CHURCH HISTORIES Terrebonne Parish, LA BAPTIST - FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Submitted by: Cynthia Daigle Source: The Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press Houma, LA, Oct. 8, 1972, Sunday, Section E Last modified: 9 March 2008 ================================================== NOTE: These histories might not include all churches in Terrebonne Parish. Most histories were submitted by the church to the Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press as part of the newspapers Sesquicentennial Edition. Not all churches submitted histories. ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ================================================== BAPTIST - FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Location in 2007 - 7382 Main Street, Houma, LA The Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press Houma, LA, Oct. 8, 1972, Sunday, Section E HOUMA BANKER BEGAN BAPTIST TRADITION IN Houma The beginning of the work among Baptist in Houma dates back as early as the year 1911. In that year Brother L.C. Smith of Pineville, LA was invited to take a trip with French missionary, Ozeme Derouen, visiting the communities of Houma, Bourg, and Pointe-aux-Chenes. While on that trip they visited a missionary minded Baptist banker in Houma named Mr. James Tharp. He invited men into his home where he taught them the Bible. As far as can be learned, Mr. Tharp was the first white Baptist to bring the Word of God in and around Houma. According to L.C. Smith's history of white Baptist in Houma, the first services were conducted in 1933 by the Rev. E.R. Denny at 708 Lafayette St. Later they were held in the old J.K. Wright building on Belanger St. Because of poor health, Rev. Denny eventually returned to his native state of Georgia. For a time students from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary came to hold services for this small group of Baptist. Then Rev. L.C. Smith of Pineville, who was employed by the Louisiana Baptist Convention as a missionary, came to Houma. A Sunday School was started with 22 members. Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Winfiele, who still reside in Houma, were the superintendent and organist of that group. On Friday, September 15, 1933 at the close of a six day revival meeting, the First Baptist Church of Houma was organized with three charter members who had with them letters of recommendation from other churches. They were Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Winfiele and Mr. I.E. Stokes. Fourteen others joined that night by profession of faith and by letter. Rev. L.C. Smith was called as pastor. Within three years this church had its own building on Belanger St. and numbered 101 members. From that time on membership increased and missions were established. First Baptist Church assisted in the organization of nine such missions. Of that number the ones at Raceland and Lockport; and Christ Baptist, Gray, and Mulberry in Houma have become independent churches. Other missions now existing in Terrebonne Parish are Coteau Mission, Little Caillou Mission, Montegut, and Gibson Missions sponsored by First Baptist Church; Bayou Dularge Mission, East Side Mission, and Grand Caillou Mission sponsored by Christ Baptist Church; and Bethel and Terrebonne Missions sponsored by Live Oak Church. All of the above are part of the Southern Baptist Convention. Although each pastor who served Baptists here through the years was different, each one contributed greatly to the advancement of the denomination and to the spiritual experience of the people. Thus, the impact of Baptists here in Terrebonne Parish was not "just a happening". The faith and vision of that small nucleus that in the beginning reached out with perseverance, determination, and love are largely responsible, along with those who continued the work. In the future, as in the past, emphasis will be on a conversion experience and a personal commitment to Christ that reaches out with evangelistic zeal which assures continued growth. Facts taken from "A Short History of the Origin and Development of the First White Baptist Church in Houma, Louisiana" by L. C. Smith.