In the fall of 1988, Emile Bergeron and Maurice Casadaban approached me as I was having coffee at Airline Motors in LaPlace. They wanted to know if I would start a weekly men’s Bible study group. “Why don’t you guys start a group?” was my reply. “Would you help?” they asked. I agreed to help and that’s how the early men’s Bible study group got started in St. John Parish. Some people credit me with starting the meetings, but actually it was Emile and Maurice who had the vision.  

We met every Tuesday at 6:15 a.m.  Regardless of the holidays, Christmas or New Year’s, we never canceled a meeting. When Airline Motors closed we moved to McDonald’s, then the Holiday Inn, and now we meet at the Cornerstone Café on Friday mornings at 6:15.

Twelve years ago, my friend Danny Louque started a meeting at his business, Quality Machine Manufacturing, on Louisiana Highway 3125 in Paulina. The meetings are held on Thursday morning at 5:15. Last Thursday, 29 men met to discuss ways of becoming real men and having a closer walk with Jesus.

Wade Trosclair and Bret Acosta of Garyville, who attended meetings the past couple of years, decided to start a meeting in Garyville. Last Tuesday, they held their first meeting at 6:15 a.m. at the St. Hubert’s Church Hall in Garyville. Nine men were in attendance with one common goal, which is to become better Christians. The meetings are open to the public and are non-denominational with Jesus as the center of every topic.

Over the 24 years since the meetings were started, it’s estimated that between 600 and 700 men have attended. One of the most exciting miracles is a changed life, and I’ve witnessed men’s lives changed.

Are the meetings for everyone? No, only for men who have a desire to have a closer relationship with Jesus. I congratulate Wade and Bret for being bold about their spiritual walk and wanting to see men step up and be godly examples in their community.

It’s amazing to think about what God’s plan will do when it’s put into action. A special thanks to Emile and Maurice for being obedient to God.

If you have any questions or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-652-8477, or email hkeller@comcast.net.