Longville United Pentecostal Church History
In the earlier years of this century about 1913 to 1915 - there was a moving
of the Holy Spirit among some of the people throughout this part of
Louisiana. People were receiving a spiritual blessing that was unlike anything
they had experienced before. It was accompanied by a language that
they weren't familiar with. Instances of this movement was experienced
first by Individuals. Soon the word would pass on to others - and then
on to others. This would eventually lead to revivals and meetings held
under tents and brush arbors and possibly cottage prayer meetings.
In 1913, Sis. Maude Herrin pitched a tent in DeRidder and held a revival.
Later on, this would lead to the establishment of a Church there. A
mighty revival was held at Indian village in 1914. In January 1915,
Brother Bennie Baggett and his helpers moved a tent to the Bear area
for a revival - it would last nine weeks and 67 would pray through. A
Church was established and Brother Baggett would then become the first
Pastor. The Church is now known as the Ragley Pentecostal Church with
Rev. Marcus Robinson, the Pastor. Brother Baggett would move on to other
areas for revivals. A tent revival was held at the sawmill town of
Longville - then on to Oretta - then on to DeQuincy. The word was
spreading and many people were enjoying the "Upper Room Experience".
Several ministers went to DeQuincy to assist Brother Baggett
- two being Brother Oliver Fauss and Brother Robert LaFleur. Brother
Robert LaFleur would become the first Pastor of the first established
Pentecostal Church of DeQuincy. Sister Maude Herrin was now the wife
of Brother LaFleur.
If you look at the list of those that prayed through during the revival
at Bear, many were from this area. Transportation In these days was
by horse and buggy or wagon or horseback. If these means were not
available, travel was by foot. There was a need for a Church
in the area.
Burl Jefferson Cooley had been ordained to preach the gospel in 1918.
In 1920, Brother Cooley started holding church services In this community.
Brush arbors were used, a tabernacle was built, and other buildings were
used for a place of worship during the 1920'S. Some of the charter
members of the church that was established were Burl and Julia Cooley,
David and Hester Baggett, Ben and Lula Sellers, Lonnie and Eva Cooley,
Hobbie Alston, Ida Brown and Rencie Phillips. Probably, there are other
charter members, but there aren't any records to confirm this.
In those days a road angled to the northeast toward Longville. Brother
Cooley built a tabernacle of rough
timbers across the road from his homeplace which was on top of the hill
about a quarter mile from here. The spirit of the Lord must have been moving
in their midst and blessed them greatly. Brother Leon Cooley told that the
sisters would shout until their hair came down, and the hair pins and the
bobby pins would fall through the cracks in the floor. The next day, he and
the other children would crawl under the tabernacle and gather the hair pins
for the ladies. The attendance at the church services would run between
40 and 50 people. The community was named Baggett Town after a local
citizen and merchant, David Langston Baggett. The Church became known
as the Baggett Town Church. In 1931, Brother Burl Cooley and his family
would move to Sabine Parish.
REV. BURL JEFFERSON COOLEY
The next church assembly was a brush arbor. Rev. Manson Pitre pastored in
1933-1934. As of the 1995 anniversary celebration, Sis Pitre resided in
Sulphur and was 82 years old.
Rev. George Hooper pastored the brush arbor in 1935-1936.
During times without a pastor, the people would meet. Church services
consisted of singing, praying, and testifying. An individual recalled
that our late neighbor, Rev. Irving Brown prayed through in one of these
services. There would be times a traveling minister would stop by and
preach.
Bro. Jim Burgess had a vacant house that he let the church use as a meeting
place. He donated the house to the local church group. Later, in 1937,
it was moved to the vicinity where the parsonage is located. Mr. Dominic
Simar donated an acre of property to the church. Memories recall the rough
board siding with shutter windows, cracks in the floor, no ceiling, a roof
of cedar shingles with wide cracks, the coal oil lamps and lanterns, and
a wood heater. But, It was a place to worship the Lord.
Rev. Reid Powell served as pastor 1937-1939.
Rev. & Sis. Reid Powell
Rev. Albert Jackson pastored in 1940-1942 The Baggett Town Pentecostal
Church became known as Longville Gospel Tabernacle. Improvements of windows,
flooring, and ceiling were added to the building. Rural electric service,
now available, was installed. Sunday School rooms were added to the back.
A flashing "Jesus Saves" light was installed on the porch which had been
added to the front. In 1995, Sis. Jackson resided in Moss Bluff.
Existing Church Building In the 1940's
Rev. A Fuselier pastored in 1944-1946.
Rev. F. C. Burks pastored 1946-1947.
Rev. Forrest Self pastored 1947-1948.
Rev. Elwood Airhart pastored September 1948- August 1953. Due to church
growth, the building was inadequate A two-story cinder block building
was completed in September 1949. Cecil McDaniel donated the triangular
shaped property for this building. Rev. Airhart served again as pastor
November 1955- August 1958. Rev. & Sis Airhart lived in Robeline
at the time of the 1995 anniversary celebration.
Two-story Cinder Block Building
History Continues