The History of Cypress Baptist Church:
On September 3, 1977 a group of families met in the home of Glen and Dorothy Hunt in Benton to discuss organizing a new church. Elton Mitchell was moderator and Myrtice Cox was secretary-treasurer. By Thursday, September 8, the group had increased to 30 and met again and decided to have the first worship service on September 11, 1977. Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church was secured as a meeting place and 76 people were in worship service and 6 in the nursery for a total of 82 people.

This may have been the first time a Baptist Church was started in a Catholic Church. Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church insisted that the Baptist Church pay no rent or utilities and a great relationship developed between the churches.

On September 18, 1977 Sunday School was started with 70 members. There were 113 people in worship and Brother Elton Mitchell was elected as the first pastor. On November 30, 1977 the church charter was registered with the State of Louisiana with 115 members and Cypress Baptist Church became an official church. January 29, 1978 was a landmark day, with the purchase of land to secure a permanent home for the church and the church petitioned for membership with the Southern Baptist Convention on August 9, 1978 with a membership of 142 and on July 1, 1979 celebrated its new building with the first worship service in its own sanctuary.

The church continued its growth. Elton Mitchell resigned on April 4, 1982 and on June 1, 1982, Brother Billy Pierce became our second pastor. Brother Billy announced his retirement in June of 2001. On July 21,2002 the membership of Cypress Baptist Church voted to call Dr. Richard Young as the third pastor of the Cypress Baptist Church. Dr. Young resigned in October of 2005 and Brother Billy Pierce has returned as Interim Pastor while the church seeks God’s leadership and guidance for a new pastor.

The church has added a family life center, an educational building, a full service day care, and a 1200 seat worship center. God was obviously at work in the lives of those families in 1977 and continues to work now in 2007 as His church continues to enjoy His blessings.