By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
BENTON, La. (LBM) – Cypress Baptist Church recently celebrated the grand opening of a new field house that will serve as place not only for fellowship and recreation but to plant Gospel seeds.
Dedicated on March 24, the 81,687-sq.-ft., named the 3:16 Field House, features two courts that can accommodate basketball, pickleball and volleyball competition; a 48-yard by 66-yard indoor turf field; and a mezzanine to hold spectators.
The church also will offer seasonal leagues and camps for a variety of sports and is available for local schools to use the facility year-round, including for non-sports community events.
The first event featured a 5K and 10K race, age-based egg hunts (kindergarten through fifth grade) and a sports skills competition as part of its Easter Family Day, March 30.
Cypress Baptist Recreation Pastor Brian Loe believes the facility will reach beyond the Shreveport-Bossier City area.
“This is bigger than just Shreveport-Bossier,” Loe told the Baptist Message. “I envision we will draw people from the Ark-La-Tex and impact those who don’t go to church but want to play basketball, flag football or another sport.
“This is a wonderful facility but it’s just a tool in the end,” he continued. “We have an opportunity to have a great facility that the community wants to use and when they come, we plant seeds for Christ.”
Pastor John Fream added the facility’s name is based on the promise Jesus has given all who believe in Him in John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.”
“Our prayer is to impact our community in a huge way for Christ through the use of this amazing tool the Lord has provided for us,” Fream said.
The dedication was part of a special Palm Sunday emphasis that included services featuring messages from Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Kirk Cousins and Haughton Evangelist Bill Britt, as well as a congressional recognition from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a member of Cypress Baptist. Eleven people turned to Christ during the services.
