Meet Pastor Bonji
Hey there! I’m Pastor Bonji F. Arvie, and I am so glad you’ve stopped by my digital home.
If you were to ask me what makes me tick, the answer is simple: Faith, Family, and Football. I’m a firm believer that you can love the Lord with all your heart, serve the Kingdom with everything you've got, and still have a whole lot of fun along the way!
Whether we’re talking about the deep truths of Scripture or shouting at the TV on a beautiful fall Saturday afternoon, I bring my full, authentic self to the table. Here is a little bit of the journey God has had me on.
My Roots & Foundation
I’m a proud native of Ville Platte, Louisiana—born right here on July 20, 1979, to the wonderful union of Rev. Dr. Herman Arvie and my late, beautiful mother, Sister Carolyn Arvie. I hit the jackpot as the fifth and final child born to this union, which means I grew up in a loud, lively, and deeply loving Christian home. From day one, my siblings and I were taught the undeniable power of prayer and the lifelong benefits of loving a true and living God. I’m a Ville Platte High School graduate through and through, and I later took my talents to the University of Southwestern Louisiana (you might know it today as ULL!), where I majored in Business Management.
Faith & Ministry: Over 28 Years on the Field
I accepted Christ at an early age, and honestly, I’ve been running for Him ever since. I’ve been ministering on the Gospel field for over 28 years now. My ultimate desire is pretty simple: I just want to do the Will of God and love His people.
God has trusted me to lead some truly incredible congregations across Louisiana, and I am honored to serve as:
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Pastor of St. James Baptist Church in Opelousas, LA (where I've been blessed to shepherd for 17 wonderful years!)
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Pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church (Installed March 23, 2025, right here in Ville Platte)
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Pastor of Greater Mount Pleasant (Installed March 23, 2025, in Ville Platte)
Beyond the church walls, I get to serve our broader faith community as the President of the Southwest Missionary Baptist Association, Inc. and as the Corresponding Secretary for the Louisiana Home and Foreign Mission Baptist Convention, Inc.
Family: My Ultimate Home Team
When I’m not in the pulpit or out in the community, you can find me right where my heart is—spending quality time with my family. I am incredibly blessed to be married to the absolutely lovely and talented Dana Prescott Arvie. Together, we have three amazing children who keep life exciting: Kaiden, Taylor, and Chloe. They are my ultimate home team, my greatest joy, and my favorite huddle to be in.
My Playbook for Life
If there is one piece of Scripture that guides everything I do—from how I pastor to how I live out my daily life—it's Jeremiah 29:11:
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you an unexpected end."
No matter where you are in your own spiritual season, I want to remind you that God has a massive, beautiful, and purposeful game plan for your life. Thank you for walking this road with me. Let’s win for the Kingdom together!