The Staff at Tioga Independent Baptist Church:
Joseph Sharp - Senior Pastor
Former pastor of Airbase Road Baptist Church for over thirty-nine years, Dr. Joseph Sharp is now the pastor of Tioga Independent Baptist Church. Joseph Sharp was moved by God, to Alexandria, Louisiana, in 1968 to establish the church, [Airbase] which worked with GI's stationed at England AFB, as well as civilians that lived in the area. There have been thousands that have come and go through the church, and thousands came to know Christ as personal savior there.
Many of the young men and ladies who've served in the church have surrendered to full time Christian service, gone on to Bible College, and are serving as pastors, missionaries, Christian school teachers, and full time church workers. At one time there were over twenty students from Airbase Road Baptist Church in Bible College.
Brother Sharp has a bachelor's degree from Bible Baptist Seminary in Arlington. Texas, as well as a master's degree and a PhD in biblical studies and a PhD in biblical counseling from Louisiana Baptist University in Shreveport, Louisiana.
He was pastor of the church and administrator of Airbase Baptist School. He taught an extension of Baptist Christian College in the church for twenty-five years. God as richly blessed his ministry since he surrendered to preach in June of 1963.
He retired in March of 2007 after preaching a total of forty-four years. After retiring he pastored at Gloryland Baptist Church in interim, then spent four and a half years pastoring Gospel Light Baptist church in Pineville. He then moved on to pastor Anchor Baptist church in Tioga. He was then led by God to start a new church ... Tioga Independent Baptist Church ... in 2010, which leads him to a total of fifty-three consistent years of preaching the word of God.
Brother Sharp has written four years of Bible College curriculum covering the entire KJV Bible, pastor-related resources, and his newest book called "Let's Preach the Christmas Story - 91 Sermons on Christmas." Which can be purchased here.
Email Brother Sharp.
Chris Worth - Pastor
Pastor Christopher Worth and his wife Anna both grew up near Rigolette in Central Louisiana. Christopher is in the son of Keith and Linda Sue Worth of Ball,LA. Anna is the daughter of Don and Marilyn Eyer of Pineville. Together, they have 5 children, Abby 11, Adelyn 5, Asher 2, and Abel, 2 months, as well as one child who was called home to Heaven.
Christopher graduated from Tioga High school and East Tennessee State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religious Studies. He is currently employed at the Rapides Parish School Board office as the truancy officer. Chris has been in the ministry for 20 years. He has pastored Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Temple Missionary Baptist Church and has been a Baptist Missionary since 2008. His greatest joy is to preach the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in accordance with II Timothy 4:2. To feed the flock through the vocation of preacher, counselor and administrator. He values spreading the Word of God to those who have strayed away from the faith or have found themselves lost; assisting those who live with very little resources or educating those who have not yet been exposed to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.
Email Brother Worth.
Joshua & Leigh Anne White - Associate Pastor & Wife
Joshua & Leigh Anne White have been members of TIBC since May of 2015 and started teaching the Youth Department in September of 2015. Leigh Anne White has been saved since the age of five. Joshua White has been saved since the age of ten.
Joshua became our Associate Pastor in the early months of 2019. He teaches the adult Sunday School Class and preaches on Wednesday night.
Joshua's favorite bible verse is Hebrews 11:1 ... "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Leigh Anne's favorite bible verse is Philippians 4:13 ... "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Email Joshua & Leigh Anne
Barbara Sharp - Lady's Bible Study/Piano
Joseph Lindell Sharp and I met at Boyce HS and then again at church. We started dating at the age of 14, by the time we were 18 years old, I knew we were going to get married. On November 29, 1957, we went to Fayette Mississippi and were married. Joseph Sharp and I have been married now for fifty-eight wonderful years, and I can honestly say I have been married to the love of my life.
In December of 1958, I had my first child, Joseph Lindell Sharp II, and a year later in December of 1959, we had our first daughter, Rhonda Sue Sharp. We served the Lord in Bethel Baptist church in Grapevine, Texas. While Joseph Sr. was attending Arlington Baptist College, we had our second daughter in July of 1961, Gayla Annette Sharp. Rhonda Sue is now Rhonda Sue Powell, Gayla Annette is now Gayla Annette Knight. Our son, Joseph Lindell, went to the lord in 2013.
Being both Christian, we started at a young age serving the Lord. When Joseph Sharp Sr. graduated from college he felt the Lord's call to return to Alexandria and start an Independent Baptist church in the area, and Airbase Road Baptist church was the result of that calling. We stayed there for thirty-nine years before we retired.
I attended Baptist Christian College in Shreveport, Louisiana, where I graduated with a degree in Christian Education. I taught in Airbase Christian School for twenty years before it closed in 2005. After retiring we went to Gloryland Baptist Church and preached as interim for a little over a year, then spent four and a half years pastoring Gospel Light Baptist church in Pineville. We are now at Tioga Independent Baptist Church where we have been since 2010.
I have played the piano or organ in all three places of worship. It is a talent that God has blessed me with, and will go to my grave blessing him with this talent. I have also taught a Ladies Bible Study for several years and have written articles for a Christian paper - The Christian Woman's World.
Email Mrs. Sharp.
