The fire started while church members were preparing food for a funeral. Within forty-five minutes, the building was gone. Shocked, they gathered outside the burned remains of the church and prayed. After praying, they committed to rebuild.

For New Friendship Baptist Church, it was not the first time they experienced a new beginning. Previously known as Anchor Baptist Church, the congregation closed its doors in 2019 and deeded the property to the Big Creek Baptist Association. In 2020, with support from the Georgia Barnette Louisiana Missions Offering, Lloyd Whitman was called to replant the church as New Friendship Baptist Church. What once seemed like the end became a renewed Gospel witness in the Fishville community.

Then came the fire. Once again, the Georgia Barnette Offering helped the church move forward. Through assistance provided by Louisiana Baptists, New Friendship continued its ministry as volunteers erected a tent only two days after the fire so the church would not miss a single Sunday of worship and ministry.

One Sunday, a man came forward wanting to be baptized. With no building available, the church went to the nearby creek to celebrate his baptism — a reminder that the mission of the church never stopped.

“We lost the building,” Pastor Whitman said, “but not the church.”