By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
SHREVEPORT, La. (LBM) – Summer Grove Baptist Church will kick off the holiday season with a celebration of its 175th anniversary.
Scheduled Nov. 24, the special day will begin with life groups at 9:15 am and a worship service and cupcakes at 10:30 a.m. Following the service, members and other guests will gather for a Thanksgiving meal.
“For God to use us here in Northwest Louisiana for 175 years is just exciting,” Senior Pastor Heath Peloquin told the Baptist Message. “Our church is very loving and cares about reaching our community for Jesus. Serving Shreveport for Christ is part of our DNA.
“The incredible men who have pastored Sumer Grove have been very faithful and that’s been an important part too of our church continuing for so long,” he continued. “God still uses this church and I rejoice in that. This is the greatest church who love Jesus, love each other and love our community. We are looking forward to celebrating that on November 24.”
Reisa Johnson, who has been a member since she and her husband, Glenn, relocated to Shreveport from the Bahamas in 2017, said the church has become their family.
“When we attended Summer Grove we felt the love and it was so genuine,” said Johnson, who coordinates the church’s Compassion 360 ministry. “Summer Grove has given us aunts, uncles, and grandparents to my husband, myself and our four children. The church has been a God-send and we have been able to join our church family to do local missions.”
Since Summer Grove was founded in 1849, the church has been led by 21 pastors and relocated to a vacant shopping mall in 2004. In 2023, the church paid off its $12 million mortgage that freed up the church to tackle deferred maintenance, renovate existing parts of the campus, and increase its Kingdom impact through mission efforts that include sponsorships of five church plants and support for three missionary families. Summer Grove, which averages 1,585 for Sunday morning worship, also provides food and clothing for needy families with children in Shreveport, Bossier and Stonewall schools, as well as counseling and emergency assistance for others through its Compassion 360 ministry.
In December, the church has a full slate of Christmas activities planned that will share the Gospel with their community:
- 1, 5 p.m., tree lighting ceremony: several thousand are expected to gather on its campus for lighting of a Christmas tree, music by area high school choirs, train rides, snow, and food trucks;
- 7, 9 a.m-2 p.m., Joy of Christmas: the Compassion 360 ministry will host 75 families who will have the opportunity to shop for new Christmas presents for their family and hear the Gospel presentation in the fellowship hall;
- 8, 8:45 and 11 a.m., Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Emphasis: the children will place their Lottie Moon Christmas Offering gifts in a manager during both morning worship services;
- 15, 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Christmas choir program: the Summer Grove choir, orchestra and praise band will present a Christmas program; and
- 24, 3 p.m.: Christmas eve service.
“We’re really excited about continuing this 175th anniversary celebration into the new year and continue sharing the greatest new we’re ever known,” Peloquin said. “We’re going to continue celebrating Jesus.”
