How about a story about a church that changed its name during World War II? That’s the story of the Pentecost Baptist Church in New Orleans. The church has a fascinating history. It reflects faith, resilience, and community spirit.
Originally named Rising Sun Baptist Church in 1906, it stood at 2118 D’Abadie Street. Reverend Henry Butler was its first pastor. After Rev. Butler’s passing, Rev. Joseph Getridge became the under shepherd.
The 1940s brought a significant change. During World War II, the church decided to change its name. Japan was known as “The Land of the Rising Son.” So, the congregation chose Pentecost Baptist Church.
In 1964, Reverend Charles B. Winslow, Jr. became the pastor. He led many structural changes at the D’Abadie Street location. Under his leadership, in 1979, the church bought land on Harrison Avenue. This was to accommodate the growing congregation. April 9, 1995, was a groundbreaking day. The new church was dedicated on September 15, 1996. It was at 1510 Harrison Avenue. Despite its grander appearance, it remained “The Little Church with A Whole Lot of Fire.”
After Rev. Winslow passed away in 2001, Rev. Lionel Davis, Sr. took over. He created the Golden Agers Senior Group. Also, he started an Educational and Outreach Program to serve the community.
Hurricane Katrina devastated the church in August 2005. Members scattered across the country. But Pentecost Baptist Church was resilient. It reopened in October 2006, after major reconstruction. In fact, it was one of the first churches to return to the area. The church was paid in full ten years after groundbreaking.
More recently, the church faced new challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic in March 2019 led to nationwide shutdowns. Weekly conference calls evolved into live broadcasts via Facebook. In August 2021, Hurricane Ida forced another temporary closure. Still, services continued online and via conference calls.
After 22 years of service, Rev. Davis passed away in July 2023. Rev. Clayton Johnson was elected as the new pastor in November 2023. His installation took place on November 26, 2023. Rev. Johnson’s vision is to preach the gospel boldly. As a community church, Pentecost shares the good news of Jesus Christ. It serves the community with love.
Today, Pentecost Baptist Church remains “the little church with a whole lot of fire.” The pastor loves his people. The people love their pastor. They worship every Sunday at 7:30 AM and 11 AM. You are welcome to join them. Sis. Bourne says she has found a true spiritual home here. The community is warm and the teachings are profound. Her faith has grown immensely since joining.