Biography

Palestine United Methodist Church was located at 306 Tioga Road, Ball, Louisiana.

The first families to settle nearby (in Tioga) built a church and worshipped there for many years. It was later moved to another location. In 1936, three people (Rev. H. B. McCann, Rev. J. B. McCann, Todd Hollingsworth) led the effort to build a new church in the area. This church was later enlarged, with cinder blocks being added to the outside walls.

After continued growth, the congregation made plans to build a larger sanctuary. Construction began in 1964 and was finished by February 21, 1965, when the first service was held in the new church. It wasn’t long before tragedy struck the new building. On Labor Day 1970, a fire destroyed the pastor’s study, the pulpit area, and the front of the church. Most of the furnishings suffered smoke and water damage. The congregation immediately began plans to rebuild. During the construction, they met for worship in the education building and met at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church for Church School. The rebuilt church was consecrated on March 14, 1971. Bishop Aubrey Walton and District Superintendent Clyde S. Clark led the service. Bishop Kenneth Shamblin led the dedication service on October 3, 1982.

The congregation decided in 1974 to build a new education building on the location of the cinder block church and education building. The new building contained classrooms, a parlor, a kitchen, and a large open area with a stage. Four members of the church have entered the ministry: Raymond Crofoot, Ed Pickens, Odell Simmons, and Lewis Morris, Jr.

Palestine United Methodist Church disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church in May 2023.

Source: Timothy Hebert, “The Historical Register of the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church,” (Louisiana: Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, 2004), page AL-40.

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