About Our Church

West Tabernacle MBC
Church History

A cottage prayer meeting was started by Mother Maranda Lewis and a group of devoted Christian women, Namely: Mrs. Lizzie Jones, Mrs. Marie Wilson, Mrs. Lucy Egypt, Mrs. Jane Hurel, and Mrs. Emma Bailey. Later a group of men joined namely: Mr. Henry Lee, Mr. Jack Price, Mr. Peter Pickens, Mr. Doug Wilson, Mr. H.C. Tappen, Mr. David Egypt, Mr. Clem Wilmore, Mr. V.H. Bailey, and Mr. Joe Winter and Mr. Price and Mr. Winter began preaching to the group. These Christian men and women soon saw a need for a church and on December 28, 1904, a little structure was started and finished that same year and was given the name “West Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church”

The Deacons were: Bro. Dave Egypt, Bro. Van Washington, Bro. Charlie Hurrell, Bro. Priest Johnson, Bro. Nelson Gentry and Bro. Perie Meno. The Sunday School Superintendent was Bro. Calvin Lewis and Sis. Easter Bailey served as Secretary, the President of the Mission was Sis. Emma Bailey.
Rev. Frank Walker was called as Pastor and served from 1904 to 1907. In 1907, The Rev. Stephen succeeded Pastor Walker and served for one year. Rev. Walker was called for a second time as pastor early in 1908. The Sunday school and Mission Society were started with Rev. Frank Walker and Rev. Stephen with the Holy Spirit as their guide.

The New Deacons were: Bro. Clem Wilmore, Bro. Douglas Wilson and Bro. H.C. Tappen. The Sunday School Superintendent remained the same. The President of the Mission was Sis. Lucy Adams and Sis. Nora Bailey was President of the Mission. In 1909, The Rev. J.W. Williams was called to lead the church. Soon the little church on the corner of Waco and Hegele Streets was known in the community and the surrounding towns and it grew spiritually, financially, and numerically. Pastor Williams served until his “Home Going” on November 25, 1920.
The new Deacons were: Bro. Ora Blanchette, Bro. Julius Jones and Bro. Tom Henry. The Sunday School Superintendent was Bro. Vince Bailey and Bro. Ora Blanchette. The Presidents of the Mission were Sis. Esther Bernard and Sis. Ella Norton.

In 1922 the church called Rev. G.R. Alfrod as pastor. He continued the work began by his forerunners and served successfully until 1925. Bro. John Rubin, Sr. was added to the Deacon Board. In 1925 the Rev. F.S. Skinner was called as pastor. The Church began a “visiting program” in worship service with other churches in the city. Added to the Deacon Board were: Bro. George Adams, Bro. Mose Hurrel, Bro. Cartwright, Bro. V.O. Thomas and Bro. A.L. Price. The President of the Mission was Sis. B. Williams.
In 1930 the Rev. A.T. Thomas was called as Pastor and served faithfully until he resigned. The new Deacons were: Bro. Willis Green, Bro. B.O. Thomas and Bro. Shelly Johnson. The President of the Mission was Sis. Ardell Thomas.

In 1947 the church called Rev. A.L. Price to pastor. New Deacons added were: Bro. C.B. Livingston, Bro. Atlas Gordon, Bro. William Gordon, Bro. Newton Smith, Bro. Hosie Hopkins, Bro. Emile Patterson, Bro. Arthur Patterson, Bro. B.O. Patterson, Bro. Peter Lee, Bro. Oliver Flanders, Bro. Martin Horn, Bro. Paul Turner and Bro. Cebry Fusilier. The Superintendent of the Sunday School was Bro. E.T. Hebert and Bro. Edward Moore. The President of the Mission was Sis. Ardell Thomas and Sis. Dorothy Council. Rev. Price Died in 1959 and upon his death the church called Rev. J.H. Scott to pastor.
Under Rev. Scott’s leadership new Deacons were again added; Bro. A.J. Baptiste, Bro. Ben Ford, Bro. Jacob Hilton, Jr., Bro. Elridge Henry, Bro. Arthur Lee Rickett, Bro. Elijah Williams, Bro. Willie Clark, Bro. Freddie Richardson, Bro. Wilbert Richard, Bro. W. Jones, Bro. W.W. Council, Bro. Ozen Patterson, Bro. Jacob Wallace, and Bro. Willie Gibbs. The Sunday School Superintendents were Bro. Edward Moore, and Bro. W.W. Council. Sisters Dorothy Council and Anna Bell Fontno served as Mission President and Vice President respectively.

