The congregation at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church gathers for a recent Sunday service. Morning Star is one of Crowley’s oldest churches and will be celebrating it’s 106th year today.
NEWS EDITOR
CROWLEY – At a service this Sunday, the congregation at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church will be celebrating the church’s 106th anniversary. When speaking with Margaret Young this past Wednesday, it becomes obvious just how extensive the church’s history is.
“I’ve been going to this church my entire life,” said Young. “Some of the former members of our congregation include David L. May and Joseph A. Pete who were the first two city council members in Louisiana history. One of the first Reverends we had was a man named Henry Clay Ross, who is the man that Ross Elementary and the former Ross High School were named for. Wadie H. Bias, the first black school board member, was also very active in our church.”
Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church was the first black church in Crowley. Founded in 1892, the church has been through several leadership changes from Joseph Barker, who served from 1890 to 1910, to the Reverend Donald R. Burnette, who presently leads Morning Star’s congregation.
Though the congregation of the church may have changed from the laborers and field hands of the late 1800’s to the businessmen and city leaders of today the church’s message has remained constant as is evidenced by the Bible verse that Morning Star has adopted to recognize their anniversary.
“So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.”
Nehemiah 4:6
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