On February 1, 1992, following the dynamic preaching of the founding Pastor Leonard L. Favorite’s message from John 4:10 – “A Lady at the Well”, this congregation adopted the name Living Water Baptist Church.  The family is proud to be called by this name and thank God for this existence as a local Body of Christ.  Our physical existence on this side of heaven is Living Water.  Living Water means that we are willing to reach out to anyone.  Living Water means we are willing to cooperate in establishing community with all in order to build a future where the peace of God can be perpetuated.

​

A resolution was adopted, embracing the Articles of Faith and Doctrine of the Baptist Church.  We extended the call to Reverend L.L. Favorite, Sr. to serve as Pastor-Teacher.  The organizational service was held March 30, 1992, at our first location the Quality Inn Motel, 3900 Tulane Ave. under the auspices of the Westside Missionary Baptist Association (WMBA). Bro. Isaiah and Sis. Lula Howard was the first couple to be married at this facility.

​

On December 20, 1992, God led us to a second location at 2067 Caton Street.  There was no electrical service in the building, but we were illuminated by an awesome spiritual power. Sis. Essie Blanchard welcomed four visitors to our service.  Sis. Stella Poindexter provided the music on the portable organ.  Sis. Alice T. Green sang “I’m Happy with Jesus Alone.”  The sermon was entitled “The Magnificant.”  Sis. Florence Pierre, on behalf of the Pittman Family, in memory of the late Sis. Carrie Pittman, and her late husband Deacon Gillie Pierre, donated $1000 towards the purchase of chairs for the sanctuary.  This worship center was dedicated on January 31, 1993 by the WMBA.

​

Early in 1993, Rev. Kenneth L. McDowell and his wife Sandra joined the Living Water Family and he served as Youth Pastor.  While realizing that the Youth of the church needed some nurturing, a three-day retreat to Pine Lake Fellowship Camp in Meridian, MS was held in July.

​

During the year of 1994, prior to Rev. Favorite’s departure, the Living Water family had acquired temporary space for worship at its third worship location at First Corinthian Baptist Church at 2527 Burgundy Street.  We will always remember the kindness of the First Corinthian Baptist Church and the late Pastor Leroy Jefferson for sharing their facility with us.  ​That same year we purchased two parcels of property at 2104 Elysian Fields Ave and 2121 N. Galvez Street.  This would later become the location of our present Multi-Purpose Facility.

​

In 1995, Rev. Kenneth L. McDowell was elected to become the senior pastor.  In this same year, we purchased property at 2114 Elysian Fields Ave at a cost of $120,000.  Renovations followed, in the amount of $10,000.  On the first Sunday of August, 1995, the Living Water family held its first worship service in our fourth location.  It was dedicated as our first permanent worship facility, called the Living Water Fellowship Center. 

 

1995 was a glorious year under the leadership of Pastor McDowell.  It was a year of preparation for the long journey.  The church embarked upon and initiated a systematic style of Bible Study, with study involving specific emphasis, such as the “Doctrine of Prayer, and “The Anatomy of a Church”.  In August of 1996, we celebrated the completion of our first year in our first permanent worship facility.

 

In 1996, under the leadership of Pastor McDowell, the church has experienced the following highlights:  In May, the Bernice H. Milsap Health Institute was held. In June, we held our Second Super Saturday. On July 21, the Living Water family dedicated its kitchen in the memory of the late Sis. Elouise Baham Ambrose. We thank Sis. Stella L. Poindexter, Chair of the Christian Education who was instrumental in implementing many of these activities.

​

The late 90’s was a time of preparation for what was to come.  The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Finance Authority of New Orleans certified LWBC as a Housing Counseling Agency.  We have served over 1100 clients and clients purchased over 100 homes.  Pastor McDowell, Sis. Stella L. Poindexter, Sis. Evelyn Charlot, and Sis. Cynthia B. Jones were the housing counselors.

