Church History 

Free Gift Baptist Church was organized in the year of 1931.  Mr. Ben Lieber, of West Monroe, LA, gave these dedicated Sister and Brothers lumber from the old Lieber Oil Mill to build a permanent structure, and they proudly named the building FREE GIFT. Because of the generosity of the businessmen and community leaders they were also able to purchase a track of land on Ouachita Avenue. The Original Deacons were James Starks, Sr., James Starks, Jr., Manuel Hadley, Jesse Starks, Albert Brown and Walter Clark. They worked untiringly and with great determination.  Unfortunately, in 1936, while remodeling, a fire partially destroyed the building and the work to reconstruct was at hand. The membership worshipped with the Avenue Baptist Church, which was under the leadership of the late Rev. Charlie Reed, until they were able to move back into their own building. During the first twelve (12) years of the church, Free Gift had six (6) pastors. The first pastor was Rev. Johnson. In 1932, Rev. Simmons was ordained and became the second pastor. The third pastors was Rev. Rankins. The fourth pastor was Reverend Henry Jones. The fifth pastor was, Reverend Lloyd Everett (Mother Loydean Hopkins’ father). The sixth pastor was the Reverend Polk Williams. It was looking as if the church could not keep a pastor. Then in 1937 the church split over who would be the pastor. The split started a new church called Peter Rock Baptist Church, but the Free Gift Baptist Church would weather this storm.  In 1943, Free Gift, elected Reverend Dr. B. J. Washington, of Opelousas, LA and nine (9) years later, June 18, 1952, under his leadership, he and members Mandy Webster, Thelma Butler, Bertha Henry, Amy Black, J. C. and Ezzie Marshall, Roberta Worship, Sam Turner, Rose Turner, Laura Richardson, Eddie Williams, Reverend Franklin D, Nash,  Gertrude Nash, Katie Nash, Solomon Freelon, Lucille Freelon, Brucie Bradley, Almeda Saucer, Mother Starks, Dorothy Clark, Willie Spears, Bennie Lee Williams, Eloise Owens, Corrine Harrell, Corrine Lavender and others, united and organized themselves to form a non-profit corporation. The name of this corporation was Free Gift Missionary Baptist Church of Monroe, Louisiana, Inc. of which the objects and purposes were to teach and preach the religion of our Lord, Jesus Christ according to the faith and practices of a Missionary Baptist Church. Through teachings, preaching and Christian education the membership grew and in 1965, Dr. Washington and members purchased four (4) lots on what was then Burg Jones Lane, in the Lincoln Park Subdivision and in 1966 a new building was erected, with a seating capacity of approximately 200. Dr. Washington was pastor for forty (40) years until his death in 1983. In 1984, Reverend Ollie J. Jackson was elected and served until 1986.  Afterwards the Reverend Franklin D. Nash was elected in 1987 and served until June of 1989.  The church again began to search for a new leader and on October 16, 1989 the church elected the present pastor, Bishop Rodney McFarland, Sr. Under the leadership, supervision and administration of Bishop Rodney McFarland, we began to increase and services deepened and reached many across the city. We launched full-time services and in order to express how our church had grown, the word GREATER was added to the name of our church and we became the Greater Free Gift Missionary Baptist Church of Monroe, Louisiana, Inc.  In September of 1995 we completely remodeled the church.  In 2002 the church paid for two 15 passenger vans in cash to accommodate the increasingly growing membership, we now have full-time Van Ministry, with Sunday School at 8:30 A.M, Sunday Morning Worship at 9:55 A.M., Thursday Night Bible Class, dedicated, devoted and committed Associate Ministers, 32 Deacons, 38 Mothers, Music Ministry accompanied by a 40 + voice choir, Women of Faith Ministry, Usher Ministry, Health & Wellness Ministry, with a membership in the  North Louisiana Old Line Baptist Association, Greater Louisiana Baptist State Convention and the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.  Our membership has expanded well beyond the existing building, with over 1,300 on roll, we currently have modernized our Outreach Ministry with the aid of modern technology the church and the ministries and activities can be found of the World Wide Web at greaterfreegift.org. In the Monroe-West Monroe area our weekly services can be seen each Sunday morning from 6:00 A.M. to 7:00 A. M. on Comcast Channel 3 and in the Louisiana Delta Area that is serviced by CMA Cable our broadcast is available each Sunday Morning from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM and Sunday evenings from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM and Wednesdays from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  Our members and supporters are able to pay Tithes and or make contributions online.  Our Bishop, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, in 2003 facilitated the purchase of 3.2 acres of land on Highway 165 South, Monroe, Louisiana and has instituted the 2020 Vision and Covenant Partners.  The Church broke ground for a New Church on December 24, 2006. We now have completed the erection of a new 12,000 plus square foot sanctuary.  We welcome all visitors with open arms and have adopted the motto that Greater Free Gift is “A Place to Belong”