By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
NEW ORLEANS – Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans celebrated a new chapter in ministry Dec. 9 when congregants gathered for the first worship service in their new home, six miles from where they had ministered for 21 years.
“It’s the talk of the town,” Pastor Fred Luter told the Baptist Message. “The New Orleans East area is excited about us being here and we are excited as well. It is one of the most populated areas of the city, and we are excited about doing all we can to revitalize the community. The excitement level was so high that we decided to have several weeks of special dedication services in December to celebrate all that God has done through this move.”
The new $35 million facility includes a 3,500-seat worship center, a fellowship hall, offices, a kitchen, conference rooms, Sunday school rooms and youth and children’s areas.
The property also has 1,200 parking spaces, a dramatic increase from the 25 spots available at its former location, 2515 Franklin Avenue. Averaging nearly 3,100 for morning services, the congregation formerly had to lease a nearby parking lot to accommodate worshippers’ cars on Sundays.
“That first Sunday at our new location our members came and hugged me to thank me for the parking,” Luter laughed. “People are really excited about finally not having to get to church early to find a spot to park.”
Pastor Fred Luter stands in Franklin Avenue Baptist Church’s new 3,500-seat,126,000-square-foot worship center. The recently completed $35 million facility includes a fellowship hall, offices, a kitchen, conference rooms, Sunday school rooms, plus youth and children’s areas. Brian Blackwell photo
Luter began serving at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in September 1986 when the congregation consisted of only 65 members, mostly women, who were faithful attenders.
Just before Hurricane Katrina made landfall in 2005, the church had become the largest Southern Baptist congregation in Louisiana, with more than 8,300 members and averaging 5,855 in weekly worship attendance.
The church had purchased 90 acres of land near the former Six Flags to build larger facilities to accommodate the growth, but Katrina derailed those plans and scattered members across the country.
Many came together to form “remote” congregations, meeting on other church campuses – First Baptist Church, New Orleans, Istrouma Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, Florida Boulevard Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, and First Baptist Church, Houston – until repairs were completed on Franklin Avenue Baptist’s facilities in April 2008.
In the aftermath of Katrina, Luter led a rejuvenation of the congregation at its former home, growing to nearly 5,900 members with an average of 4,760 in Sunday services by the time he was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention in 2012. He was the first African-American to hold that post.
When land became available in East New Orleans, the congregation opted to build a new home there.
The church has started its outreach in the new mission field by holding backyard Bible clubs in an apartment complex. Luter said next in the plan is to expand into the surrounding neighborhood, knocking on every door to introduce the congregation to neighbors and build rapport in the community.
“My prayer is God would use us to reach more lost and unchurched people,” he said. “Back when I first started at Franklin Avenue I had no clue about how to pastor. I had not been one before and I was just excited to have a congregation that wanted me to be their pastor. I did not imagine the growth we would experience. But I have learned if you are faithful to God and his Word, He will be faithful to you.
“To God be the glory.”
