A Century on Sere Street
Asia Baptist Church was organized in 1923 under the leadership of the late Rev. Adolph Smith, who gathered the first members at 3723 Jumonville Street. He served until 1925, when Rev. Arthur Moore took the pastorate and led the church until his death in 1934. Rev. Edward Madison, elected as the third pastor that year, purchased a lot on Gibson Street in 1938 and built the congregation's first purpose-built sanctuary. He served until January 1961, when Rev. Zebadee Bridges was elected as the fourth pastor.
Under Rev. Bridges, the church grew steadily. In 1963 the Gibson Street building was remodeled; in September 1968 the lot at the corner of Duplessis and Sere Streets was purchased. Construction on a new edifice began on June 18, 1973 and was completed that December. On Sunday, January 13, 1974, the congregation marched into its present sanctuary at 1400 Sere Street, and the cornerstone was laid on the fourth Sunday of August that year.
The church expanded its footprint in the years that followed. A day care center opened in 1977 at 1468 Sere Street. Two lots and a house on Lafreniere Street, purchased in 1978 and 1981, were rebuilt into low-income housing. In 1988, property on St. Bernard Avenue was acquired as a parking lot. In 1990 the church began a mid-week morning worship and teaching service. By November 1995, the mortgage was paid off.
In 1999, the Edward Madison Community Development Corporation was organized and received 501(c)(3) status to build affordable housing for low-income families. The corporation has since built and purchased eighteen rental units at a cost of $1.5 million, all owned and operated by the Asia Baptist Church Board of Directors. A multipurpose building was planned to house the day care center and other community programs.
Then came August 29, 2005, when Hurricane Katrina pushed six feet of water into the sanctuary. The first post-Katrina worship service was held at St. Mark's Fourth Baptist Church, pastored by Dr. Robert Turner, Sr., on the third Sunday of November 2005. Renovation of the Sere Street sanctuary began that December and was completed in April 2006; the homecoming service was held April 30, 2006. In the aftermath, Asia hosted two other congregations for worship and opened its fellowship hall to funerals and repass activities. On July 23, 2006, Rev. Bridges preached his final sermon and announced his retirement; the church elected Rev. Kenneth G. Thibodeaux as its fifth pastor.
The congregation considers itself among the leading churches of New Orleans, Louisiana, and the United States, and a verse rests on the building: "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts." (Haggai 2:9).
Sunday at Asia
The Sunday rhythm runs through three services. Worship begins at 8:00 a.m., with baptisms observed on the second Sunday and communion on the third. Sunday School meets at 10:15 a.m., followed by Midday Worship at 11:30 a.m. The church is a member of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., the Louisiana Baptist State Convention, and the First District Missionary Baptist Association, and sends a delegation each year to the National Baptist Convention and Sunday School Congress.
Midweek Teaching and Prayer
Bible Study gathers every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. On Wednesday evenings, Nurture for Baptist and Prayer Service both meet at 6:00 p.m., with Sunday School teachers gathering for planning at 7:00 p.m.
The Pastor and the First Lady
Rev. Kenneth G. Thibodeaux grew up in New Orleans and graduated from John McDonogh Sr. High School. At Southern University at New Orleans he was named a National Top Scholar, then enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving as Special Assistant to the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon and earning an associate degree at the Community College of the Air Force. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wilberforce University and a Bachelor of Theology from Union Baptist College and Theological Seminary. He accepted the call to ministry at Asia under the pastorate of Rev. Zebadee Bridges, Sr., was ordained through the First District Missionary Baptist Association, and served as Assistant Pastor and Director of the Day Care Center before being elected Asia's fifth pastor in 2006. He is the father of two daughters, Kenisha and Khadijah.
Yolanda Marie White Thibodeaux, the First Lady, accepted Christ at age five and joined Greater King Solomon Baptist Church under her father's pastorate. A graduate of John McDonogh High School, Delgado Community College, and Molar Beauty College, she is the owner of First Lady's Boutique. At Asia she leads the Daughters of Destiny ministry and sings in the Women's Chorus. Her favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6, and her favorite song is "If I Can Help Somebody."
A Choir for Every Sunday
The music ministry rotates weekly: the Rosie Hall Sanctuary Choir leads worship on the first and third Sundays, the Pearl Q. Brown Youth Choir sings on the second, the Freddie Johnson, Sr. Male Chorus on the fourth, and the Women's Chorus on fifth Sundays. A Mid-Day Praise Team leads the late morning service. Recorded audio sermons and replays of worship services are available online.
Teaching the Next Generation
Sunday School gathers every Sunday at 10:15 a.m. under Superintendent Kevin Pettis, with Assistant Superintendent Jesse White and a teaching roster of fourteen classes. Vacation Bible School, named for the late Lorraine J. Bridges, is led by Sis. Ariana Sartin and Sis. Jessica Bridges and rotates around an annual theme. A recent program walked children through five "encounters" with Jesus, from the temple at age twelve to the road to Emmaus. Youth Ministry is led by Bro. Darryl Watson, I, with Bro. Tyrone Banks, Sr., and Pastor Thibodeaux, and the Pearl Q. Brown Youth Choir sings on the second Sunday of each month.
Ministries Across the Life of the Church
The Department of Christian Education, named for its first director Sis. Georgia P. Smith, supervises teaching across all ages under Sis. Frankie Mobley. Men gather under the Laymen's Ministry (Bro. Steven Carney, chair) and women under the Deaconess Ministry (Sis. Stella Trainor, president) and Daughters of Destiny. The Seasoned Seniors fellowship, led by Sis. Mary Marks, serves older members. The Beautifying Ministry, Hospitality Ministry, Booster Ministry, Health and Wellness Ministry, New Members Ministry, Media Ministry, and Finance Committee round out the slate. Ushers are organized into four groups, each taking a Sunday of the month, plus midday ushers every Sunday.
Missions Beyond the Walls
The Julia Bonds Mission Ministry, led by Sis. Carlito White, meets every Monday at 6:00 p.m. and feeds the homeless every three months. Members make nursing home visits on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. to Chateau Living Center in Kenner and on the fourth Saturday at 2:00 p.m. to Saint Margaret Daughter's Home in New Orleans. Asia supports home and foreign missions through the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., and is a longstanding supporter of Union Baptist Theological Seminary, having been among the leading churches backing the purchase of the old Nelson School site for the seminary's expansion.
The Edward Madison Community Development Corporation continues to manage eighteen units of affordable rental housing in the neighborhood. The on-site Day Care Center remains a center of the church's outreach to families with young children.
Joining the Work
Online giving is available for the General Offering, Tithes, Building Fund, the Media Ministry, the Mission Ministry, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, the Beautifying Ministry, the Church Anniversary, Men's Day, Women's Day, Pastor Appreciation, and Pastor Love Offering. Recorded worship services and sermons are available online for those unable to attend in person.
The Asia Baptist Church is pastored by Rev. Kenneth G. Thibodeaux and is located at 1400 Sere Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70122. The office can be reached at (504) 301-9651 or office@theasiabaptistchurch.org.