Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

‘All God’s children’: 2 Missouri churches work together to restore fire-damaged building

  • April 1, 2022
  • Missouri's The Pathway
  • Church Life, Latest News, Missouri
Roger Jeffries of the Campers on Mission, New Jerusalem Pastor Horace Walters and FBC Louisiana Pastor Bill Maupin pose for a photo in the renovated New Jerusalem church building.
(Photos by Woodrow Polston/Pike County News)

‘All God’s children’: 2 Missouri churches work together to restore fire-damaged building

For the first time in over a year, two Missouri congregations met in their separate church buildings.

Until early March, New Jerusalem Tabernacle of Praise — a non-denominational and predominantly black congregation — had worshipped with the predominantly white First Baptist Church, Louisiana, after a fire severely damaged the New Jerusalem building in 2020.

Horace Walters, pastor of New Jerusalem, and Bill Maupin, pastor of FBC Louisiana, shared the worship times, both preaching abbreviated messages.

After the fire, Maupin presented the need to the Baptist groups of Missourians on Mission and Campers on Mission, who restored the New Jerusalem church. A dedication service was held March 12 and included people from both congregations.

“I had put off the dedication two times, one because of weather and one because Pastor Bill’s daughter passed, and I needed to help the Maupin family,” Walters said.

Walters may have been the last to pray with Maupin’s daughter before she passed away.

Some 50 people attended the New Jerusalem dedication.

“We are giving our building back to the Lord. We had a joyous time in the new [renovated] building.” said Walters, adding the early services back in the building are drawing substantially fewer than the dedication service brought.

“Some members went to other churches after the fire. Some stopped coming. I hope the Word of God will draw them back in. We have a welcome invitation to come to the house of God. It’s not a race thing. We’re all God’s children. I look for different people to come so we’ll have a mixture. Heaven won’t just be one race,” Walters said.

‘A true friend’

Maupin’s church hosted a reception after the dedication service.

“It was a good dedication service. It will be a viable church. The building was restored to better condition than before the fire.” Maupin said.

Walters noted, “It was totally renovated, and it started with the weakened foundation. We have a new building with new wiring, new plumbing, new light fixtures. The builders all brought their specialties and they did a marvelous job. It’s a great joy to see the magic they did with the renovation.” 

The two pastors shared a mutual affection in the bond of Christ for each other.

“We will continue working with New Jerusalem in other ways, we’ll keep the relationship,” Maupin said.

Walters noted, “Pastor Bill is a true friend. I love him and his family.”  He even praised God for the terrible fire event itself.

“I’m so thankful God allowed it to happen and then give us another chance,” Walters noted. “We look forward to the church growing. We want to preach God’s word and save some souls.”


EDITOR’S NOTE — This article was written by Dan Steinbeck and was originally published by The Pathway, newsjournal of the Missouri Baptist Convention.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: Ruth’s surrendered life
    First person: Ruth’s surrendered life
    May 18, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Baptist Campus Ministry at WKU awarded ‘Best of the Hill’
    Baptist Campus Ministry at WKU awarded ‘Best of the Hill’
    May 17, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • First person: Celebrating the people you serve, love
    First person: Celebrating the people you serve, love
    May 17, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

First person: Ruth’s surrendered life

“Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live,

Baptist Campus Ministry at WKU awarded ‘Best of the Hill’

The Baptist Campus Ministry at Western Kentucky University was awarded with the Best of the Hill recognition by the College Heights Herald, the campus newspaper.

First person: Celebrating the people you serve, love

One of the joys of pastoring is celebrating the milestone achievements of the people you serve and love.

Looking for the 2025 SBC Book of Reports? It’s available online.

If you’re looking to brush up on your business and financial reports knowledge ahead of this year’s Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Dallas (June 10–11), the SBC has released its 2025 Book of Reports online.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel