How it all began at Sterlington Holiness Tabernacle... |
It
was the Summer of 1996, the month of June, that God began to deal with
Shea and me about pioneering a church. We had no earthly idea that it
would be in Sterlington, Louisiana, but God who inhabits eternity and sits
on the circle of the earth saw in His divine foreknowledge that
Sterlington was the hub of a remnant of people who would come to the
Tabernacle in debt, distressed, and discontented. Thus, we answered
the call to Ouachita Parish that year.
The building we are presently having service in was vacant, so I called Faulk and Foster in inquire. Sue Marcus said the building was already taken by another body of believers, but God gave us favor and Bro. Garsee was moved on by the Lord to lease it to us. We were able to lease it for $900.00 a month. Fairland Holiness Church of Fouke, Arkansas, took up an offering of $4500.00 to cover the first half of the year and my dear pastor, Bro Ben Shaw, paid the remaining $4500.00 out of his own pocket, so off to Cajun Country we went, Pastor T.D., Shea, and Dayla. Our first service was on September 1, 1996. We had 13 people that first Sunday morning. My father, Richard Boyd, taught the first Sunday School lesson, "Compel Them To Come In." Prayer and fasting were the themes that morning. Pastor T. D. Boyd preached on "Blessed Bread" that first morning service. We had 19 in attendance in the evening service. Those in attendance the first weekend were: Rev. T.D., Shea and Dayla Boyd, Richard and Shirley Boyd, Terry and Yvonne Coker, Craig, Gina, and Jordan Mitchell, Delton and Daisy Bordelon, Darenda Roberts, Shane Holden, Mike, Janice, and Naomi Simms, and Naomi's boyfriend. In the first year, miracle after miracle was performed. At the end of the year, with 35 people in attendance, we needed a miracle and we got it. $3632.00 was given to cover the down payment for the church, but the very next week, we needed yet another miracle in the form of $1010.00 to cover insurance expenses. We took another offering and God met that need according to His riches in Glory! Today, we have a thriving, growing church. Not just packed pews, but packed men in the pews, people full of the Holy Ghost and Godly women who are keepers of the home. In addition to our weekly services within the church, we have several outreach ministries. Once a month, Bro. Junior Bordelon oversees the ministry to the elderly people at Ridgecrest Nursing Home in West Monroe, Louisiana. Once a week, Rev. T.D. Boyd, and often Bro. Buddy Day travels to Claiborne Parish Detention Center to minister to those prisoners there. Bro. Scott Thompson and Bro. J.J Austin are faithful to hit the streets with the Gospel message and often, you can find them in front of a bar on the weekends, compelling the people "not to go in." And if this is not enough, you may go to any given place and find a tract left behind by one of our members. We believe in getting the Gospel out by using every possible avenue. Thank God!! This church is not about gimmicks, schemes and flashy entertainment. It has not been built on strategies and programs, but our emphasis has been prayer, fasting, and strict adherence to God's Holy infallible inerrant Word. May God continue to bless the work in Sterlington, Louisiana. It is a privilege to pastor here. Remember...."Pentecost was the day, but Holiness is the Way."
Pastor T. D. Boyd
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