THE BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY

Pastor Jimmy Ray Stevens, known as “Jim” or “Doc” to most, was born on July 22, 1956, as the oldest of seven to the late Reverend Willie Stevens, Jr. and Mrs. Rose Lee Thomas Stevens of Mossville, LA. He matriculated through grade school and graduated from Westlake High School. After graduating from Westlake High School, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts from McNeese State University. He continued his education through post-graduate studies at New Orleans Seminary in New Orleans, LA, which led to his pursuit of a Master of Theology degree at Cornerstone University. Ultimately, Pastor Stevens received a Doctor of Ministry from Lake Charles Bible College. He was baptized at a young age and began his walk-in ministry. On January 3, 1982, Pastor Stevens preached his first sermon and was licensed at the Straightway Baptist Church, where his father, Rev. Willie Stevens, Jr., was Pastor in Moss Buff, LA.

ZION TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH 

On April 16th, 1984, he was called to Pastorage of the Zion Tabernacle Baptist Church in Lake Charles, LA, where he succeeded Dr. N.P. Jones. He was ordained on April 24, 1984, by the 7th District Baptist Association. First led in developing ministry to young adults in the church and then outreach to McNeese State University, including campus bible study, evangelism, and discipleship. Help develop other ministries within the body emphasizing stewardship, evangelism, worship, ministry, church growth, and discipleship. Under his leadership, the church grew from a membership of 100 to over 300 families. In 2000, the church relocated from 315 North Goos Blvd. to the present site at 910 Shattuck Street, building a new facility for 1.2 million dollars.

 

NEW COVENANT FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH

The founding Pastor of the New Covenant Faith Baptist Church in 2004, at 2233 12th Street, Lake Charles, LA. Since the church’s inception, the membership has developed twenty-four ministries serving children, youth, young adults, and adults. The church campus is on a 6-acre tract with five buildings (sanctuary, administration building, covenant kids building, family life center, and Bethesda House) appraised at 2 million dollars. With an emphasis on the five purposes of the church: worship, evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, ministry, and missions, NCFBC reaches:

• The Congregation (Worship, Christian Education, and other Ministry Opportunities)
• The Community (Monthly Food Pantry Outreach, Annual Rock the Block Outreach, Annual Outreach Share, Lake Charles Bible College, Bethesda House Prison Ministry)
• The Cosmos (Foreign Missions Trips to Dominica, West Indies, and St. Vincent, West Indies, and yearly hosting of missionaries)

 

CONTRIBUTIONS AT MCNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY 

• Co-founder of the Voices of Truth Gospel Choir, which is presently the Higher-Level Gospel Choir at McNeese State University
• A member of the cast of “A Raisin in the Sun,” the first Black Drama at MSU
• President of the Student Congress of African American Culture at MSU, which led to hiring more black professors at MSU.

 

EDUCATION 

• Graduate of McNeese State University
• Post Graduate Studies at New Orleans Baptist Seminary, Lake Charles Bible College, Baptist Seminary of Kentucky

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE 

• Served on the Seventh District Baptist Association Board of Directors
• Served on the Foreman Reynard YMCA Board of Directors
• Served on the McNeese State University Community Relations
• Open Door Women Prison Ministry Board of Directors
• Southwest Louisiana Responds (Hurricane Disaster Relief and Recovery)
• Board of Directors of the Louisiana Missionary Baptist State Convention
• Director of Foreign Missions of the Louisiana Missionary Baptist State Convention
• Executive Director of the Bethesda House

 

ORGANIZATIONS LED 

• Past President of the National Baptist Jr. Laymen Convention, USA, Inc.
• Past President of the Student Congress of African American Culture at McNeese State University
• Past President of the American Baptist College at Lake Charles
• Past President of the Baptist Minister’s Union of Lake Charles & Vicinity

