T.A. Woolbright, New Zion Pastor, St. Helena Parish, La. File submitted by Bonnie Bridges McMillan ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Many thanks goes to Bonnie Bridges McMillan, author of "New Zion Baptist Church, 1869-1994" from which this file was taken. T.A. WOOLBRIGHT 1950 - 1952 Highlights from Pastorate of New Zion Baptist Church, Kentwood, La., March, 1950 - May, 1952: I entered New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Septem- ber, 1949, and joined the Coliseum Place Baptist Church, New Orleans, La. where Dr. Thomas J. DeLaughter, former pastor of New Zion, was pastor. In the fall of 1949, I began teaching evening classes at Union Baptist Theological Seminary three nights a week which was sponsored by the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Con- vention and the New Orleans Baptist Association. I was paid $33.00 a month from the Spite Fund. Lila, Wally and I were helped on one occasion when we had no funds for groceries when another church brought food to our apartment. We don't know how they knew our needs, but the Lord did provide. Another time we only had $20.00 Paul and Ruby Stephens had two small babies and did not have milk or food. We shared $10.00 with them. In February, 1950, Dr. DeLaughter came by our apartment early one Monday morning with the Church Sunday School Superintendent and asked if I would like to preach next Sunday. It was 105 miles from the seminary up to New Zion Baptist Church, Kentwood, La. I preached that Sunday and they invited me back the next Sunday and called me as pastor. I remember James and Thelma Frazier's little daughter came out and said, "Pastor you are like Zachheus." I ser- ved until the spring of 1952, when having earned the Bachelor of Divinity Degree, we returned to South Carolina to pastor a field of churches that Dr. R.G. Lee had pastored as a student while at Furmin University. Mountville Baptist Church was in that field of churches and was the home church of Dr. Ellis Fuller, former Presi- dent of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. I preached in revival and we had thirteen united with the church, several for baptism upon profession of faith. Rev. Joe Metford led the singing. He pastored a church just above Kentwood and was also in the seminary. He and Mrs. Metford just retired as missionaries in Barcelona, Spain and are continuing to live there. Rev. Cortez Sellers, Rev. Paul Stephens preached revivals for us. We had Rev. J.C. Weathers from the First Baptist Church, Allen- dale, S.C. to preach for us, and though he preached a little long- er each service the church was packed for every service. Bud Humph- ries was baptized on his profession of faith and Mrs. Humphries and other members of the family came into the church. Later Bud built a choir loft in the corner of the little frame building. The choir was filled. A large group of young were reached. Had an outstand- ing girls softball team. They won from all the churches around. We had a fine boys team who did quite well, too. It was great in the summer of 1900 to see about 40 on Saturday (some others on Sunday) for a picnic at the home of Annie and Har- lon Toney some 38 years later. Our son Michael was with us as we were going to the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans. The pastor had invited Michael to sing on Sunday. We enjoyed seeing many other members on Sunday. In August, 1982, 30 years later, Lila and I were back for re- vival services. Lila played the organ and I sang and preached. We visited throughout the community during the day, and had meals in several homes. On Tuesday, we were in the home of Marilyn and John Phillips for lunch. That evening John united with the church after having been attending there for about twenty years. During our days there, a Kick-Off Supper was prepared and ser- ved at the school across the road on Friday evening, December 7th, 1951, at 7 PM to begin raising funds to build a new church build- ing. This was great to see come to pass a few years later. A Christmas Music Worship Service was prepared by Pastor Woodbright. I had researched the origin of the Christmas Carols and organized them chronologically telling the story of the birth of Jesus. A reading was prepared on each carol which was done and then the choir sang the carol. A step-up choir seating was arranged across the front of the church, with pine trees erected around the choir seating and lighting was focused on the choir. The Sunday evening before Christmas the Church House was filled to capacity. What a wonderful, never to be forgotten time we all enjoyed that Christmas. We received 49 members into the church during those days and I still have my hand written notes of the names of each one. Clayton Easley indicated the Lord was calling him to preach and we gave him the opportunity one Sunday. Others of that wonderful group of young people were seeking the Lord's will for their lives and many of them have found places of service in many other places. We had a fine Training Union on Sunday evening. We prepared a Budget Plan of Church Finance. I still have a copy of that budget in my papers. During our first summer vacation, we returned to South Carol- lina for a few days to visit our families. While we were gone, Mr. and Mrs. Bob McNabb led in getting rooms in the humble pastorium sheet-rocked and repairs in other ways. This was so very thought- ful of them. Also on another occasion, Mr. Eual Frazier and other men put a new roof on the pastorium. Mr. Henry Birch also helped with this. There are many we refer to the pastor's home as a par- sonage. This comes from our Methodist friends. The Parson lives in a parsonage. The Pastor lives in a pastorium. Brother Henry, a Methodist Steward for many years taught me this. He later served as deacon of New Zion Baptist Church. He was Shirley Frazier's father and several other of her brothers and sisters. I baptized several in the Tickfaw River which was over toward Day's United Methodist Church. I have a picture of the group with me in the river. During one winter of February 29, 1952, I wrote a letter to all the membership promoting a Church Loyalty Month, using the old song, "May the Lord Depend on You?" I penned a little verse, "Come rain or mud, (old highway unpaved and when it rained), Storm of flood; Count on my best; to make it a success." Sunday School enrollment increased from 133 to 210. There were 220 resident mem- bers and 125 non-resident members. Training Union won Efficiency Banner from Amite Baptist Association twice. Building and Grounds Committee led in remodeling the pastorim, at a cost of $1,000.00. The Church Building Fund reached $2,600.00. The Budges was $4,300. with 25 tithers and other pledgers. A Church Library was begun. The pastor preached in several revivals during those days.