Church starts work on its new building

Section: Religion

Quo Vadis Hollins

Members of the Community Missionary Baptist Church recently celebrated the start of construction on its new home site at Third and Daniel streets in Kenner with a groundbreaking ceremony.

Since 1962, Community Missionary Baptist Church, at 316 Filmore St., has been a spiritual pillar in Kenner church member Chenell Bornes said. "The church serves as a spiritual resource for the residents of Kenner's historic Rivertown district and surrounding communities," Borne said. "We are happy to be moving forward with the ceremony,"

The ceremony began with a walking processional from the church's current location to its new site at 1820 Daniel Street, at the corner of Third and Daniel streets in Kenner's Rivertown district.


The new sanctuary and fellowship facility building will maintain the Rivertown area's historical perspective with an antebellum-styled exterior. The building, scheduled for completion in December 2007, will boast nearly 13,000 square feet.

The Rev. Robert Tanner Jr., pastor of the church, was joined by church members, family, friends and community leaders during the celebration, including Sen. Derrick Shepherd, D-Marrero, Councilman Marc Johnson, Rev. Robert Tanner Sr., pastor of New Tree of Life Baptist Church in New Orleans and Emmit Richardson, owner of Richardson Funeral Home.

"The event marked the end of something started prior to Hurricane Katrina," Rev. Tanner said. "Everything is ready to go now and we are going to begin building. All is well."

In conjunction with the groundbreaking ceremony, Rev. Tanner also celebrated his 11th year as the church's pastor. Morning and afternoon worship services were held. Guest speakers were the Rev. Reginald Nicholas of the Olive Branch Baptist Church and Bishop Tommy Triplett Sr. of Greater St. Stephens Baptist Church-West Bank and Divine Providence Baptist Church.

Since Hurricane Katrina, the church's membership has grown Rev. Tanner said. "We have been blessed that our church has done better following the storm," Rev. Tanner said. "Every Sunday service has been full to capacity. We are putting extra chairs in the aisle. The contributions, the enthusiasm -- everything has increased."

Rev. Tanner welcomes the new members and is thankful for the beginning of the new expansion.

The facility will provide needed space to continue several programs and ministries such as after-school tutorials, community outreach for youth and adults and other community needs-driven programs, Rev. Tanner said.

The new church will also feature a media room, nursery, fellowship area, conference room, classrooms, computer lab and library.

"Everything we will need to expand will be there for us." Tanner said. "Everything has turned out to be good."

The current church building will serve as a youth sanctuary for members ages 12-21. "It is our plan to give them (youth) the entire church," Rev. Tanner said. "They will have their own pastor, their own choir, musician staff and ushers

For now, Rev. Tanner is happy that his congregation's needs are going to be met with the new site. "I think our members are going to be happy to see the end of a mission that we have been praying for," Tanner said. "We are going to have the facilities that we need to be able to provide an even greater ministry."

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Donations can be sent to CMBC, P.O. Box 812, Kenner, LA 70062 or visit the Web site at www.communitymbconline.com.

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E-mail Quo Vadis Hollins at qhollins@timespicayune.com or call (504) 461-0437.