The Ellerbe Road Methodist Church was organized on January 10, 1954 to provide services for an area south of Shreveport, active with dairy, cotton, cattle and pecan farms. Dr. B. C. Taylor, District Superintendent, appointed Alton O. Hancock, of Centenary College to serve as student pastor. Initial church services were held at the YMCA Camp Margaret on the Robson Road with thirty-eight charter members and three associate members.
Plans were made for construction on property purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Walter Richmond located at Ellerbe Church Road and East Pecan Street. This location was west of the historical 1836 Caddo Indian Agency site of pioneer days, and is now known as the Norton estate. On June 4, 1954, Webb D. Pomeroy, a bible instructor at Centenary College, was appointed pastor.
Ground breaking was held on Sunday, July 11, 1954 for the sanctuary and educational building. Officiating was Dr. B. C. Taylor, Webb D. Pomeroy, and Walter R. Jacobs, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Many members of the new church participated in the construction including Dr. Pomeroy, who refinished pews. Ellerbe Road Methodist Church was occupied on January 2, 1955 with a membership of fifty members. A special Service of Thanksgiving was held on April 24, 1955. The crowd was so large the sanctuary could not seat all of the members and visitors attending the service.
The church indebtedness was paid in 1960 with a Service of Dedication held on September 25th with Bishop A. G. Walton. Dr. Jolly B. Harper, District Superintendent, and Dr. Webb D. Pomeroy officiating. The membership at that time was seventy-three. During Dr. Pomeroy’s ministry, a wing was added to the church building which became the fellowship hall, kitchen and elementary children’s classroom.
Dr. Benedict A. Galloway, a retired minister, became pastor on June 1, 1983. A New Orleans native and talented leader, Dr. Galloway conducted services as larger churches would, and he also reorganized children’s Sunday school with the aid of the younger women in the church. He also made significant changes to the physical structure of the church. Membership in the church began and in February 1984 membership was 105. Rev. James A. Van Hook, Jr. became pastor in September 1988 and oversaw extensive remodeling of church including new English medieval styled stained-glass windows designed by Jay and Jane Ann Jones.
Rev. Brian Barron was pastor from June 21, 1998 to February 22, 2000, when Dr. Donald Webb became the interim pastor for the church. A one time British Navy sea captain, he was president of Centenary College. Rev. Ben Santana was pastor from June 22, 2000 to February 25, 2001. On June 17, 2001, Rev. Judy Bazer became the current pastor. Her husband David was also a pastor.
In 2003, under the leadership of Ansil “Buddy” Stroud, the new Huffman Fellowship building was added to the church. A new remodeled kitchen, choir, and Sunday school room was completed plus a new English lawn bowling course for recreation.
In 2004, a United Methodist Men unit was organized. Membership currently stands at 165 and growing!