WOODWORTH, LA: A small Reformed Baptist congregation in Central Louisiana—Christ Fellowship of CENLA—has been abruptly removed from its longtime meeting place at the United Methodist Wesley Center in Woodworth following Pastor Jeffrey Mercer’s public objection to civic celebration honoring Buddhist monks on a “Walk for Peace”, according to church leaders in their interview with Covenant Spotlight.
Christ Fellowship had met at the Wesley Center for nearly nine years. The church says the eviction came within a day of Mercer’s short video explaining why, as a Christian pastor, he opposed the religious message of the monks’ event.
The Video That Sparked the Conflict
On December 1, 2025, a group of nineteen Buddhist monks traveling cross-country came to Pineville, Louisiana, stopped at a Budhist shrine, and were honored with proclamations, media photo opportunities, and a speaking role at a local park.
In response, Pastor Mercer recorded and posted on Facebook a one-minute video with the caption, “A clarification on why I’m against the 19 Grinch Monks who are trying to steal Christmas.” In it, he said:
*“So why am I against the Buddhist monks coming through our town today on their walk for peace, for America? Because I’m a Christian, and the message of Christianity is the gospel, and the gospel is the announcement that God is bringing peace to the world through Christ.
…By them attempting to achieve world peace through something they could do outside of Christ, they are against Christianity. So that’s why I’m against them. They’re against Christianity, and I’m for peace… The only one who could bring peace to the world is Jesus.”*
The video quickly drew online comments, both critical and supportive.
The Eviction Message
According to Christ Fellowship Deacon Ryan Brunson, Wesley Center Executive Director Howard Hines first called him, expressing concern that the church’s Facebook page listed the Wesley Center’s address alongside Mercer’s video. Brunson says he removed the address within minutes.
He then received the following text message from Hines, reproduced verbatim citing Mercer’s video as the basis for the eviction:
From Howard Hines to Deacon Ryan Brunson
*“Ryan,
Thank you for removing the address. However, this was put on facebook and has received many controversial comments.
I will have Patti refund any monies owed to the church and our relationship is terminated effective immediately.
Please make plans to pick up your sound equipment in the next 48 hours.
The United Methodist Church will not tolerate or associate with groups that state the types of opinions listed on the facebook post.Howard Hines.”*
Brunson says the church was given 48 hours to remove its sound equipment and other property. When they arrived, all doors to the chapel were locked and staff members, not Hines, met them and collected the key.
The church had been on a month-to-month lease for 2025, after earlier yearly arrangements.
Pastor Mercer’s Public Response
After the eviction, Mercer posted a longer Facebook video addressing his congregation and the local community.
“For nine years, we’ve been meeting at the Methodist Wesley Center in Woodworth, which has been a blessing—until you get noticed. This year, they noticed,” Mercer said, summarizing the events surrounding the Buddhist march and the city’s involvement.
He reiterated that Buddhists, like all people, are made in the image of God and should be treated with respect, while also insisting that Christian pastors must speak clearly about the exclusivity of Christ.
“No threat or consequence that comes to pass will stop any man, woman, or even a child at this church from preaching that Jesus Christ is Lord of CENLA, that his cross alone is the way to make peace on earth,” Mercer said.
“Scripture tells Christians exactly how to respond in times like these: pray, rejoice, bless those who revile you, keep preaching Jesus Christ as Lord, keep living peaceably, sing, enjoy life, have fun.”
Since the eviction, Mercer said the congregation has remained united and joyful:
“We’ve simply kept going in our preaching through Scripture. The next text in Colossians was about seeking the things above. We didn’t even need a special sermon; the Word already addressed exactly where we are.”
Christ Fellowship met the following Lord’s Day at Louisiana Christian University and is exploring both short-term and long-term locations.
Request to the Wesley Center
Covenant Spotlight reached out to Howard Hines by text message and by telephone call to the Wesley Center. Chelsea, a staff member at the Wesley Center, advised that Mr. Hines was not interested in doing any interviews.
In that outreach, Covenant Spotlight specifically requested that Mr. Hines—or another representative of the Wesley Center or the United Methodist Church—address:
- Whether there are any biblically based theological disagreements with Pastor Mercer’s original video; and
- Whether the decision to evict Christ Fellowship on the basis of the post was made by Mr. Hines alone or by another authority on behalf of the United Methodist Church or the Wesley Center.
As of publication, no response to those questions has been received.
For now, Christ Fellowship of CENLA is without a permanent home but continues to worship and preach.
“Speak the truth. Sing the songs. Enjoy the Christmas tide,” Mercer told his congregation. “And remember—it ain’t that deep. The King has come, and His kingdom will not be silenced.”
J. Christian Lewis/AI assisted