Realizing that the Mission Society had grown, Rev. Scott divided the Mission into Mission I and Mission II. Sis. W.M. Henry was elected President and Sis. Council was elected Vice President of Mission I. Mission II was headed by Sis. I.M. Forward and Sis. L. Breaux. The church continued to grow by leaps and bounds. A new parsonage was built. Sis. Juanita Council became Mission President and Sis. Lucille Breaux became Vice-President. During his administration, we witnessed a dream come true with a modern structure, parking lot, service billboard and other outstanding accomplishments. The Rev. Scott completed his work on July 21, 1978. Here he laid down his cross for his crown.
Rev. E.J. Rhodes came to us the First Sunday in December, 1978. We were now guided by a new Pastor, but the same God Almighty of Heaven continued to be our Supreme Leader. Since his coming, one could see an improvement in every phase of Ministry. Yet the need for interest in the spiritual and more consecrated lives of its membership was great. On March 17, 1985 we dedicated the Multipurpose Building. Deacons and Trustees at the time were: Bro. B.O. Patterson., Bro. Albert Moore, Bro. Houston Wilridge, Sr., Bro. Clayton Mayfield, Bro. Raymond Jones, Bro. Don Waters, Bro. James White, Bro. Wesley Franklin, Bro. Ed Sigee, Bro. Gerald Gipson, Bro. Lockwood Brooks, Bro. Don Scott, Bro. Alex Guidry and Sis. Bertha Johnson. President of the Mission was Sis. Lucille Breaux and Sis. Geraldine Cooper was Vice-President. Rev. Rhodes preached his last sermon on Easter Sunday March 30, 1986, and passed on April 5, 1986.

The church then called Rev. Rayfield Walker as its pastor on October 15, 1986. He previously served as Associate Minister under the pastorate of Rev. Rhodes.
Rev. Walker was a tutor and mentor for young men who were called to the ministry. The mid-week prayer service was revitalized, adding new features. During Pastor Walkers tenure new ministries were added; Saturday morning Bible Study and a new member’s rededication class on Sunday mornings. The physical facility was improved, additional property was purchased, a video ministry was started, the mortgage for the multi-purpose building was burned November 1997, and a library ministry was implemented . New deacons and Trustees were added: Bro. Charles Liggins and Sis Gatsy Moye’.
Rev. Walker’s pastorate continued. Rev. Albert Moore was added as Youth Minister. He started tutorial and enrichment sessions on Sunday evenings.

Deacons and Trustees added were: Bro. Garfield Walker, Sr., Bro. Garfielkd Walker, Jr., Bro. Lockwood Brooks, Bro. Jakey Dalco, Sis. Carol Semien, Sis. Verlie Nobles, Bro. Ed Sigee, Bro. Willie Richardson, Bro. Johnny Ross, Bro. Jewel Lewis, Bro. Lester Henry, Bro. Walter Simpson, Bro. Othello Price, Bro. Corey Perkins, Bro. Louis Fontenot, Bro. Duncan Brown, Bro. Ronald Bibbs, Bro. Robert Croff, Bro. Eugene Sams, Sis. Barbara Washington, Bro. Tommie Johnson, and Bro. Raymond Jones.

The President of the Mission was Sis. Lucille Breaux, Vice President, Sis. Geraldine Cooper. Bro. Willie Gibbs and Sis. Sally Guidry were Superintendents of Sunday School, and Bro. Don Scott was President of the Brotherhood.

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Rev. Rayfield Walker served until his death in February 2004. In June of 2005, the Rev. Asriel G. McClain accepted the call. Under his leadership the church began a weekly mid-day Bible Study, a Greeters/Hospitality Ministry, a Children’s period during morning worship, renewed our affiliation with or National Conventions and purchased a Baby Grand Piano. Rev. McClain resigned in October 2007.

In November 2008, the Rev. Jerry High was called as Pastor and was officially installed on February 15, 2009. Under his leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit, the church has grown spiritually and numerically. Also, restoration and renewed sense of God’s presence have been effectively established through teaching, sacrificing, and the continued studying of God’s word. Sunday School, Mission, Brotherhood, Youth Department, Wellness Ministry, and Bible Study have each seen significant grown and improvement under Pastor High. In addition to the spiritual progress of the church, the sanctuary and dinning area has experienced a needed facelift that enhanced the historical and physical integrity of the church. The E.J. Rhodes Activity Center also became an active and convenient resource in our outreach to the community as well.