On October 3, 1950, six people
met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hendrickson to plan for a new church.
On the next Sunday, October 8, about seventy people met for the first service.
It was held at Reese Hall at the Louisiana Polytechnic Institute.
In November there were 116 persons who signed up to be charter members
under the founding pastor, Rev. Doug McGuire.
The parsonage at 1200 Dubach
was built in 1951. Plans were made and a building fund started for
construction of a fellowship hall on property (at Tech Drive and California)
acquired in 1952. Services were first held in that building on Palm
Sunday 1953.
On March 3, 1957,
groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the new sanctuary. Costing $81,000
and seating 385, the building was completed by its formal opening on October 13,
1957. An education building was constructed in 1962-63. In the
1960s, the church began expressing a desire to help with mission work by
supporting Ray and Elizabeth Holt in the Philippines.
On May 9, 1977, the church voted to purchase 14
acres of land (at a cost of $53,000) on Hwy 167 north. The plans for a new
church were approved in August 1978. The existing church was purchased by
Louisiana Tech for $258,000 in May 1981. The last service in the original
church was held on January 2, 1983. The movement of fixtures was
completed, and the first service in the new facilities took place the following
Sunday. The consecration service was held on January 21, 1983 under the
leadership of Rev. James Humphreys..
A new sanctuary and
office complex were constructed in 1988 under the leadership of Rev. Larry
Miller. The Prayer Chapel was dedicated
in June 1991. The church became debt-free on January 16, 1996, when
the final building note was paid.
In May 2003, a secret ballot was held, and the
congregation voted unanimously to construct a Christian Life Center. The
$850,000 structure was to contain a gym stage, commercial kitchen, youth area,
and a large meeting room. It was completed and consecrated on March 14,
2004 under the leadership of Rev. Wayne Evans. |
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