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Our Church
Beacon Light International Baptist Cathedral is a word and love-centered ministry designed to evangelize the lost at any cost, equip and empower the people of God, and provide five-star ministry to our community as well as the world.
Endeavoring to minister to the total man, we are a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural ministry impacting a hurting world with the love of Jesus Christ. We are committed to the Spirit of Excellence, as we are striving to become an oasis of hope within the New Orleans Community and Nation by promoting and providing education, empowerment, as well as financial independence. We embrace freedom in worship because the word says, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty".
Our foundation is the word of God and we believe it, in its entirety.
The Beacon Light International Baptist Cathedral will distinguish herself as a leader in ministry in the 21st century and will be recognized for the passion and excellence of its membership in meeting the needs of the congregation and the community and providing five-star, innovative ministry.
Bishop Darryl Sylvester Brister is the Second Presiding Bishop in the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International and was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 26, 1966. He received his license to preach in 1989 and was ordained on May 1, 1992, under the administration of Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. On January 26, 1996, at the age of 29; he was consecrated to the highest position in the church, the office of a Bishop. He is the Apostle/Overseer of Beacon Light International Ministries and Senior Pastor and Teacher of Beacon Light International Baptist Cathedral New Orleans since 1993, where the membership exceeded 7,000 active members before Hurricane Katrina.
During Hurricane Katrina, all of the church buildings in New Orleans were destroyed and most of the members of the Beacon Light Family were dispersed across the United States. Bishop Brister served tirelessly since the storm and worked to rebuild the Cathedral, which reopened coincidently August 29, 2014. Beacon Light International Baptist Cathedral New Orleans is once again a thriving ministry in the city of New Orleans that continues rebuilding one day at a time.
Bishop Darryl S. Brister
Bishop Brister has ministered the Word of God in several countries such as Japan, Holland, Panama, Korea, Iceland, Africa, Trinidad, Tortola, and Europe. Bishop Brister attended Louisiana State University and later joined and received honorable discharge from the United States Army. He received a Bachelor of Theology Degree from McKinley Theological Seminary, a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, a Doctor of Ministry and a Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies from Friends International Christian University.
Understanding that ministry extends beyond the confines of the church building, Bishop Brister is a man on a mission to reach lost souls. As President & CEO of DSB International Ministries, a non-profit organization, Bishop Brister, reaches those incarcerated by providing them with spiritual reading materials and daily devotionals. The Darryl S. Brister Scholarship Fund supports graduating seniors entering into college and assists high school students with the purchase of school uniforms.
Bishop Brister has received numerous awards and his leadership ability has been recognized throughout the world. In April 2010, he was inducted into the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers. He was featured in the 1995 November edition of Ebony Magazine as one of the Top 50 Leaders of Tomorrow, the January 2000 issue of Upscale Magazine's Millennium Tribute to America's Most Outstanding Pastors, the September/October 2002 & 2005 issue of Gospel Today as one of The World's Most Loved Pastors, and the 2004 New Orleans City Business Success Guide. Most recently, Bishop Brister has been featured in the Who's Who of Houston, TX and was featured on the cover of an edition of Epitome Magazine in 2013.
Bishop Brister has authored nine books that have ministered to thousands entitled, Exposing the Enemy, The Monster Within, Recovering From Ruptured Relationships, Don't Fight the Process, Talk To Me Afterwards, Look To the Hills, Living the Dream, Doing Right In A Wrong World and most recently Against All Odds: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities. In March of 1999, Bishop Brister and the Beacon Light Mass Choir released their first CD entitled, It's All About Him. He serves as President and Founder of the Darryl S. Brister Bible College and Theological Seminary, which was established in August 1999 and is the Founder of the Beacon Light Christian Academy, which was established in August 2002. He is the Apostle/Overseer of the Beacon Light Baptist Church of Houma, LA, Beacon Light Baptist Church of Hammond, LA, Beacon Light Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, LA, Beacon Light of Haiti at New Orleans, and Beacon Light Community Church of Panama City, FL. Bishop Brister birthed Beacon Light International Cathedral of Houston, TX after Hurricane Katrina, which is currently in an inactive status.
Bishop Darryl S. Brister is married to Dionne Flot Brister and is the father of five children. He is a man of vision whose life embraces destiny and purpose. He has a deep hunger to win souls for Christ and is committed to serving God; he is dedicated to following wherever God may lead, and excited as God continues to do A Brand New Thing within his life and ministry.
Dr. Dionne Flot Brister was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 1, 1963. She was raised in uptown New Orleans. She attended McDonogh 28 Junior High School and is a graduate of Eleanor McMain Senior High School. She pursued academic excellence by attending Delgado Community College earning an Associate Degree in Business Management.
Dr. Brister has served as the First Lady of the Beacon Light International Baptist Cathedral since July 1993. She is married to Bishop Darryl S. Brister and is the loving mother of five beautiful children.
Dr. Brister earned her Professor's Degree from Friends International Christian University on September 24, 1999. On February 18, 2001 she received her license to preach under the leadership of Bishop Darryl S. Brister. Her first tape series entitled, "It's Just a Pit Stop" was released in 2002.
Girls Are Talkin' Young and Adult Christian Sorority, is a Non-Profit Organization established in March 2002 by Dr. Brister. The goal is to help educate, encourage and enhance the lives of youth and young adults.
She received her Doctoral Degree from the Darryl S. Brister Theological Seminary in June 2003. In September 2003, she became a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to advocate for rights of abused and neglected children.
She is the Overseer of the Women's Ministry of Beacon Light International Ministries, Beacon Light Church of New Orleans, Houma, Hammond, Baton Rouge, and Haiti at New Orleans, Louisiana.
In April 2005, Dr. Brister was included in the National Register's Who's Who in Executives and Professionals and appeared in the 2005-2006 Edition.
Dr. Brister's hunger to win souls for Christ is transparent through the life she lives for God. Her encouragement to all women is to follow The Christ that is on the inside of her which is the Hope of Glory in becoming a God-fearing woman!
First Lady Dr. Dionne F. Brister
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