Pastoral Leadership

Rick Pavlu, Senior Pastor

Known for his passion for motivating people to reach their potential by striving for excellence in all areas of life, Pastor Rick Pavlu and his wife Beverly have led The Church Point Pentecostals since January of 1980. He has also served as a member of the Louisiana District Board and a Presbyter of Section Three since October of 1986. His desire to mentor young ministers, train effective leaders, reach the lost, and fortify the family structure, has changed the lives of countless men and women. He has faithfully served God since he was first filled with the Holy Ghost in 1971, and accepting his call to the ministry just four years later. He acknowledges the major impact that the early and continued mentoring of John Burns(Sunday School Teacher/Assistant Pastor) and T.F. Tenney(Louisiana District Superintendent) has had on his life. Pastor Rick Pavlu has a Bachelor's of Science in Botany (1975) and a Master's of Science in Plant Systematics (1979), both from Louisiana Tech University. He has authored one book, Evolution: When Fact Became Fiction, and has recently published his second book, Kids Under Construction. In his spare time, he enjoys working in the area of botany and playing basketball. He also enjoys spending time with his children Corrie, Jared, and Layna, son-in-laws Jonathan and Deron, and daughter-in-law Jen,as well as his grandchildren, Hudson & Graham. Under his continued leadership, The Church Point Pentecostals have become one of the more avdanced and relevant churches at meeting people's needs.

Jonathan Lewis, Assistant Pastor

Jonathan Lewis has faithfully served as Assistant Pastor of The Church Point Pentecostals for the last 17 years. He has a Bachelor's degree in theology from Texas Bible College. He first acknowledged his call to the ministry in 1978 while attending the bible college. He credits his parents and his bible college experience as the key cultiviators of his ministry. He has an unquenchable desire to help people find Christ, and to see the church fulfill its mission. He enjoys travel, reading, and spending time with his wife Cindy, and his sons Jay and DeRon. He currently resides in Opelousas, Louisiana.

Rick Hardwick, Associate Pastor

Born in Leesville, Louisiana, in 1964, Rick Hardwick received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ on January 9th, 1983. He married his wife Mona on October 18, 1986. Since 1988 they have served in just about every facet of ministry, including Children's Outreach, Youth, College & Church Administration. Rick previously served as Youth Pastor of The Church Point Pentecostals from 1991 to 1996. During this season of ministry, God birthed in them a burden for church growth. In 1996, the Hardwick family transitioned into a new season of ministry, eventually helping establish Corner Stone Church in College Station Texas, where he served as Assistant Pastor. In 2002, Rick left his 17 year career in corporate America to pursue his passion full time for soul-winning and church growth, founding the Java Joy Christian Coffee House (outreach ministry/business) in College Station Texas that same year. Rick also served as adviser to the Campus MInistries International group, ministering on the Texas A & M University. Rick is very passionate about growing in the Kingdom of God and helping churches realize their full potential in God. It is this passion that led the Hardwick family to accept an opportunity to come back to Church Point in May of 2005. Rick enjoys drinking great coffee with friends and spending time with his family. Rick currently resides in Mire, Louisiana with his wife Mona and children Trevor and Tanner.

Jonathan Walton, Driven Youth Pastor

Originally from Ruston, Louisiana, Jonathan has served in minstry for the last 12 years. He acknowledged his call to the ministry at a very early age, and preached his first message at the age of 14. He has served as Youth Pastor of Driven at The Church Point Pentecostals for the last three years. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Disorders, and a Master's Degree in Audiology, both from Louisiana Tech University. He never misses an opportunity to glean from other leaders and to reach young people with the message of Jesus Christ. He has a passion to teach teens key leadership principles, practical life skills, and the importance of servitude; while leading them toward a real relationship with God. He also enjoys reading, playing sports, spending time with his family, and is currently in the process of publishing two books. Jonathan currently resides in Church Point with his wife Corrie, and sons Hudson and Graham.

Strategic Leadership Team

Josh Credeur, Children's Ministry Director

Raised in Opelousas, Louisiana, Josh has been a member of The Church Point Pentecostals for the last 14 years. He has worked in Children's Ministry since 1999 and has served as Children's Ministry Director for the last two years. Josh has a Bachelor's of Science in Petroleum Engineering that he obtained from Louisiana State University. He has a strong passion for seeing young children's lives change by the love and grace of God. He first felt God strongly dealing with his life as a teenager, under the guidance and mentoring of his youth pastor, Rick Hardwick. Josh enjoys hunting and fishing in his spare time. He currently resides in Church Point with his wife Jessica and children Laelah, Caroline, and Andrea.

