Gibson starts new Baptist church

By: Theresa Mayard

Pastor Curtis Gibson, along with his wife Debbie, will begin ministering at Charity Baptist Church, Abbeville’s newest church today.

Gibson, originally from Pascagoula, Miss., has been preaching for 46 years. With his slogan “Preaching an unchanging Christ in an anything-goes world,” Gibson said he looks forward to working with the people of Abbeville.

“I had a burden for the Cajun people,” said Gibson when asked why he decided to move to Abbeville. “I had a very great desire to work with them. God called me here.”

Gibson, who said he was not raised with a religious background, said he was converted when he was 16 and started preaching his senior year in high school.

“It was a radical conversion,” he noted. “I realized I was a lost sinner and I realized that God was missing from my life. I understood from the scriptures that you had to repent from your sins and receive Christ as your savior.”

Gibson said there are three Rs that take place when a person undergoes conversion. He said they first must realize they are a sinner, then realize Jesus paid for the penalty of sin and then, finally, receive Christ as their savior.

“Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship,” Gibson emphasized. “Being a Christian is not having a religion-- it’s not being Baptist or being Catholic-- it’s about your personal relationship with Christ. I believe that with all my heart.”

Gibson and his wife were married almost 40 years ago after he return home from the Vietnam war. The two spent the past seven years ministering in St. Charles Parish in Luling, La.

Gibson said his and his wife’s desire is to see a growing and thriving church in Abbeville for God.

“I’m transparent,” Gibson guaranteed. “What you see in us is what you get. I’d rather repeat myself three times than be misunderstood. We like to have fun, we like to enjoy life.”

The Charity Baptist Church’s service times include: Sunday school at 9:30 a.m., morning worship at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday evening service at 6:00 p.m. The church’s kick-off Sunday service is May 23 and the Jordan Family, who are Southern gospel singers, will be playing. Gibson said all who attend their kick-off service will receive a Jordan Family CD.

When regular services begin, Gibson said the church will have traditional Baptist services complete with a piano and singers.

Charity Baptist Church is located on HWY 14 Bypass at 1162 Veteran’s Memorial Drive next to Magic Nails.