 

The Brotherhood, chaired by Bro. Clinton Charlot sponsored an annual “Men Who Cook”, where persons came and sampled delicacies that were prepared by members of the church and community.  We continued to sponsor Super Saturdays that included health screenings and the Annual Health Fair.  Each year we had a Black History event that included teaching about Africans in the bible and culminated with foods from Africa.

 

We continued into the millennium with teaching, preaching, and serving the community.  We realized that we were getting too small for our present facility, so we began pursuing the dream of building this current facility.  Through many toils and setbacks, we broke ground in 2004.  It was a long journey to get to the point where we were able to move into our fifth location at 2104 Elysian Fields Ave. We thank God for the 44 adult members who have sacrificed financially and spiritually to remain steadfast in our journey to this point.

The first message was preached in February 2005 by Pastor McDowell.  Our Multi-purpose facility was dedicated in March of 2005.  The first person to be baptized in the new facility was Bro. Sheldon Jones.

​

As God had his way, Hurricane Katrina came August 29, 2005.  We were saddened, doubting, heartbroken, and homeless, but we remembered, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.”(Luke 9:58)  Many of our members are still scattered; many will dwell in other areas permanently and many would like to and will come home. 

In 2010, with God’s help we were able to pay off the mortgage at 2104 Elysian Fields. We have purchased other property in the area.  On one Sunday, we had a record 11 baptisms. Through God’s grace, our membership has increased and families have joined the body of Christ. The youth liturgical dance group was formed. A mid-week service and the Pastor’s Empowerment Class have added to the spiritual growth of Living Water.

 

In 2011, we continued on God’s mission to further the kingdom.  We baptized more souls, christened babies, and did work for the kingdom.  In December, we celebrated our first Annual Christmas Social post-Hurricane Katrina.  Deacon Willie Veal announced that he would step down as Head Deacon after 20 years of service.  We thank God for his steadfastness.  Deacon Larry Ferguson would serve as Head Deacon.

 

In March 2012, we celebrated our 20th Year Church Anniversary.  We welcomed many guests and former members of LWBC. We had a glorious time in the Lord. We invite everyone to continue to pray for Living Water because we are strong and we have faith that God is not finished with us yet.  We have faith in God, confidence in Pastor McDowell, confidence in ourselves, and confidence in each other. As our motto states we will continue “Building for the Future.”      

​

Sis. Glenda Veal and the Nursing Ministry sponsored a bi-annual Health Fair. It highlights the medical concerns and the physical well-being of the congregants and the community. 

​

The Youth Department chaired by Minister April Green and the other counselors work with the youth in preparing them to lead the church in Devotion on Youth Day, to serve as Ushers and Junior Deacons, prepares them to perform skits, liturgical dance and mime presentations for special days at Living Water Baptist Church. They also host a bake sale on Youth Day each month. 

In 2018, Sis. Sandra McDowell and the Women’s Ministry instituted a Prayer Line that is open and available to all members of the congregation and the community.  It has been very successful tool for callers to express their concerns, encourage each other, ask for prayer and send prayers up to the Lord for blessings.

​

In 2018, Sis. Lois Tate was named the Mother of the Church.  She also continues to serve in her capacity as a Deaconess and Church School Teacher for the primary age students.

​

In March of 2018, Pastor McDowell announced that he would be retiring from the ministry at Living Water Baptist Church.  The remainder of the year was filled with events and memories that highlighted the McDowell Family.  We had a joyous time appreciating our Pastor and his family.

On December 16, 2018, Pastor Kenneth L. McDowell preached his last sermon at Living Water Baptist Church entitled “The Last Time” from Ecclesiastics 3:1, 11.

​

Rev. James Joseph Santa Cruze, Jr. has served as the Associate Pastor for the past seven years.  He was appointed as the Interim Pastor on December 16, 2018.  His first sermon was “Let Go and Let God” from Hebrews 12:1-3.

 

On Friday, February 1, 2019, Rev. Santa Cruze was installed as the Senior Pastor of Living Water Baptist Church under the auspices of the Louisiana Freedman Missionary Baptist Association.  Our former Pastor Kenneth McDowell was the guest speaker.