ABOUT

MISSION

The Apostolic Outreach Center of New Orleans is a church found upon the Word of God. Apostolic Outreach Center is committed to:

Discipling the Spirit-filled believers in a climate which encourages spiritual growth.

Evangelizing our community by winning the lost as declared in the Apostle’s doctrine.
Prayer and ministering help and healing to the hurting.

In short, Prayer is our Priority, Evangelism is our Passion; and Discipleship is our Purpose.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this church shall be to establish and maintain a place for the worship of God, for evangelism, ministry, discipleship, and fellowship.

MINISTRY – “To serve unselfishly in Jesus’ name, meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those in our church, community, and in the world.: (1 Peter 4:10-11)
EVANGELISM – “To share the good news of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible in our community and throughout the world.” (Matthew 28: 18-20; Acts 1:8; 2 Peter 3:9)
WORSHIP – “To participate in public worship services together and to maintain personal daily devotions” (John 4:24. Hebrews 10:25)

WHAT WE BELIEVE

The basic and fundamental doctrine of this Apostolic Outreach is the Bible standard of full salvation, which is repentance, baptism in water by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the initial sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.
We believe in the one ever-living, eternal God: infinite in power, holy in nature, attributes, and purpose; and possessing absolute, indivisible deity. This one true God has revealed Himself as Father, through His son, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation (1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; II Corinthians 5:19; Joel 2:28)
Godly living should characterize the life of every child of the Lord, and we should live according to the pattern and example given in the Word of God. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2: 11-12)

OUR CHURCH HISTORY

Rev. Daniel T. Brown, Founder/Pastor:
June 6, 1978 - August 29, 1982

Rev. John R. Cupit Pastor:
August 30, 1982 - December 15, 2003

Rev. Raymond R. Watson Jr. Pastor:
December 15, 2003-Present

It began in the year of 1978 when a member of the First Pentecostal Church, Bro.Daniel Brown met with a fellow employee of Delgado community college who was a deacon at a local church in New Orleans
Bro. Brown's Christian character, his knowledge of the Word of God, and his zeal to teach others evidently impressed his coworkers. His coworker's attention was focused on a small group of young people at the local church. Apparently, he reasoned that these excited and spiritually hungry people could benefit from the teaching of Bro. Brown. Soon it was arranged! Bro. Brown was invited to teach a "Search for Truth" Bible study at the local church.

Bro. Brown taught the Word of God every week. Since the beginning, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and the Spirit of God gave witness to the truth. As revelations unfolded, the class grew more intense. The students were stirred during the lesson on "water baptism". As the lesson ended Bro. Brown began to pack his bible and chart; they came forth with a cry, "Baptize us!" On April 3, 1987, ten souls from that group left the Bible study that night and followed Bro. Brown to the First Pentecostal Church. They were all baptized in water in the name of "Jesus Christ."

On June 6,1978, the first worship service of the First Pentecostal Outreach Mission located at 2131 Columbus St. was held under the pastorate of Rev. Daniel T. Brown. Later as Pastor Brown realized God's purpose and plan for this new assembly, as well as the need to adopt its own identity, the name was changed to "Apostolic Outreach Center."
Pastor Brown wasted little time organizing the new church and getting the members acclimated to their new environment. There were camp meetings and conferences, Foreign Missionaries, and ministers who came from far and near who preached dynamic messages and prayed many through to the Holy Ghost. On a typical Sunday between 5 to 10 were baptized in Jesus' name. Souls were ominous from different religious backgrounds, different races and culture groups.

Within a short period, the congregation grew from 20 to 150. Altars were used for seating, the men stood around the walls, and the children sat on the platform of the pulpit area. It was like Pentecost every Sunday. Some compared it to the "Upper Room" partly because of its upstairs location and partly because of the great outpouring of the Holy Ghost. There was a handmade sign hung on the wall that said it all:" In One Accord."

By 1981, it was time to move. Property was acquired at 3928 Clematis Ave. Renovations were made and the church moved into the building that had once served as a theater and later a skating ring. Pastor Brown made it very clear; this was only a temporary man lace for AOC. God's plan and his vision included much greater things to come. The power of God continued to fall on those in attendance. Many came just to witness God's presence for a moment but when they left, they had been transformed for a lifetime.
The year 1982 began a promising period in the life of the church. Attendance had doubled since moving into the location. It appeared the church was living a dream. The chemistry was right, the preaching was second to none, the choir was dynamic and prayer brought down the glory of God. The church was moving to higher heights.

On August 29, 1982, the Apostolic Outreach Center was forever hanged. The Lord in His Infinite wisdom, beckoned for the congregation's beloved pastor to come home. This was truly the test of all test, but the church withstood the storm. Despite difficult times, the church grew. The momentum allowed the church to double in attendance, now under the pastorate of Rev. John R. Cupit, who was Pastor Brown's pastor at the First Pentecostal Church. Pastor Cupit's promise was to keep the memory and the vision of Pastor Brown alive.
In March of 1983, Pastor Cupit brought Bro. Raymond Watson and Bro. Julius Ford on staff to assist him in a full-time capacity. Under Pastor Cupit's leadership, the AOC experienced phenomenal growth. Guided by Pastor Cupit's anointed ministry, the AOC not only witnessed but also participated in modern day "Apostolic" ministry with miracles, signs and wonders following the born-again believers. There were times when chairs were once again placed in the aisles. At one service, the count was 600 approximately in attendance. It was time to make plans for the next move. The church was to embark upon a period of transition and maturity.

In 1987 the AOC began a Capital Stewardship program with plans to relocate to its present location. A tract of land was acquired in Eastern New Orleans and construction began on a new state of the arts facility with Pastor Cupit as the project superintendent. The facility was started in the latter part of 1996 and completed in February 1999. The "little" church on Columbus St., with its humble beginnings, had become a great church etched into the landscape of Eastern New Orleans.

After 21 years as pastor of the Apostolic Outreach Center, Pastor Cupit felt it was time to pass the mantle of leadership. On December 15, 2003 Rev. Raymond R. Watson Jr. was installed by an overwhelming majority vote as the next pastor of the Apostolic Outreach Center where he and Lady Mary Watson still serves today. God had chosen Pastor Watson to continue and fulfill the vision of the great men of God gone on before him.

On August 29, 2005, Pastor Watson and the AOC would once again experience a devastating blow. Her name was Hurricane Katrina. This hurricane destroyed the New Orleans East facility located at 8358 Lake Forest Blvd. All the AOC members were dispersed across the Continental U.S.In October of that same year, the lord spoke to Pastor Watson to go back to New Orleans and begin the rebuild process. With the advice of some of the men from AOC, Pastor Watson guided the effort of raising the Apostolic Outreach Center from the ruins of Katrina's devastation. There was much frustration, many setbacks and heart aches from disappointment during this time however, in August of 2008 the AOC rededicated its facility to the work of the ministry and the fulfilment of its destiny.

Through the years, the lord has continued to bless and prosper the saints of the Apostolic Outreach Center. Several daughter churches have developed over the years throughout the Greater New Orleans area while other church plants were inspired by AOC in distant evangelistic fields of Urban America. Part of the vision of this great ministry called Apostolic Outreach Center is, to not only reach the New Orleans East area but also the whole city of New Orleans and beyond. With the help of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ this will be done because, PRAYER is our PRIORITY, EVANGELISM is our PASSION, DISCIPLESHIP is our PURPOSE!