Church service set to support recently burned St. Landry Parish churches

It is now time for the rebuilding process to begin for the three St. Landry Parish churches that were burned recently. One of the first steps on that track will start with a meeting Sunday, April 14, at 2:00 p.m. that will take place at Little Zion Baptist Church in Opelousas.
According to Reverend Freddie Jack, Seventh District Missionary Baptist Association President, Governor John Bel Edwards will make an appearance at the gathering where Rev. Edward Alexander, Jr., Louisiana Missionary Baptist State Convention President, will preside over a one hour service of singing and worshiping.
The service will be for the purpose of bringing sister churches together to show support for the three churches that were burned between May 26, 2019 and April 11, 2019. An offering will be taken up during the service.
The churches burned were: St. Mary Baptist Church, located off Highway 103 in Port Barre and burned on Tuesday, March 26; Greater Union Baptist Church, located on Highway 742 in Opelousas and burned on Tuesday, April 2; and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, located on Highway 182 just outside of Opelousas, which burned on Thursday, April 11.
The three St. Landry Parish churches were all at least 100 years old, in rural areas and burned at night. Within the 100 years of their existence, Jack said, “People built memories that can’t be replaced.”
For those individuals, Jack said these burnings have been “heartbreaking and devastating.” He continued, “For these people, they now have to start over, and people don’t always want to start over once you reach a certain age. They have to rebuild everything.”
To help make the starting over easier, the service Sunday will offer those in attendance an opportunity to donate to help these three churches rebuild.
At this time, Jack, who also pastors St. John Baptist Church in Ville Platte, said they are unsure of who is responsible for burning the three churches that are located within his district.
Local pastor Darwan Lazard shared his thought on these tragic events that have occured. He said, “Anytime there are attacks on the body of Christ, more specifically the church, it is very disturbing and concerning. With all of the things that we hear and read, it is confirmation that we are living in the days last days. The good news is and continues to be as follows: A building might be destroyed, but the church cannot be destroyed, according to what Jesus said in Matthew 16:18. Let’s continue to pray for and assist those churches that have been attacked during these recent weeks.
At this time, cleaning up has not begun at the site where the churches were burned. According to Jack, the reason why is because Louisiana State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning, Jr. has not let anyone back on the premises while they continue their investigation of the scene.
In terms of who could have committed these acts, Jack said, “That’s the question of the decade. Who and why is the biggest question now.”
One GoFundMe account has been set up for people to donate money to rebuild Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. The individual who started the account is Tenishia Toussaint, who is the granddaughter of the church’s former pastor, the late Rev. James Toussaint. She is also the niece of the current pastor, Gerald Toussaint. To donate visit https://www.gofundme.com/1lj11y0wg0.
Jack said there are also plans to start a GoFundMe account to support all three of the churches.