Congregation breaks ground for new church

To the Leader-Call

May 10, 2008 11:54 am

— Laurel will soon have a new church.
A Hispanic congregation that has been meeting in Moselle, 15 miles south of Laurel, broke ground for a new building. The new church will be located at 544 E. First Street between Cook Avenue and K.C. Bottoms Park. It will be called “El Faro” which is Spanish for “Lighthouse”.
Guests for the ground breaking included Laurel City Councilman Manuel Jones of Ward 5, Dr. Jerry Jones from Nacogdoches, Texas, Director of the Division of Mission Ministries of the Congregational Methodist denomination (CMC), Rev. Jimmy Holder, pastor of Florence CMC, Sandersville, Rev. George Purvis, Pastor of Zion’s Rest CMC of Eucutta, Rev. Phil Smith, Pastor of Mt. Vernon CMC Hwy. 15 South, Laurel and Barbara Easterling, Vice-president of the Women’s Missionary Union of the Congregational Methodist denomination as well as President of the WMU of the CM Churches of Mississippi. Guests were also present from several of the local Congregational Methodist Churches mentioned above.
Other special guests were Linda Davis, wife of the late Rev. Charles Davis, along with her son Chris and his wife Tammy of Laurel and her daughter, Cheryl Nelson and Cheryl’s daughter Emma Grace of Hurley. Rev. Davis served as pastor of Lake Congregational Methodist Church, Hwy. 84 East of Laurel for six years. He also served Trinity Bible Church in Escatawpa for 22 years, Turnage Chapel Church in Columbia for two years as well as a church in Texas for a year. After his death in 2004, Mrs. Davis made a memorial gift for the purchase of land on which to construct a Hispanic Church in Laurel.
The multi-purpose building will have space for seating 250 worshipers, a kitchen with storage, restrooms, a nursery and one classroom on the ground floor. Second floors on each end will provide four additional classrooms and a balcony with seating for an additional 133 people. The worship area will also serve for fellowship as well as for recreational activities.
This congregation has grown in Moselle during the last seven years under the leadership of Rev. and Mrs. Billy Harrell, former missionaries to Honduras in Central America. Mr. and Mrs. Moody Stewart, owners of University Handbag Outlet in Hattiesburg, provided the building where they have held services as well as financial and prayer support. The move from Moselle to Laurel takes into consideration the fact that most of those who attend services are from Laurel. However, plans are to continue holding services in Moselle as well.
The Harrells returned to Laurel in 1999 to retire after 40 years involvement in missions. Mrs. Harrell, the former Elladean Miles, grew up in Jones County and attended Glade School where she graduated high school in 1953. When they discovered the large Hispanic population in Jones County, they felt that God had providentially placed them here to minister to the need of that community. The congregation has resulted from that ministry.