In the year 1914, Mary Richey was visiting her brother in Bannister, LA and heard about a revival taking place in LeBlanc, LA. Rev. Bennie Baggett was the evangelist for the meeting and God was doing a great work. Letters were sent to James Hagar, Ira Cooley and William Hodges inquiring about inviting Rev. Baggett to the Bear community for revival. Mr. Hodges offered to allow the tent to be put on his land and the first service was held on January 9, 1915. There were 67 souls that receive the gift of the Holy Ghost in the first revival, the very first being Mary Richey's mother, Elizabeth Richey and the youngest was Madge Cooley at the age of 10 or 11. Bro. Hodges donated an acre of land to the church and Bear Church was started in February of 1915. Bear Church is believed to be the first established Pentecostal facility in the state. 

 

The church was named Bear Pentecostal Church, after the local post office. As it was told to us, Joe Barrow was the mail carrier and the community would pronounce his name "Bear" and the rest is history. You can still see the Bear on the sign and the name continues to hold a certain nostalgia because of the hundreds of souls that were transformed on the altars of a little church called Bear. 

 

Rev. Baggett was the first pastor and the first deacons were James Jefferson Burnett, Gillespie Havens, Bud Cooley, and Frank Hodges. The first church was a plain, unpainted board and battered building with hand-made pews, kerosene lighting and a pot-bellied stove for heat. They even had a quilt on the platform that was used as a baby bed. 

 

In 1940, Rev. Charlie McKeithen continued the legacy of holding a 6-week revival in early 1940 with an evangelist named Rev. A. W. Sassman, where 50 received the gift of the Holy Ghost. They would hold baptismal services in the local ponds and creeks. In 1945, Rev. McKeithern resigned and Rev. A.W. Sassman agreed to take his place as Pastor and the fire continued. Rev. Sassman established a Sunday School department in 1945 and for the next 30 years Bro. Sassman and a host of other men continued the work of God, including the construction of the second church building in 1954. 

 

On September 3, 1977, Rev. Tommy Magee was elected Pastor of Bear Church. Under his leadership, the parsonage was constructed, the name was changed to Ragley First Pentecostal Church and in 1980 construction was started on our current facility. The first service was held on November 22, 1987. 

 

On August 12, 1997, Rev. Marcus Robinson assumed the torch and under his leadership, the old fellowship hall was torn down and the current facility was completed. This facility includes a commercial kitchen, an evangelist quarters, a game room, a meeting room, and a multi-purpose room. 

 

On March 8, 2005, Rev. John Donahue was elected Pastor. Hurricane Rita hit Southwest Louisiana later that year and Rev. Donahue oversaw the renovations and upgrades we enjoy in our church today. When Rev. Donahue's mission was complete, he resigned in 2007. Rev. C.E. Cooley served as an interim pastor until Rev. Sean Chisholm was elected Pastor on December 19, 2007. Rev. Chisholm and his wife continue to serve the wonderful people of our community.