Jacob LeBlanc isn’t like most pastors.

In fact, he doesn’t want to be called “Pastor Jacob.”

LeBlanc, a self-proclaimed New Iberia boy and raised, has lived in Colorado Springs, Dallas and even St. Louis spending 15 years away from his hometown. But nothing lasts forever.

When the opportunity came for him to return home, he didn’t come back for any organization, he didn’t come back for any type of position. But he came because he loves his city.

“I don’t believe that God called back to pastor a church, I believe God called me back to love a city.”

LeBlanc serves as senior pastor for the Community Church, whose mission is to be real with everyone.

LeBlanc added it doesn’t matter who you are or what type of status you are, what’s important is that they are real with you.

Like the church he serves, LeBlanc too is as real as they come. He doesn’t put on any facade.

“What you see is what you get,” LeBlanc proudly stated. “When I preach, I am real.”

LeBlanc explained that pastoring is the gift that God gave him to use, when he was first called first called to pastoring when he was 16. Over 20 years later, and countless life lessons he has learned, he said that he knows pastors like himself struggle, dealing with everyday issues. But LeBlanc uses that as a bridge for his gospel, to his church, and its people.

“I present the Bible in a way that is easy to understand,” LeBlanc said. “I try to make it simple, I try to make the Bible applicable.”

It was recently announced, the Community Church will be relocating to the former Grand 10 Theatre building in New Iberia, located at 1000 Parkview.. But before they are set to hold their first services later this month to his parishioners, and the church will open to the public on Jan. 28, 2024, LeBlanc constantly looks back on the journey he and his church have been through to get where they are now.

For the first year and a half of their life, the Community Church operated at Church on the Rock in New Iberia.

“They allowed us to use their space on Sunday evenings, and we will always be forever grateful to Pastor Ryan, to his team, to the church,” LeBlanc said. “We haven’t been there for over a year and they have such a large place in my heart.”

Every Sunday, for about two to three months, LeBlanc and his now-250 church congregation would bounce around to various places and different locations. They did services at the Sugarcane Festival Building, the Event Center, and even The Veterans Memorial Building.

“We actually did outdoor services in my mom’s backyard,” LeBlanc said. “How crazy is that?”

LeBlanc said he knew they needed to find a permanent location for his church. In June of this year, he started making phone calls to find a location where they can call home. It took 37 different calls before LeBlanc finally signed with Samco Properties, who owns Bayou Landing.

The Grand Theatre was leased through them.

“I finally started talking with them, and nothing was real until about two weeks ago,” LeBlanc said.

On Friday, Oct. 27, they signed on the dotted line, and that Sunday, LeBlanc told his church of the move. And they couldn’t be more excited, LeBlanc said.

“I am excited to show our community what we have to offer,”LeBlanc said.

In just under two years, LeBlanc said they are close to having what they call their “forever home” at The Community Church.

Their forever home will be a beacon of hope and safety. LeBlanc said he is excited to show his community that you don’t have to be perfect. They are a judgment free-zone.

“You just come as you are, no judgment is ever going to be placed on you, because we know that we are all sinners,” LeBlanc said.

The Community Church will not just be a place for worship. It will be a place that offers so much to the community of New Iberia. They want to live differently in the community.

Over time, they would love to convert the various theater rooms to house different avenues of help, including a food bank, a community closet, adult education classes, teaching basic financial literacy, and even a passion for having addiction recovery.

“Different things we can offer the community where faith isn’t the main thing, but more about helping the community,” LeBlanc said.

LeBlanc said Jesus spent more time with hurting people than he did with church people. An idea he and the Community Church are using as an example for their way of life.

“For us, Jesus spent the most time with people who need healing, and that is what we want to be,” LeBlanc said. “When we say we live differently in our community, what we are saying is we want to not just be Christians inside the church, but we want to take Jesus outside the four walls.”