Kennon Pickett at Blackwater United Methodist Church in Central Blackwater United Methodist Church in Central to celebrate 175 years. Kennon Pickett, senior pastor of Blackwater United Methodist Church in Central Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Service and ministry to the community has been a longstanding legacy of the Blackwater United Methodist Church in Central. The church will commemorate its rich history while looking ahead with a special "Legacy Forward" event marking 175 years.
All three regular service will be combined into one at 10 a.m. Sunday in the main sanctuary, 10000 Blackwater Road.
"'Legacy Forward' means that 175 years is awesome, but our mission is still ahead of us, which is to pass down our faith to the next generation," said Kennon Pickett, the church's senior pastor since 2022. "We have a message to share and, until Christ returns, it is not completed. It's just a reminder that we have a responsibility to steward all of this that God has given us in a way that continues and build on what's already been laid.
" The speaker for the occasion will be Bishop Delores J. Williamston, of the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Other guests will include District Superintendent the Rev.
Karli Pidgeon and Central Mayor Wade Evans. "She's brought tremendous energy to the conference," Pickett said of Williamston, who took over in 2022. "She's a tremendous preacher and a gifted leader, and she is one of those who's all about the action, but she really believes that we hold the hope with the message of Christ.
" Following the worship service, Blackwater will hold a potluck and groundbreaking for the new Blackwater Center for Community Enrichment. The project is part of a $600,000 capital campaign aimed at enhancing campus infrastructure; remodeling the gym and adding classrooms; and upgrading the air conditioning and insulation; and adding audiovisual systems. Pickett said the center will enhance the church's community offerings with after-school care, home-school co-ops and expanded youth and family ministries.
Outreach has been a part Blackwater since it was founded in 1848, stemming from a Methodist circuit established to meet the spiritual needs of the community. The Hooper family donated the land and a cemetery. Pickett said Blackwater, which has seen the construction of four sanctuaries, was the original church in the area and allowed all denominations to use that space for services.
"Some of our families are five generations," Pickett said. "What's great is you really do see a pattern of people passing down their faith from generation to generation. And you see how the grandparents and the great-grandparents have not only influenced their children but their children's children, and it's just beautiful.
" Also beautiful to behold is the growth of the church. In the past 21⁄2 years, Pickett said the church has added 130 new members. "The spirit has just blown through, and we have a great opportunity to bring hope and the light of Christ to the community," he said.
"We're gearing up for a big celebration." For more information, go to blackwaterumc.org .
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