@lakeshorechurch.info. Members and visitors can text START to 985.401.6832 to receive text alerts about scheduling changes, weather cancellations, and other quick updates.
For anyone who can't make it in person, services are livestreamed on the Lakeshore Church YouTube channel, and a sermon archive is available through the same channel for catching up on past teaching.
A Worship Built Around John 10:10
Lakeshore's tagline, "LIFE...to the full." sits across the top of the church's homepage and shapes everything else the church does. Lakeshore teaches that the only path to a full life is a relationship with Jesus Christ, and it holds to 16 core beliefs that align with the Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths.
Sundays at Lakeshore are charismatic in flavor and contemporary in delivery. The Worship Ministry, led by Tara Hotard, is described as "a team of talented and anointed individuals responsible for leading the congregation in a time of praise and worship." High-energy congregational singing is paired with practical, Bible-based teaching from the pastors. A media team runs the sound board, computers, song lyrics, and video that accompany each service.
The church's statement of beliefs treats worship as more than a Sunday set. Worship, the team writes, is "a lifestyle and a means by which we are able to experience God's presence in our lives daily" - one of the five core values alongside relationships, spiritual growth, serving, and outreach.
Lead Pastors Bryan and Jeni Bilac and the Team Around Them
Pastors Bryan and Jeni Bilac have served as the Lead Pastors of Lakeshore Church since 2002. The church describes them as deeply devoted to their family and their church family, with a stated desire that every person who walks through the door "feels the love of Christ and the genuine care of His people." Married for more than two decades, they have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandchildren, and they have built their ministry around strengthening families.
Around them sits a small, family-like staff. Pastor Victor Kennison and his wife Tiffany serve as Associate Pastors. The Kennisons first joined Lakeshore as youth pastors before stepping into the associate role, and Tiffany also directs the church's Mother's Day Out program. Giovanna May, known around the building as "Pastor G," leads the Children's Ministry. Gabby Albi directs Youth Ministries and is bi-vocational, holding a full-time job at a local bank while serving as a Staff Sergeant in the US Army Reserve - she grew up at Lakeshore and came up through every ministry in the church. Jim and Rebecca White lead Life Groups and serve on ministerial staff. Tara Hotard leads worship and also handles bookkeeping and office administration for the church. Serena Melton directs Lakeshore Women.
A team of five elders assists Pastor Bryan in praying for, counseling, and staying in contact with the Lakeshore family: Carl Fontanille, Gerry Haulard, David Miles, Mark Posseno, and Bill Prudhomme. They can be reached at elders@lakeshorechurch.info.
First Impressions: Coffee, the Visitor Center, and a Welcome Gift
Lakeshore takes its welcome seriously. The First Impressions ministry staffs greeters at the doors before and after each service, ushers who help people find seats and assist the pastors during the service, an Information Center team for questions and event sign-ups, and a hospitality team that pours coffee for guests arriving and leaving the building.
First-time guests are invited to stop by the Visitor Center, located in the sanctuary, where a staff member or pastor would love the opportunity to meet them and hand over a thank-you gift for attending. Anyone who would like the church to follow up can fill out the Connect with Lakeshore form with their name, contact information, and the next step they might be considering - receiving Christ, recommitting, being water baptized, becoming a member, or serving.
Lakeshore Kids and Jr. High on Sunday Mornings
On Sunday mornings, Lakeshore Kids runs during both worship services for children from newborns through age 10, with four age-specific rooms designed to give each child a place where they can grow friendships and learn Bible truths in age-appropriate ways. Children start in the service with their families and are dismissed to their classroom mid-service before rejoining their parents at the end.
Junior High ministry serves students ages 11 through 14. They begin in the main sanctuary with their families and are dismissed right after worship to the Youth Room for their own class. Pastor G describes the rooms as a "safe, fun, and engaging environment" where children grow spiritually and build a strong foundation in Christ. Every Lakeshore Kids volunteer has passed a background check, the church has its own safety team, and a security tag system is used for child check-in and pick-up.
Parents who want to stay in the loop can text KIDS or JRHIGH to 985-401-6832 to receive text alerts about scheduling and special events. A short online form lets anyone interested in joining the children's ministry team let the church know.
Level Up Youth at 5 PM on Sundays
After the second Sunday service ends at noon, the youth room gets a refresh for Level Up Youth, which gathers at 5:00 PM for ages 12 to 18 (grades 7 through 12). The hour is built around helping teens explore their faith, build friendships, and grow in their relationship with God. Lakeshore describes the gatherings as "a safe and welcoming environment where your teens can explore their faith, build friendships, and grow in their relationship with God."
Gabby Albi leads the ministry with what the church calls "energy, faith, and a heart for guiding the next generation." Gabby grew up at Lakeshore, attended each of its ministries as a child and teenager, and now balances her role at the church with full-time work at a local bank and service as a Staff Sergeant in the US Army Reserve. Students and parents who want to stay in touch with the youth schedule can text YOUTH to 985-401-6832.
