SLS 16RS-1657 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 128
BY SENATOR CARTER
SENATE. Commends the St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church on moving into its new
church on May 22, 2016.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church on moving to its new church home on
3 May 22, 2016.
4 WHEREAS, according to church historians, in 1928, the late Reverend Arthur
5 Monday Sr. and the first pioneers of the church assembled together in the home of Sister
6 Iona Sylve to organize a church in the Algiers (Oakdale) Community where the St. Stephen
7 Missionary Baptist Church was founded and organized; and
8 WHEREAS, worship services were initially held in the members' homes, as the
9 church grew the services were conducted in a milk dairy, and as the church's membership
10 grew even larger, a church sanctuary was erected on LeBouef Street in 1937; and
11 WHEREAS, the church continued to progress and many souls were added over the
12 years, due to the construction of the Mississippi River Bridge in 1957, the church was
13 relocated to Magellan Street, and Pastor Monday Sr. and the church's loyal members later
14 had the church rebuilt at 1737 Whitney Avenue; and
15 WHEREAS, God called Reverend Monday Sr. home in 1974 before he could
16 accomplish his goal of adding a wing on the church to accommodate a growing membership
17 and Reverend Doctor Arthur Monday Jr., following in his father's footsteps as a minister,
18 succeeded his father in 1974; and
Page 1 of 3 SR NO. 128
SLS 16RS-1657 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, he was an anointed preacher, an educator and administrator, he served
2 well as an inspirational and progressive pastor for five years, carrying out his father's vision
3 of building a wing on the church and with the assistance of the loyal congregation, the new
4 wing was dedicated in 1976; and
5 WHEREAS, after the untimely death of Reverend Doctor Arthur Monday Jr. in
6 January 1980, the congregation unanimously elected Reverend Norman N. Francis as pastor,
7 who was a young minister but the church family had faith in his vision and ability to lead
8 them, and the church continues to be blessed under the pastorate of Pastor Francis,
9 continuing to grow and shine as a beacon light in the community; and
10 WHEREAS, the Lord placed upon Reverend Francis' heart to build Him a new house,
11 and Pastor Francis had many reservations but knew within his heart that when God gives you
12 a directive, you must obey; and
13 WHEREAS, he shared his vision with the church on several occasions and the Lord
14 showed the congregation the need for a new edifice, and through the work of the Holy Spirit,
15 God blessed the church family with a lot to construct a new edifice; and
16 WHEREAS, the Lord guided Pastor Francis and the building committee to complete
17 the necessary documents to achieve a financial goal for the proposed construction of the new
18 edifice; and
19 WHEREAS, during the process of completing the building, God made it possible for
20 the congregation to hold worship services at Mt. Pilgrim 4th Baptist Church, St. Julien
21 Eymard Cafeteria, First Free Mission Baptist Church, and lastly at St. Mary's Place; and
22 WHEREAS, the vision of Pastor Francis was to make a new edifice a reality, and
23 with God's grace and guidance, that has been accomplished; and
24 WHEREAS, St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church is "A Church Where It's Not
25 About You and It's Not About Me, It's All About JESUS!" and in its eighty-seven years of
26 existence, the St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church has had many locations but has come
27 "A Mighty Long Way"; and
28 WHEREAS, St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church will be parading from the old
29 address at 3518 General Meyer to the new address of 1738 L. B. Landry Avenue on May 22,
30 2016.
Page 2 of 3 SR NO. 128
SLS 16RS-1657 ORIGINAL
1 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
2 does hereby commend the St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church on moving into a new
3 church home on May 22, 2016.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
5 Reverend Doctor Norman N. Francis.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tammy Crain Waldrop.
DIGEST
SR 128 Original 2016 Regular Session Carter
Commends the St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church on moving into a new church home
on May 22, 2016.
Page 3 of 3