First Baptist Church of LaPlace
Pastor's Letter | September 8, 2026
FBC LaPlace Family,
I want to share a unique experience I had this past Sunday.
Because many of our Tech Team volunteers were away for Labor Day weekend, I had the opportunity to serve with our Tech Team Ministry. Normally, I sit toward the front of our Worship Gathering because I need to be ready to go on stage. But this past Sunday, I had the opportunity to sit in the back and simply watch our church family worship the Lord Jesus.
It was such an incredible moment!
I got to see our FBC LaPlace Family worship from a completely different perspective. I watched as God’s people lifted their voices, sang with passion, and gave God the worship He deserves. My heart was deeply blessed as I watched our church family give their hearts to worship—not simply because of what God has done, but because of who He is.
As we look toward this coming Sunday, I want to challenge our church family to be intentional this week about inviting people who are unchurched and those who do not know Jesus as their Savior to Tailgate Sunday.
Let’s go all out to reach people through a fun Tailgate Event with our focus on Jesus! Decorate your tents, bring plenty of food, wear your favorite team colors, and invite your friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers, and classmates to come and encounter Jesus with us this Sunday.
One of our mission values is reaching people, and Tailgate Sunday is designed to do just that. We want to use our Sunday School and Small Group classes as a way to build relationships with people in our community and create opportunities to point them to Jesus.
Would you join me in praying throughout this week, asking God to change lives at Tailgate Sunday? Let’s use the beginning of football season as an opportunity to point people to Jesus Christ!
Finally, I want to pause and simply say THANK YOU to all of our volunteers who serve in the many different ministries of our church.
It is important to encourage one another and give honor where honor is due. Week after week, our volunteers serve faithfully to make much of Jesus, and we are seeing God honor their servant hearts as He uses them to draw people to Himself.
Please know that God sees your servant heart. Your pastor and church staff see it too, and we are incredibly grateful for your willingness to serve others in the same way Christ came to serve us.
This connects so beautifully with our Real Faith series in James. So many of you are demonstrating through your service that you are giving God a “blank check” with your lives—saying, “God, whatever You want me to do, wherever You want me to serve, I’m willing.”
Thank you for being Christlike and choosing to serve rather than be served.
I am grateful to be your pastor, and I’m excited about what God is going to do through our church family in the days ahead.
Let’s worship Him.
Let’s reach people.
Let’s serve others.
And let’s make much of Jesus!
Tailgate Sunday is one week away!
We can't wait for Sunday! We are moving our worship gathering outside for the start of the New Orleans Saints football season. Come wearing your favorite team colors, bring a lawn chair, some tailgate food with your Sunday School class, and bring some unchurched family and friends. We will have worship and the Word starting at 11:15am from the stage.
Next Steps Class
Our Next Steps Class will be on Sunday, September 27 at 12pm. Lunch is provided for those in attendance. This class is for anyone who has been attending to learn more about FBC LaPlace or those interested in joining our FBC LaPlace family through church membership. We need your help in inviting those who have been attending over the last few months to help them plug in to the work God is doing among us.
Widows Banquet
Our Widows Banquet will be Saturday, September 26 at 12pm. Don't forget our Widows Banquet require an RSVP. Our deacons have passed out our invitations, so make sure if received an invtiation to make your reservaton because there are two food entree choices. This is always a very special time with all of our widows and we cannot wait to honor them.
New! KIDZ KLUB
We’re excited to introduce a new Sunday morning ministry for our PreK-4 and Kindergarten children called Kidz Klub!
Kidz Klub is designed to help our youngest children learn more about God and His Word in a fun, age-appropriate environment. Kids will begin the morning worshiping with their families in the Worship Gathering and will then be dismissed to Kidz Klub during the Giving Moment.
We’re excited to provide this opportunity for our children to grow in their knowledge and love of God and the Bible! Check some pics below from this past Sunday and KIDZ KLUB first meeting studying about David and Goliath.
Interested in serving with Kidz Klub? We would love for you to be a part of this new ministry. Please see Stephanie LaCombe for more information about volunteering.
Anna and I are so grateful for the privilege of serving alongside you here at FBC LaPlace. We truly believe that greater days are ahead as we continue to keep Christ first, make His name known, and seek to give Him all the glory.
We love you, FBC LaPlace Family, and we are thankful for each of you. May the Lord continue to bless you and your families as we follow Him together!
With Christ's Love,
Shane & Anna Newton
[Image: Shane Newton]
Shane Newton
Senior Pastor
Also available as Markdown.