Clint Credeur, Home Bible Study Director

Clint Credeur has served as the Home Bible Study Director of The Church Point Pentecostals since 1993, almost one year after becoming a member of the church. His strong passion for the Word of God began in 1982 when he became a Sunday school teacher at his local church. He fell in love with what he felt when teaching the Word of God to others, and knew he had found his passion after teaching his first Bible studies in 1983. He has a zeal for studying and teaching others the Word of God because it is "relevant for every situation." In his spare time, Clint Credeur enjoys hunting and fishing. He currently lives in Opelousas with his wife Lessie and daughters Leah, Hannah, and Katherine. He also has three other children: Josh, Nickie, and Amber who are all actively involved in minisitry.

Johnny Gibbs, Music Director

Born in Natchitoches and raised in Leesville, Johnny Gibbs has served as the Music Director of The Church Point Pentecostals since 2003. He also serves as the Young Married Couples Classroom Coordinator. Johnny has a degree in Computer Technology (1991), an Associates Degree in General Studies (Northwestern University, 1998), Bachelors Degree in Business (2000, University of Louisiana at Lafayette), and a Master's of Business Administration (2002, University of Louisiana at Lafayette). He first acknowledged the call of God on his life at youth camp on the Louisiana District Campgrounds in 1983. He discovered his zeal for music in his sophomore year of high school. He credits Nelda Wellman (of Leesville) and Beverly Pavlu (of Church Point) as the two people who most influenced his music ministry. He has a passion for his music ministry, because it is the key way in which he can "express the fire for God in his soul." He finds the ministry "exciting, challenging, and fascinating," and loves to "watch the gift for music develop in others." Johnny also enjoys mentoring, golf, basketball, and learning to play the guitar. He currently resides in Duson with his wife Carissa and two children, Ashlyn and Jathan.

Myron Erwin, New Life Director

Myron has a burning desire to firmly establish people in their new relationship with Jesus Christ by teaching Biblical principles, helping work through their real life problems, and serving as positive mentor in this very important formative stage of their Christian life. He first felt his calling into ministry in Leesville in 1992. He credits his years of hard work in a Home Missions Church as the source of his passion for ministry. He has been a member of The Church Point Pentecostals for the last five years and has been the director of New Life for the last three years. He also serves as one of three Home Friendship Group Section Leaders. He currently resides in Cankton, Louisiana, with his wife Terri and son Dylan. With his spare time he enjoys playing golf.

Jared Pavlu, Technology Director

Jared Pavlu has been a member of The Church Point Pentecostals all his life. He began his ministry as a member of the sound department at the age of 14. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and is also a Microsoft Certified System Engineer. Years of hard work, dedication, and commitment to putting The Church Point Pentecostals on the cutting edge of technology, led to Jared being named Technology Director in 2004. He has a strong commitment to excellence in all areas of life, which he acknowledges came from his father, Pastor Rick Pavlu. Jared also has a strong desire to use modern Technology to improve every service, thus enhancing people's experience with God. When he is not working at the church, he enjoys reading and learning to play music.

Sandra LaFleur, Women's Ministry Director

A member of The Church Point Pentecostals for the last 14 years, Sandra LaFleur has served as the director of the CPP Women's Ministry for that last four. Having been born and raised in the Acadiana Region, she has a hunger to reach the people of Acadiana with the message of Jesus Christ. She has dedicated her life to serving others, and has always represented the women of The Church Point Pentecostals with integrity and excellence. She credits Bobbie Wendell, Nona Freeman, and her current pastoral family, Rick and Beverly Pavlu, as key Christian influencers in her life. Sandra also enjoys cooking and reading, as well as spending time with her family. She currently resides in Church Point with her husband Tommy.

Chance and Danielle, Young Married Couples Event Coordinators

Chance and Danielle have been members of The Church Point Pentecostals for three years. Both having a passion to help young couple's find God and reinforce the institution of marriage, they committed to becoming the event coordinators in 2005. Chance's life and relationship with God has been highly impacted by his mother and step-father. Danielle also credits her mother and father as playing vital roles in her becoming passionate about the Kingdom. She has faithfully served in church ministry since joining the choir at her local church at the age of sixteen. Chance enjoys fishing, hunting, and traveling. Danielle enjoys traveling and shopping. They live in Church Point with their son Logan and daughter Audrey.

Jennifer "Jen" Pavlu, Youth Music Director

Jen Pavlu has served as the youth music director for the last three years. She has faithfully attended The Church Point Pentecostals for the last eight years. She is currently in her senior year at Northwestern University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, pursuing a degree in Graphic Design. Her excitement, commitment, talent, and passion for worship have been an exemplary example to the youth that she now leads. She has helped turn the Driven Youth Chorale into an anointed group, hungry to do whatever it takes to bring the presence of God into every service that they are a part of. Jen has a heart to see young people commit their lives and talent to God. When she is not involving herself in the work of the Lord, she is interested in photography, graphic design, and art.