After church burns to the ground, new building takes it place

Published 12:15 am Sunday, September 2, 2018

The Rev. Wilfred Johnson poured soil into an area Saturday afternoon around the newly minted sign in front of Little Zorah Baptist Church, an area that soon will be full of plants. 

Johnson, who is working alone as the future head pastor of a congregation of mostly seniors, has had to pull much of the weight when it comes to putting the final touches on the church before Wednesday’s reopening. 

But the work has energized the pastor. Nearly four years ago, Johnson remembers waking up in the early morning after getting a call that the historic church was burning to the ground. 

“This church so closeknit,” Johnson said, remembering the January 2015 fire. “I remember that night I got a call that said the church is burning down.

“I ran out in my pajamas, a lot of people got there in about 20 minutes. We cried and poured out our hearts. It was such an emotional time because we were helpless. The fire department couldn’t even do anything. They just had to sit and watch it burn.”

There was never a clear answer given as to the cause of the fire. The Louisiana Fire Marshal’s Office did say that there was foul play wasn’t suspected at the time. 

Whatever the reason, the congregation of approximately 140 people was left without a building. Head pastor of the church at the time was the Rev. Shawn Watson, who also served as pastor at Star Pilgrim Baptist Church. 

Johnson said the Little Zorah congregation merged with Star Pilgrim for more than a year, but ultimately many people went their separate ways. 

“During that tenure, people just went everywhere. We scattered and ended up with about eight members left,” Johnson said. 

When he was about to make the decision to leave himself, Johnson said God told him to stay and help rebuild Little Zorah from the ground up. In January 2017, a ceremony was held at the site, where it was announced the congregation would begin the process for having a brand new building for the church. 

Since then, Johnson said about $60,000 through donations has been raised. Much of it came through word of mouth, a GoFundMe account and anonymous donations. Johnson said he met people at the governor’s office who were able to help, and eventually the congregation was able to purchase a modular building for $2,400. 

The building formerly was used for office space, and consists of two offices, a bathroom, kitchen, dining hall and worship center. 

Johnson said there was no set plan for what the church would look like, but as things progressed it became more clear. 

“This is all out of the mind,” he said. “There were no prints, nothing designed. It was just winging it, we just attacked it and as things went on we began to see what it would be.”

The Rev. Eric Day, Little Zorah associate pastor, said it’s been a journey that has looked bleak at times, but credits Johnson’s vision for the completion of the project. 

“I give a lot of credit to pastor Johnson for the commitment and vision God has given him,” Day, who’s been with the church since 2010, said. 

“I gave him 100 percent support. I told him when we started this God put us together for this reason, even though it looked bleak at times.” 

When the church has its reopening, the building will house a congregation of about 40 people. Johnson said the building will be able to hold more than 100 people, and hopes for a larger congregation as time goes on. 

There have even been some modern innovations. Two televisions have been installed in the worship space where scripture will be read. However, Johnson said modernizing has been a bit of a struggle due to the traditional congregation. 

Seeing the numbers of the church go up will be the next step. 

“We’re trying to let them know we’re here. We haven’t been here in so long,” Day said. 

“Many of the former congregants have left and moved on, and that’s understandable.”

Wednesday’s ceremony, which includes local public officials and pastors, will take place in the new church starting at 11:30 a.m. and ending at 1:30 p.m.

“We had some good people behind us that seemed partial to the vision,” Johnson said. 

“It brings a tear to my heart because many people said this couldn’t be done for a small black congregation, but when God is for you who can be against you?”