At the Louisiana United Methodist Church Annual Conference held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from June 9 to June 12, 2026, local resident, former educator and local realtor Marvin Blake, Jr was appointed the local pastor at Macedonia United Methodist Church in Florien, Louisiana. The church is located at 957 Yellow Pine Road in Florien, Louisiana.

The new Pastor was recommended by the United Methodist Church District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM) to North Louisiana District Superintendent Dr. Romonalynn Bethley who recommended him to United Methodist Church Bishop Delores J. Williamston. 

Prior to his appointment, the new pastor enrolled in the United Methodist Church License to Preach School and completed all course work in May of 2026. He plans to work toward a master’s degree in theology in the Fall at SMU Perkins School of Theology.

A native of Natchitoches, Marvin is a graduate of Natchitoches Central High School and Northwestern State University. He is married to his high school sweetheart Ethel Claiborne Blake, and they have three sons, Christopher, Jonathan and Brandon. Two daughters-in-law Dr. Shontell Blake and Dr. Erin Blake and three granddaughters Madison, Kendell and Kennedi Blake. As a newly appointed local paster, he looks forward to family, friends and former colleagues from Natchitoches and surrounding areas stopping by on occasion to visit him and his church family at Macedonia.