Lakeshore Men: Tuesdays, Saturdays, and "The Measure of a Man"
Lakeshore Men holds a weekly presence across three days. Tuesdays at 6:30 AM are set aside for Men's Breakfast, a one-hour meal and time in the Word. Tuesdays at 6:30 PM, two small groups run side by side: Truth Seekers for men 50 and older, who take turns sharing a devotional and dessert, and Patrols, a men's Bible study led by Jason Faucheux that meets at 7:00 PM except on the last Tuesday of the month, when T.E.D., the men's ministry monthly gathering, takes its place. Saturday mornings at 8:00 AM bring men together for Men's Coffee. Both Patrols and Truth Seekers are currently working through a study called "The Measure of a Man" by Gene A. Getz, and no signup is needed - men can show up whenever their Tuesday schedule allows.
Jeni Bilac and the Bilac family also host occasional get-togethers for men in their late twenties and thirties. A 25-39 Young Adult and Family Get-Together is a regular event on the Lakeshore calendar where families share a meal together.
Lakeshore Women Around the Bible on Mondays
Lakeshore Women's ministry is directed by Serena Melton, who has been involved in women's ministry for more than seven years. Serena and her husband Mikel have three children (Avery, Aiden, and Sydnee), and her ministry is anchored in Proverbs 27:19 - "As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart." Her goal, she says, is to connect every woman at Lakeshore - regardless of stage of life - to grow in a Christ-like sisterhood.
Two Monday studies anchor the women's calendar. The Monday Morning Women's Bible Study meets at the church at 10:00 AM and works through a new topical study every three to four weeks. The Monday evening women's group meets at 6:30 PM and currently works through a book study together. Both groups are open to new attendees.
For widows in the Lakeshore community, the church hosts a local chapter of Never Alone Widows, a national, faith-based ministry for women walking through widowhood (single, dating, or remarried). Lakeshore serves as the meeting place for the Mandeville Chapter.
Adult Ministries 50+ and the Front Porch
Adult Ministries 50+ covers two distinct groups at Lakeshore. Truth Seekers is the Tuesday-evening small group for men 50 and older who take turns sharing a devotional and dessert (and they step aside the last Tuesday of each month so T.E.D. can take its place).
The Front Porch Ministry, the second piece of the 50+ umbrella, serves adults 60 and older. Activities throughout the year have included a fall luncheon, a train trip to Laurel, Mississippi, a cruise to Mexico, a crawfish boil, a WWII Museum trip, a meal at Middendorf's Restaurant, and a Christmas party with Santa. The Front Porch calendar pairs meals and field trips with prayer and a brief discussion led by a ministry elder. The goal, the church says, is to "help mature adults continue to grow in their faith and to provide support and resources to help them navigate the challenges of aging."
A Rhythm of Prayer Through the Week
Prayer is woven through the Lakeshore calendar at three regular moments. Sunday mornings at 8:30 AM bring a group of women together in the Level Up room for pre-service prayer for that morning's service, the pastors, and the congregation. Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM are set aside for Intercessory Prayer, where teams gather to pray for the needs of the church, the community, and the nation. On the first Sunday of every month at 5:00 PM, the church gathers for First Sunday Prayer.
Lakeshore also staffs an Altar Ministry team made up of "selected, seasoned Partners" who pray for people during altar calls each Sunday. Anyone who wants to be prayed for can step forward at the invitation; anyone who wants to be part of the team can reach out through the church office.
Outreach: Heritage Manor, Right to Life, Foster Care, and Mercy Meals
Outreach is one of Lakeshore's five core values - "Spreading the truth of God's saving love and salvation through Jesus to anyone and everyone, both near and far." Four distinct ministries put that vision into practice.
The Heritage Manor Ministry sends a team of musicians and encouragers to Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Mandeville (1820 W Causeway Approach) on the third Sunday of every month at 9:00 AM. They lead the residents in worship, prayer, and fellowship for about 45 minutes and view it as a way to put Matthew 25:35-36 into action. The Right to Life ministry raises awareness about abortion in the church and community and partners with local Right to Life organizations, and Lakeshore hosts Covington's annual Life Chain each fall, gathering on Hwy. 21 and Brewster Road for a peaceful, prayerful witness. The Foster Care Ministry walks alongside foster families in the church and surrounding community through the fostering process, and Mercy Meals rounds out the calendar by providing holiday meals for families in need.
A Missions Ministry also exists for the broader work of sharing Christ around the world. Lakeshore frames its mission work around Jesus' words in Matthew 28:19 - "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit."
Life Groups, Mother's Day Out, and How to Connect
Smaller gatherings are at the heart of Lakeshore's discipleship model. Life Groups are small gatherings of people who meet regularly to connect, grow spiritually, and support one another in their faith journey. Lakeshore sees them as a vital way to deepen relationships with God, form lasting friendships, study the Bible together, serve and support one another, and experience personal transformation. Jim and Rebecca White lead the Life Groups ministry, and a Leader Application Form is available for anyone interested in launching a new group.
For parents with young children, Mother's Day Out is a daytime program run on the Lakeshore campus and directed by Tiffany Kennison. It gives parents a few hours of supervised care for their little ones outside of Sunday morning, and details and registration are handled through the church office.
Anyone wanting to know more about Lakeshore, or who feels ready to take the next step in their faith - from becoming a Christian, being water baptized, becoming a member, or serving in a ministry - can fill out the Connect with Lakeshore form or the Serve With Us form. Baptisms are celebrated on the last Sunday of most months; those interested can email admin@lakeshorechurch.info with shirt size and a preferred service time. Giving is available online through the giving page. The church office is open Monday through Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, closed on Thursdays. The address is 15261 Brewster Road, Covington, LA 70433.