The Church Is Not So Dead

Previously I wrote about the New Orleans Baptist Church closing down and selling the property.

I've received some different information.

Reportedly there were some plans to sell the church and put in low income housing. However, on April 29, 2005 the Church voted against selling the property because they would prefer to continue to have a church serve the community. They are looking for some other church to take over operations.

The church was originally known as The New Orleans Avenue Baptist Church. The church first started in 1924 in a building at New Orleans Avenue and 17th Street. Currently at that corner at 1609 New Orleans Avenue a church still exists in a building built in 1925 (per the property appraiser.) Don't know if it is the same building.

New Orleans Baptist Avenue Church moved to its current location at Osborne and 12th Street in 1943. At that time they dropped Avenue from the name.

At some point a daycare was started. In 1959 a Kindergarten was established. The school eventually expanded up to 9th grade.

In 1983 the daycare closed and in 1986 the school closed.

At some point the county put a Adult DayCare in the facilty. That was closed down by request of the church several years ago.

In 2003 the Church changed its name to Faith In Christ Cathedral.

The decline of the church was atributed to people moving away and also attendance in the mega churches.

New Orleans Baptist Church is not the only church to face these issues. St. Paul Lutheran Church on Central Avenue near Hillsborough High School has a declining membership. Reportedly they have about 70 members and a average church attendance of 35-40. There is a church off North Boulevard in South Seminole Heights that was facing the decision to close down. I'm not sure what happened there.

Reportedly there is some hope because some mega churches are starting to go back in the urban areas and help revitalize these declining urban churches.

My opinion? A church is a community of believers. The best community is your neighborhood. Why drive out to these suburban mega churches, wasting gas, doing harm to the environment that we are tasked to be stewards. Instead join a local urban church. If you are a Baptist, join the New Orleans Baptist Church. If you are Lutheran join St. Paul Lutheran.

If anyone has pictures of the New Orleans Baptist church in its early years or more information I will post that on this blog.