There was a lot of celebrating going on in the White Acres community this past Sunday. Area residents could hear the music and the singing from the church building that had been empty and quiet for nearly 3 years. A new church, a new location and a new beginning is how Pastor Alexander White and the members of Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church see the old St. Andrew Church now. White and his fellow church members officially moved their startup church from a Magnolia location to the once vacant St. Andrews facility at 821 LaBranch Street in McComb over the past week, culminating the transfer with a joint afternoon worship service with the United Methodist Convention of Mississippi(UMC).

During his speech, Rev. John of the UMC welcomed the new congregation into the facility, which includes the main sancturary, offices, classrooms, a fellowship hall, a nursery, and separate grounds across the street with another building and a playground. After a lot of songs by the choir and the church band, the sermon by White was preceeded by a praise dance by the praise dance team. Whites and Blacks enjoyed a meal together after the service.