The Valence Street Baptist Church was donated to a local congregation.
NEW ORLEANS — After sitting empty for a decade, a historic church on Magazine Street is now under new ownership.
NOLA Baptist Church currently worships in a leased warehouse on Tchoupitoulas Street. It has had its sights set on the Magazine Street church for a while. Members even joked that “maybe someone will buy it, then one day donate it to us,” said Pastor Kyle Jagers with a laugh.
NOLA Baptist Church entered into an agreement to purchase the historic church with then-owner the New Orleans Baptist Association. They began fundraising, then one day in early 2022, Jagers got an email from the nationwide craft store chain Hobby Lobby.
The company, which openly supports faith-based organizations, was offering to buy the church then lease it to NOLA Baptist. After a certain amount of time, the company said it would …