The Zion Tabernacle Baptist Church of Lake Charles will host the third Annual Bayou Classic Christian Fellowship of Southwest Louisiana, Nov. 22-23.The fellowship is to further the gospel of Jesus Christ and to assist area youth in making career and educational choices. In pursuit of this purpose, Grambling State University and Southern University will be highlighted.
The theme for this event is “Strength In Unity” which is based on Psalm 133.
Support for this cause comes from the local alumni chapters of both universities, local schools, individuals, groups, clubs, organizations and the business sector of our community.
The two day event will begin on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 11 a.m. with a parade featuring gospel and patriotic music. The Army ROTC color guard from both schools will participate in the parade. The planned activities are as follows:
Saturday, Nov. 22 at 11 a.m.–Parade Route-leaving MLK, turning north on Moeling and ending at the church on the corner of Moeling and Shattuck. Tailgating and refreshments will be included.
There is no entry fee for the parade. At least 75 units are expected to participate in this event. The parade will be followed by various activities geared around family, and these include, but not limited to, a festival and tailgating gathering on the Zion Tabernacle church campus.
Sunday, Nov. 23 at 9:30 a.m. Body Building (Sunday School) classes will be taught by Southern and Grambling alumni. Charlie Mitchell will be the guest speaker at the 11 a.m. worship service at the Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church.
In 2006, John Jenkins Jr., head football coach at Washington-Marion Magnet High School in Lake Charles and a graduate of Southern University, served as Parade Grand Marshall. The 2007 Grand Marshall was Miss Grambling 2007, Ebony Perry, and the 2008 Grand Marshalls will be Faye Brown-Blackwell and Chester Senegal.
Blackwell is the owner of KZWA, FM Radio Station and a retired educator. She is also a former member of the Lake Charles City Council.
Senegal is employed by Citgo and is one of the pillars of the local Southern Alumni Chapter. He is an ardent supporter of Southern University. Both Blackwell and Senegal are products of Southern University.
The keynote speaker for the 2006 fellowship was Dr. Kieran Coleman, principal of Jennings Elementary School in Jennings. Dr. Kieran earned his Master’s from Southern University.
In 2007 we were blessed to share this event with Leroy Joseph Sanford, a Grambling alumnus and retired educator.
The speaker for this years worship service is Charlie Mitchell. He is a graduate of Southern University. Mitchell is the Safety Supervisor for Total Petrochemicals in Port Arthur, Texas. Mitchell is a member of Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church in Lake Charles, where he serves as a Sunday school teacher.
The honorable Walter Guidry, Jr., a board member of the Southern Board of Supervisors from the Seventh Congressional District is a member of Zion Tabernacle Baptist Church, the host church for the event.
Pastor Alvin Brass and the ZTBC family extend an open invitation to all to come and celebrate Jesus.