• Past organizer of Hands Across Lake Charles Prayer
• President of Lake Charles Bible College
• Executive Director of Bethesda House Reentry
• Director of Foreign Missions of the Louisiana Missionary Baptist State Convention
• President of the Board of Southwest Louisiana Alliance Responds
• President of the Seventh District Missionary Baptist Association (Newly elected)

 

INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES, MISSIONS, AND STUDIES 

• Haiti (3 trips)
• Israel International Christian Education Initiative (2 trips)
• Europe International Christian Education Initiative (1 trip)
• West Indies (Dominica – 7 trips & St. Vincent – 1 trip)
• Ghana, Africa (1 trip)

 

AUTHOR AND PUBLISHED BOOKS 

• Your Riches in Christ
• New Beginnings
• Strength Like an Eagle
• Champions of Faith
• Harvest Power
• Inspirations of Hope
• The Making of a Faith Champion
• Lessons from a Lockdown
• Overcomer

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF MINISTRY  

• Have enjoyed and benefitted from the mentorship of his father, Rev. Willie Stevens, Jr., Dr. M.L. Thomas, Bro. A.J. Cain, Dr. V.E. Washington, Dr. George McCalep, Dr. Don Johnson, and others in the Christian faith.
• Guest speaker at the Historical 16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama (1980), Greenforest Baptist Church, Decatur, Georgia, Dr. George McCalep, Pastor (2003), Fountain of Praise, Rev. Remus Wright, Houston, Texas (2005)
• Lectured in the Garden of Gethsemane, on the Sea of Galilee, and the steps of the temple ruins in Jerusalem. Traveled and studied in ancient Asia Minor in Europe.
• Meeting Coretta Scott King (wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) at the Rising Star Baptist Church, Rev. Bryon Broussard, Pastor in Atlanta, Georgia, and received from her daughter, Rev. Bernice King, a personal handwritten message and autograph book of her first book, “Hard Questions and Heart Answers.”
• Had over 30+ associate ministers sit under his ministry, licensed 13 into the Gospel ministry, and had 6 to have served as Pastors (Rev. Paul D. Stevens, Sr., Rev. Ray Captain, Rev. Darnell Allen, Rev. Larry Miles, Rev. Harold Robinson, Sr., and Rev. L. Tatum) and four retired former Pastors (Rev. C. S. Keys, Rev. Eddie Conway, Rev. Willie Stevens, Jr., and Rev. Robert Perryman)
• Christened and baptized both his daughter and grandson, Jeremiah, then married his daughter in 2017
• Ministered to four generations as a local Pastor
• Married to Mrs. Patricia Stevens (the partner & love of his life) for the past 40 years
• Had been saved, entrusted with the ministry of the gospel, shepherding the people of God, and witnessing much growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

 

HIS LEGACY TO REMEMBER

He was welcomed into his eternal home by his parents, Rev. Willie Stevens, Jr. and Mrs. Rose Lee Thomas Stevens. He leaves to cherish his life and legacy are his wife of 40 years, Mrs. Patricia J. Stevens of Lake Charles, LA; one (1) daughter, Jamie Patrice Stevens Harrison (JJ Harrison) of Iowa, LA; five (5) grandchildren, Jeremiah Patrick Stevens, Jailyn Harrison, McKenzie Harrison, Jaxson Harrison, and Jayson Harrison of Iowa, LA. He was also affectionally known as PawPaw Jimmy to Jayden Harrison and Jru Tanner, all of Lake Charles, LA; four (4) brothers: Charles W. Stevens (Malinda) of Lake Charles, LA, Pastor Paul D. Stevens, Sr. (Belinda) of San Antonio, TX, Pastor Mitchell J. Stevens, Sr. (Kerri) of Kenner, LA, and Anthony L. Stevens (LaTisha) of Westlake, LA; two (2) sisters: Bonita Malbrew (Donald) of Baton Rouge, LA and Serena Goodwin (Chester) of Sulphur, LA; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends, family members and his beloved church family, New Covenant Faith Baptist Church.