Ama church reopens to 250 members

Church rebuilt after destroyed in Katrina

Photo by Shonna Riggs

NEW BEGINNING. Members of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Ama attended service in the church’s new building.

Sunday morning church services at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Ama left everyone filled with a renewed spirit and a confirmed belief that prayer can accomplish the impossible, as more than 250 members marched through the doors of a new sanctuary.

Members showed strength, resolve and unity despite being thrown into court battles that caught the attention of the media and forced problems of the past to come to the surface.

"The worst is behind us and the best is yet to come," Rev. Kendall Pierre, associate pastor who preached the sermon said. "We must put all those things in the past and move forward with the work of the church."

Pierre's message centered on commitment to service and he encouraged all members and future members to come forward to share their time and gifts in the new facility.

The new building is 12,000 square-feet and comfortably seats 250 members.

The members of First Baptist Church in Paradis opened their doors and hearts to the congregation of Mount Zion for the past couple years offered them a temporary place to worship after the church was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.

The members are still seeking a spiritual leader to head the church, but that process is still in its infancy.