Alfred Mercier - Music Director
I was saved in 1977 at Airbase Rd Baptist Church when Bro. Sharp led me to the Lord. I lead singing on Wednesday nights several years at Trinity BC. I have been leading music for Bro, Sharp since TIBC was founded. I also led music before we moved into this building when we met at the Anchor BC building.
I do whatever the pastor asks me to do. I join him on Thursday night visitation and I put up messages on the church sign. I am here for whatever the Lord wants me to do. My favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 40:31 ... "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Email Mr. Al Mercier.
Chris Kerns Eding - Choir Director/Church Clerk
My name is Chris Eding and I got saved a week before I was 12 years old in Longview, TX. I came back to Air Base Road Baptist Church and participated in the choir and youth bus ministry. Since then, I have participated in several churches and now I am at Tioga Independent Baptist Church since it was established in August of 2014.
I have been the church clerk from the beginning and in February 2015, I became the choir director. My favorite bible verse is Luke 1:37 ... "For with God nothing shall be impossible."
Email Mrs. Eding.
Howard Callen - Children's Ministry
During a revival at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Harlingen Texas, I accepted Christ as personal savior at the age of six. I lead the song service for my father until I entered the Air Force in 1971. When I was stationed at England AFB, I meet my wife Doris, and we married in 1972. I have been with TIBC since it was founded.
In 1980 while attending Community Baptist Church, I surrendered to the Lord's calling to work in children's church and ministries. I have had the privilege of starting and serving in children's worship in Alexandria/Pineville, LA, Boxelders, SD, San Antonio, TX, Comiso Italy, and Warner Robins, GA. I have had the honor and privilage to lead hundreds of children to the lord over the years.
Email Mr. Callen.
Frank Racina - Audio Visual Director/Event Planner/Website Designer
I have been going to Tioga Independent Baptist since its conception in August of 2014. I have been involved in the youth department, the TIBC choir, and I am currently in charge of the Audio/Visual Department and the church's Webmaster.
I have twenty-six years experience in the website design field, ten years experience in the dj (disc jokey) field, and five years experience in the A/V field.
My favorite bible verse is from 1 Corinthians 1:9 ... "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."
Email Frank Racina.
Craig Nelson - Junior Church
I have been going to Tioga Independent Baptist since its conception in August of 2014. I teach Sunday school, Junior Church, and I am a member of the choir.
I am a retired Army nurse that accepted Jesus as my Savior and Baptized in 2007 while attending Airbase Road Baptist Church.
At ABRBC I was a bus captian, commander of the boys and girls club (AWANA), Superintedent of Sunday School, Sunday School Teacher, choir member, and a Junior Church Pastor.
The Ministries at Tioga Independent Baptist Church:
Children's Ministry
Tioga Independent Baptist Church offers a children's ministry that caters to new borns in our nursery to school age kids up to the fifth grade in our Sunday school class and children's church services. We take pride in teaching our children right out of the King James Bible, at a level that they can understand. We go beyond teaching, as we attempt to show the children how they can apply the leasons that they learn to their lives.
Youth Ministry
Tioga Independent Baptist Church's youth department is conposed of youth that are in the sixth grade up to seniors in high school. Our goal is to be the next generation that is on fire for our Lord Jesus Christ, and will spread the word of God to the young and the old as we branch out into the world as adults.
Once a year we have the privilage to send our youth department to the Pot O Gold youth camp in Texas. The youth department has several fund raisers through out the year in order to raise the funds that they need to participate in this Christian experience.
Men's Bass Club Ministry
The Men's Bass Club is composed of several members from TIBC. We meet once a month on the first Sunday of the month. We fish the different lakes and rivers in the area, as a group and solo. We have fish frys, prayer meetings, and biggest fish contests.
The money that is collected from dues goes to support different missionaries around the world such as St. Judes and the Shrinners Hospital for Children in Shrevport. Come join us at our next meeting (see calendar) and see if you might want to join.
Women's Ministry
Taught by Mrs. Barbara Sharp, the women's ministry meets every Thursday at 10:00 in the Fellowship Hall - downstairs. The current series that is being taught is "The Fragrance of Beauty." Refreshments are served as the ladies of the church gather to learn more about God.
Transportation Ministry
Tioga Independent Baptist Church offers a Transportation Ministry that offers transportation to church on Sunday mornings as well as transportation home after the afternoon services are over. If you need transportation to church, please contact one of the following individuals:
Joseph Sharp (318) 704-6156
Frank Racina (318) 589-0817
You can also leave a comment on our contact form letting us know about your need for transportation, there is also a sign up sheet currently on the prayer table at church that you can also sign up with.
Pot O' Gold Youth Camp
Since 1966, the Pot O' Gold Ranch has been used of the Lord as a soul winning ministry with a missions goal of reaching young people and children with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Over 8,000 people have accepted Christ and God has called many pastors and missionaries, who are serving around the world, at the Pot O' Gold Ranch.
Today, the youth camp continues to provide the setting for church camps, retreats and outings. We host a variety of weeks with a different emphasis to assist churches in meeting the needs of their respective youth ministries.
Trustee Board
The Tioga Independent Baptist Church Board of Trustees consists of the following gentlemen: Julius Ashmore and Alfred Mercier