The Bishop

"THE BISHOP"

What was the new thing with the "Bishop"? At first they were called "Preachers" and "Reverands". This new age thing just didn't feel right, what about the old school religion when we went to church and sat there talking, hoping momma wouldn't hear us and her giving us pepermints to keep us quiet. What about when we sat in the same area as the adults and wasn't placed in a area way above the choir stand so we couldn't disturb the congregation. Why were things so different? What's up with the "Bishop"?

First Orleans Missionary Baptist Church was one of the bigest churches in New Orleans, with as many members as 1000 at a time. Bishop Darren Bolden was the residing Bishop for the past 10 years with the first lady being his wife, Mrs. Gladys Bolden. Bishop Bolden and his wife bore two children, Lil Darren who was 23 years old and Nia who was 20 years old. They lived on the East side of town in a beautiful 5 bedroom home with a built in pool in the back yard and a guess house directly behind it. They drove top of the line cars and ate at he best restaurants in town. Everywhere they went they were recognized,from Bullard to Esplanade, from Downtown to Uptown. But this family would soon be torn apart because of the man that forgot where he came from and didn't know where he was going, the "Bishop"

It had been ten long years since First Orleans Baptist Church had opened it's doors. The church began with twenty members, four being the Bolden family and the other sixteen being family members from both sides. It started in a small garage on the corner that used to be Luther's Auto Shop. Luther became ill and passed a year earlier and the shop was sold for property taxes, which was great for Pastor Bolden, he had to start somewhere. They sang and praised God every Sunday,