Resurrection Sunday symbolizes a new life and beginning for Rose Hill Church.
The historic Baton Rouge church will hold the ribbon-cutting ceremony in its new home at 3213 Groom Road in Baker with services at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Easter Sunday, March 31.
"We talk about our risen savior and we talk a lot about new birth," said Danny Donaldson, pastor of Rose Hill. "As believers, this is like a new birth for our ministry. So it happening on Easter Sunday is significant in that regard."
Rose Hill is relocating from 3765 N. Acadian Thruway to the Groom Road site, which was previously the home of First Baptist Church of Baker.
"It puts us right in the middle of Baker, where we feel like we can make an impact," Donaldson said.
The move is a testament to the dynamic church's ability to attract new members and its positive impact on the community. Services can be found on local TV and radio, Facebook and YouTube.
"We had actually outgrown the property we had there," said Donaldson, 51, who has been the church's pastor for about 20 years. "We didn't start to be a big ministry. We just started to be impactful. And the more impactful they became, the larger we grew. When you look back 20 years and see what God has done, it's amazing. ...Our goal is to help as many people as we possibly can in every area of life — spiritually, physically, financially, emotionally, relationally."
In the move, Rose Hill is going from an 11,000-square-foot facility to about 46,000 square feet.
"This just gives us an opportunity to bring everybody together in one space and accommodate everyone. It really is a win-win situation for everyone," Donaldson said.
Rosehill started the process of purchasing the building about a year ago, Donaldson said. Large LED screens and chair seating are part of the extensive renovations.
"It's really been a ground-up restoration," he said. "It's been very tedious but a labor of love. The church had great bones, but we just wanted to modernize it a bit and update it for the way we worship and be able to reach a multitude of different people — reach these younger people as well as the older generation and have things in here that minister to every age group.
Rose Hill had originally planned to build a new church after purchasing a 61-acre lot elsewhere in Baker in 2018. Donaldson said the church still plans to develop the lot into something that will serve the community and also sell the North Acadian building.
"We didn't want to leave the area (around North Acadiana) initially," Donaldson said. "If I could have found something there to accommodate us, I would have. But this (Groom Road) property presented itself, and everything worked out the way it was supposed to work. So that's why we're here. Sometimes, you don't know where you might up end. You have to be obedient and hear God's voice."
Donaldson heard the voice of God calling him into ministry 24 years ago as a lifelong member of Rose Hill, which was founded in 1882 and incorporated in 1953. He was elected pastor following the death of the Rev. Samuel Campbell in 2004.
"I've had the opportunity to pastor my parents and people who raised me and helped rear me. So pastoring this church has meant a lot to me," said Donaldson, who earned his graduate and undergraduate degrees from Southern University. "I'm deeply rooted in this church and my family is. So it's been wonderful to stand on the shoulders of my dad and all those who worked so hard to make sure Rose Hill was around for our generation. So we're working to make sure Rose Hill is around for the next generation."
For more information, go to www.rosehillchurch.org or call (225) 465-5711.