In the Beginning

On April 6, 1980 Rev. Frank A. Davis, III, after preaching the Easter Sunday Night Message, stood before the congregation of the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church announced that God had placed on his heart to organize a new church. After much prayer and spiritual guidance Pastor Davis began to call and contact various Christians whom the Lord had placed in his heart.

A meeting was called at his residence on April 14, 1980 to discuss the organizing of this church. There were seven people present and several others gave verbal consent to become part of this new fellowship. It was during this meeting that a place of worship, as well as the type of church the Lord had placed in the heart of Pastor Davis, was discussed. Finally, it was revealed that the church should be called Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church. After much prayer and discussion, the Lord led this small group of believers to the corner of Orleans Avenue and North Rendon Street where there had previously been a tropical fish and pet store. It was this building that the Lord had ordained to be the place of worship for Bibleway.

All the members were satisfied as they saw what faith in God could do. It was decided that the church would have its first worship service on Sunday, May 4, 1980. The Lord then, by His omnipotent power, led Sis. Mary Jones Dandridge to Rev. William Gaines of the St. Luke Baptist Church, who through God’s love, gave the church a set of pews. This was only the beginning of miracles.

Rev. Lucien Garret of Vacherie, Louisiana received the news of Bibleway and sent its first pulpit set and Lord’s Supper table. As the Lord would have it, a host of Christians throughout the city began to send all types of contributions to assist the newly organized church.

The members of the newly founded Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Praising God and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

FOUNDING MEMBERS

“…I have laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon.” – I Corinthians 3:10

A special tribute will always be embedded in the rocks of eternity to the founding members of the Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church:

Rev. Frank A. Davis, III – Pastor
Sis. Mary Jones Dandridge
Sis. Peggy W. Davis
Sis. Danielle Edinburgh
Sis. Ellorine D. Edinburgh
Sis. Antoinette Jones Giles
Sis. Bernadine D. Harvey
Bro. Larry Harvey
Sis. Nola T. Humphrey
Sis. Bertha Johnson
Bro. Demond Jones
Sis. Gloriadean Mims
Bro. Lee Mims
Rev. Daniel Reneau
Bro. Everette Reneau
Sis. Mary Reneau
Sis. Johnsie Taylor
Sis. Janice M. Vick
Sis. Debbie F. Williams
Bro. Willie Williams, Jr.

AFFILIATIONS

NATIONAL: National Baptist Convention of America
STATE: Louisiana Home and Foreign Mission Convention
DISTRICT: Christian Progressive Education Association
AREA: Christian Minister’s Union of Greater New Orleans & Vicinity
Cornerstone Missionary Baptist General Association

THE ARTICLES OF BIBLEWAY

  1. We believe that the Bible is God’s holy word and that everything we do as a church should be governed by its principles and precepts. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:21: I Thessalonians 5:20-21; Proverbs 30:5)
  2. We believe that we are saved by grace through faith, and that is not of ourselves, but the free gift of God through the finished work of His son, our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:4-5; Matthew 8:11, John 3:16)
  3. We believe that baptism should be performed by immersion and it should follow confession of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ who died for the sins of the world. (Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:4; Acts 2:41)
  4. We believe in evangelism, for the Bible tells us to go into all the world and preach the gospel. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8)
  5. We believe in fellowship one with another and love of the brethren according as God first loved us. (Hebrews 13:1; Psalm 133:1; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:46-47)
  6. We believe that every Christian should want to give freely of their personal substance as God has prospered them. Therefore, we admonish all our members to tithe and give an offering according to the way God has blessed them for God loves the cheerful giver. We are totally against money-making schemes and programs for they are against the Word of God. (Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38; Deuteronomy 16;16-17; I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians9:7)
  7. We believe that every member should spend time studying and praying in accordance with the Word of God. (II Timothy 2:15; Psalm 119:11; Psalm 1:2; John 8:31-32; I Thessalonians 5:17; I Chronicles 16:11; Matthew 26:41)
  8. We believe that we can never lose our salvation because it was purchased and kept by the blood and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. (I John 5:13; Acts 16:31; John 1:12; John 3:36; John 5:24; Romans 10:9; Hebrews 9:12)
  9. We believe that one day very soon, though we know not the day or hour, Jesus Christ will return in the clouds to take away his bride, who is the believing church of God, and they shall be with Him forever. Amen. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:23, 51-52; Revelation 21:1-8)
  10. We believe that every Christian after accepting Christ is mystically baptized into the body of Christ and becomes a new creature, with old things passing away and all things becoming new in his/her walk with Christ. In this we expect all our members to have a committed life to the Lord Jesus Christ, setting aside quiet time and study periods in to mature in Christ. I Corinthians 12:13; II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:16, 22-26; Acts 1:15; I Corinthians 2:18)