Sensing God’s call to plant a church for several years, Bubba Sharpton said it was easy to say “yes” in June 2023 to an invitation to become pastor of a second campus of First Baptist Church Moss Bluff, Louisiana.
Ten months later, the church’s second campus celebrated its first service, March 31, with four baptisms and 420 people packing the congregation’s temporary home at the Wooten Theater in DeRidder.
“We were overwhelmed and humbled at the tangible joy and excitement experienced by all who were able to join us,” Sharpton told the Baptist Message. “God exceeded our expectations and moved in a powerful way through baptism, song, and the sharing of the Word.”
Background
In 2020, Sharpton was enjoying a career in the chemical plant industry when he and his wife, Brandi, who were both members of First Baptist at the time, sensed that God wanted them to get their finances in order. As the couple began to pay down their home mortgage, First Baptist staff conducted a survey on the church’s health and readiness to take the “next step” in following God. Compiling the inputs, a plan emerged to plant a second campus in DeRidder.
By early 2023, pastor Bryan Carter believed Sharpton was the man to lead the church’s north campus. Sharpton became a staff member of the church, completed North American Mission Board church planting assessment and assembled a core team of 26 members and a launch team of 75 members of First Baptist.
Together they began to pray and dream about how God could use them to reach DeRidder.
After meeting in small groups and for worship services throughout March 2024, the first official service finally took place on Easter Sunday.
Carter said this has been a time of faith-building for the congregation.
“For our church, we truly are embracing the commands of Christ to take the gospel not only to the ends of the earth, but across the street and into towns near Moss Bluff,” Carter said. “Our heart and our vision are to obey God’s will and that has included multiplication.
“It’s challenging but exciting at the same time to see how God has orchestrated this, and we get to see His blessings come from that obedience,” he continued. “I’m so grateful for a church that encourages following God’s lead.”
Future forward
With the first month behind them, the church has begun to dream of their future.
The original three small groups have expanded to five and the church hopes to build their own facility within two years.
“We are filled with excitement and anticipation for the amazing work that God is doing in and through His people,” Sharpton said. “We are expectant for the incredible ways He will use (the second campus) to bring hope, healing and transformation to the community. The best is yet to come.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Brian Blackwell and originally published by Baptist Message.
