A 20-year-old dream became a reality seven months ago at Hope Mission in Many.
For 20 years, Louisiana Baptist Church and Community Ministries Director John
Hebert and others have attempted to start a church out of a care and hope ministry,
previously known as storefront ministries.
A 20-year-old dream became a reality seven months ago at Hope Mission in Many.
For 20 years, Louisiana Baptist Church and Community Ministries Director John
Hebert and others have attempted to start a church out of a care and hope ministry,
previously known as storefront ministries.
However, the vision never panned out until Hope Missions birth on June
8.
With that launch, Marshall Ingle accomplished accomplished what other Louisiana
Baptists before him could not do – plant a church out of a care and hope
ministry.
Ingle is director of the House of Hope care and hope ministry in Many. During
his first six years there, more than 60 people who receive help from the ministry
in the form of clothing and food accepted Christ as their personal savior.
However, those new Christians felt they could not find a Baptist church home,
Ingle relates. Still, a survey conducted at the ministry revealed that many
of them longed for a Baptist Bible study.
“This came together on Gods timetable,” Ingle says. “My
plan was to get them involved in local churches, but for some reason, we never
could get them involved.”
Ingle started holding multiple home and apartment Bible studies weekly. This
was a key component to building the membership of Hope Mission – which
is sponsored by Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Florien.
“He held Bible studies and was averaging five to 15 in each one,”
Hebert explains. “Then, he brought them all together for a core group.”
Convinced he needed to start a church outside of the House of Hope care and
hope ministry, Ingle scouted out buildings in the Many area for the mission
to call home.
While driving to an evening Bible study, he spotted a vacant propane building.
He phoned persons until he located the owner.
One week later, Ingle heard from the buildings owner. Today, the building
is home to Hope Mission.
And for the congregation of 50, it is all about location, location, location.
“The location is tremendous for those traveling,” Ingle says. “When
people drive by here on a Sunday and see the parking lot full, they know somethings
going on.”
Although the mission is located in Many, Ingle stresses that members come from
throughout Sabine Parish.
The mission congregation is multi-ethnic, composed of African-Americans, Caucasions
and native Americans. Their challenge is to “reach out to others like theyve
been reached out to,” Ingle says.
Every Sunday, first-time guests enter the doors of Hope Mission. Ingle says
this is proof of his congregations passion to participate in the missions
growth.
Ingle estimates that if Hope Mission continues to grow at its current pace,
they will need a larger building in less than a year.
The members began a Baptist doctrinal study last October, something Ingle feels
is important since many who attend Hope Mission did not grow up in the denomination.
Since the mission lacks a baptistry, Ingle baptizes members at nearby Toledo
Bend Reservoir. In fact, Ingle says mission member Kimberly Manshack was instrumental
in seven of her family members accepting Christ and agreeing to be baptized.
“Its a great feeling to know your family follows you in the right
way,” says Manshack, who has attended Hope Mission since it first opened
its doors. “This church is one of the best things that has happened in
my life. I always searched and have found the home that I wanted.”
Hebert attributes Hope Missions very existence with Ingles ability
to build and maintain relationships.
“The people (at the mission) formed a relationship with the director because
hes helping them out,” Hebert says. “He built relationships
over time.”
Ingles wife, Janell, adds, “He showed he cared about people.”
Manshack agrees. “Brother Marshall is a part of our family,” she
says. “I dont see him as a preacher but as our brother.”
Like any minister, Ingle admits there are times he experiences discouragement.
However, he emphasizes, “When I seem to get discouraged, people seem to
share how Gods touched their lives.
“Gods been good to us,” he adds. “He stayed with us from
the beginning. I tell the people (who attend the mission) theyre as much
of a blessing to us as we are to them.”
Ingle emphasizes Christs role in the entire process. “Its
not about Janell and I but about God,” he insists.
“Its God thats doing the job, but hes using us. Its
humbling to know God could have chosen anyone, but he chose us.”