The Beginning
In the early 1990’s Pastors Lawrence Weathersby & his wife Chiquita Weathersby served diligently in ministry under the leadership of Pastor Robert C. Blakes, Jr. at New Home Ministries-East Location, in New Orleans, LA for 13 years and 15 years, respectively. He served as a youth worker in the youth ministry, head of the Security Department, and Director of Men’s Ministry during his tenure. She served as a praise team member, youth worker and director of Women’s Ministry. She also worked full-time as an Administrative Secretary on the church’s staff. In 1997, Pastor Weathersby heeded the call of God upon his life, and answered the call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
On July 6, 2001, Pastors Lawrence and Chiquita were ordained as ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through New Home Full Gospel Baptist Association by Bishop Robert Blakes, Sr., and the Senior Pastors of the association.
In February, 2002, Bishop Robert C. Blakes, Sr., (General Overseer of New Home Ministries Family of Churches), called Elder Lawrence Weathersby, instructed him that the ministry would actively begin to look for land in the Slidell, LA area, and he would be the Pastor of that church’s location.
On November 3, 2003, New Home Family Worship Center Northshore opened its doors under the leadership of Pastor Lawrence T. Weathersby, Sr. with five members (his wife, his two children, one son-in-law and one niece).
The church grew rapidly, and by May, 2004, the church had outgrown the building’s capacity of 125. To accommodate the growing membership, Pastor Weathersby moved the services into the larger building next door, also owned by New Home Ministries. The church continued to grow rapidly, with the need for a second service. In April 2004, Pastor Weathersby added a second Sunday morning worship service at 10:30.
By August 2005, the church’s membership had reached approximately 300. Pastor Weathersby not only pastored the New Home Family Worship Center Northshore location, but also held the position of Captain with the New Orleans Police Department, and could not evacuate the area for Hurricane Katrina, which hit land on August 29, 2005. The sanctuary suffered tremendous damage (over $400,000). At this time, Bishop Robert C. Blakes, Sr., of New Home Ministries approached Pastor Weathersby, and suggested he charter out.
With his wife and kids now temporarily living in Houston, due to the damages their homes suffered during Hurricane Katrina, Pastor Weathersby knew it was time to resume services, but there was nowhere to hold worship services. His wife returned to Slidell during the first week of September, and began making phone calls to find a place to hold worship services.
Glad Tidings Seven-Day Adventist Church offered to rent their building to Pastor Weathersby, and the 33 members that returned to the Slidell area. On October 9, 2005, after being shut down for five weeks, worship services resumed. As they were planning how to rebuild not only the church, but also the membership and their own personal lives, Pastor Lawrence heard the voice of God telling him it was time to take the ministry in a different direction. After much prayer and fasting for 120 days, the Lord instructed Pastor Weathersby to connect spiritually to Pastors Tony & Cynthia Brazelton, of Victory Christian Ministries International in Suitland, Maryland.
In March 2006, Pastor Lawrence met with Bishop Blakes, Sr. and the Senior Pastors of New Home Ministries and informed them that God was leading him to go into a different direction and that he was to buy the storm damaged building from the Bishop. Bishop Blakes, Sr. agreed and released Pastor Weathersby with his blessing. We are and will be forever truly grateful to Bishop Blakes, Sr. for installing us as pastors and releasing us with his blessing.
In June 2006, Pastors Tony & Cynthia Brazelton received Pastors Lawrence and Chiquita as their spiritual son and daughter.
In August 2006, Pastor Weathersby, along with the Board Members met and decided to change the name of the ministry to Living The Word International, and become a nondenominational, multi-cultural ministry. On August 25, 2006, the proper documents were filed with the Secretary of State, the name was legally changed, and Living the Word International was birthed.
On March 29, 2007, after repairing and renovating the damaged building, Living the Word International purchased the building from New Home Ministries. Just three days later, on April 1, 2007, our first service was held in the building as Living the Word International. To God be the glory!
Since that time, we have experienced phenomenal growth, having to once again, add a second service on Sunday mornings (8am & 10:30am), and have separate services for our children to accommodate the masses of people.
The Present
Living the Word International is considered one of the fastest growing churches in the Slidell area. It is for that reason, God has given us an awesome vision to meet the needs of the people in this region. To accommodate our growth and meet the needs of this community, we are now in the design phase of a new sanctuary that will seat up to 1,000 people, and completing the master plan of our vision that will be built on 20 acres of land.
The master plan is comprised of building a multi-purpose center that will house basketball and volleyball courts, education labs, a wellness center, an arcade, a roller skating rink, and a bowling alley. We will also build a Liberal Arts Center that will afford the youth in the community an opportunity to develop their gifts in the fine arts, such as: drama, dance, and music. The vision concludes with the building of a swimming complex and an education facility for biblical studies.
The Future
Then the Lord answered me and said, “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come. It will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NKJV)
We are truly excited about what God has done here at Living the Word in our very short history. We believe the vision shall come to pass that we may be able to continue to reach the lost and build the kingdom of God.