CHURCH HISTORIES Terrebonne Parish, LA FULL GOSPEL - TERREBONNE FULL GOSPEL TEMPLE CHURCH Submitted by: Cynthia Daigle Source: The Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press, Houma, LA. Last modified: 10 MARCH 2008 ================================================== NOTE: 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 ********************************************** ================================================== FULL GOSPEL - TERREBONNE FULL GOSPEL TEMPLE CHURCH Location in 2007 - 109 Wayne Avenue, Houma, LA Note: The church at this location is called Temple of Praise. It is the same address given for the Terrebonne Full Gospel Temple Church in the article below. The Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press Houma, LA, Oct. 8, 1972, Sunday, Section E TERREBONNE FULL GOSPEL TEMPLE CHURCH VACHERIE MAN BEGINS FULL GOSPEL MINISTRY By Carolyn Webre Terrebonne Full Gospel Temple Church began in 1938 when Joseph Granier from Vacherie came to Houma with a tent to preach the gospel. He set up his tent along Bayou Terrebonne in Daigleville. Later that year Rev. Granier and his little congregation started meeting in the home of the late Whitney Hutchinson. In 1939 they built a church 26' x 30' on East Park Street on property donated to them by Wilson Guidry. When the street was opened up, it was known as Slatter St. Most of the people who attended church there were trappers. When the trapping season opened they would move to their camps to spend the season. Brother Granier would often board his boat, "Rescue the perishing", and travel down the bayous stopping to preach the gospel to the trappers at the camps from his boat, much like Christ did from a boat along the Sea of Galilee. When Brother Granier died in his early thirties, Rev. Edward Landry Sr. came to pastor the church. Rev. John Clarke, the next pastor, and his family were much loved by the people. He had a great interest in young people and played with them as well as prayed with them. The number was increasing and the need arose for a bigger building. They heard about some army chapels at the airbase in Biloxi, Miss. To be sold and purchased one. The pastor and two of the men went to Biloxi in an old bus they converted into a camper. They took with them from one of their camps down the bayou, a little provision and only fifteen dollars between them. They were granted permission to stay on the grounds of the airbase in their bus-camper and remained there several weeks tearing the chapel down. Mr. Rodrigue from Thibodaux donated his cane truck to haul the building to Houma. There was great joy when the church was rebuilt on a lot next to the little church. After Brother Clarke left, Rev. S.J. Hondrich became the pastor. He is remembered as being a great Bible teacher. In 1953, Rev. Howard Holton became pastor of the church. In the ten years he minister in Houma, the church grew and also was the mother church for several new missions. He reached many people in the Houma area through his radio ministry. Rev. W.S. Johnson, the present pastor came to Houma in December 1963. A brick and tile church seating 350 people was constructed at 109 Wayne Ave. in the Bayou Cane area in 1966. On Sunday morning at 9:45 there are ten Sunday school classes, providing teaching at every age level, preceding morning worship service at 11 o'clock. On Sunday night there is an evangelistic service at 7:30 featuring the "Voices of Youth Choir". "The Lamplighters", the ladies club to aid foreign and home missions, is very active in fund-raising and other projects. One of the highlights of the year is the Christmas play presented by the Sunday school department. Each child has a part in the presentation of also receives a Christmas gift from the church. Another time of great interest and excitement is Thanksgiving week when the church host its annual Thanksgiving convention. Many preachers, teachers and lay-members of like faith come from all over the country to Houma to enjoy the special services and the good Cajun cooking provided.