The Temple of New Life Baptist Church was born out of adversity. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina- the most devastating hurricane to ever hit the United States of America- hit New Orleans, Louisiana and surrounding areas. This hurricane unleashed her fury all across the Gulf Coast, causing many residents to evacuate. The day after Hurricane Katrina hit the city of New Orleans, La. the levies of New Orleans began to breach. The flooding was devastating, destructive, and deadly. The entire lower 9th ward, New Orleans East and many other areas were completely destroyed. Pastor E.J. Scott led three New Orleans based ministries- Shiloh Christian Fellowship Baptist Church, Shiloh Christian Fellowship Economic Development Foundation, the "Bread of Life Baptist Mission" and Spreading the Gospel Around the World Ministries / E. J. Scott Ministries, L.L.C.- which were all destroyed. Subsequently, he and his family evacuated to Lancaster, Texas. On September 1, 2005 God woke Pastor Scott up and told him to start a church. He asked the Lord where, and the Lord told him to start it where he was.

Pastor Scott called Wayne Jenkins the Director of Evangelism for the Louisiana Baptist Convention who put him in contact with Dr. Roosevelt Broach, Jr. who was the Director of Church Planting/Development for the Dallas Baptist Association. The Gaston Oaks Baptist Church was looking for a pastor from the New Orleans area to assist. Gaston Oaks offered their church and a house to Pastor Scott. On October 2, 2005 The Temple of new Life Baptist Church had its first service at The Gaston Oaks Baptist Church which was located at 8515 Greenville Ave., Dallas, Texas 75243. There were 14 people present. After a thirty-minute Bible Class, a unanimous vote was taken to establish The Temple of New Life Baptist Church, accepting E. J. Scott as pastor. God has blessed our North Location to grow!

Yet 1 year and 9 months later, on June 3, 2007 God has increased The Temple of New Life Baptist Church and given us favor by opening up a south location at the Houston Elementary School, located at 2929 Marquis Lane; Lancaster, TX. 75146. Praise the Lord! We are back where God originally told us to start a church on September 1, 2005. We believe that this is a supernatural move of God, and God will not be denied.

We thank God for Dr. Helena J. Mosely, Principal of the Houston Elementary School. Dr. Mosely, whether knowingly or unknowingly, is being directed by God to carry out his plan that has been in place even from the beginning of the world. Eph 1:11 TLB "Moreover, because of what Christ has done, we have become gifts to God that he delights in, for as part of God's sovereign plan we were chosen from the beginning to be his, and all things happen just as he decided long ago." We thank God for choosing and using us to reach the City of Lancaster, TX and The Dallas Metro Area with the Gospel of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

On July 19, 2007 we got a notice from the insurance company that had the insurance policy covering us at the Houston Elementary School that the policy was canceled. July 15, 2007 was our last Sunday ay the Houston Elementary School. We decided to concentrate solely on building our north location at 8515 Greenville, Ave.

On September 1, 2008 Hurricane Gustav hit New Orleans. Over 2 million people evacuated. On September 13, 2008 Hurricane Ike hit Louisiana and Texas. Pastor Scott began to relive the horrible plight of the people of God when Hurricane Katrina launched it’s fiery. He revisited the streets of New Orleans, and witnessed first hand the blight and devastation that was still imminent even after 3 years. He felt the tugging of the Holy Spirit telling him to return and help rebuild New Orleans.  

On October 5, 2008, “The Temple of New Life Baptist Church” celebrated its 3rd year Anniversary. Pastor Scott informed “The Temple of New Life Baptist Church” in Dallas, TX that God was calling him to return to New Orleans to help rebuild the city. On November 9, 2008, “The Temple of New Life Baptist Church” of New Orleans, La. had its 1st Service in Pastor Edward J. and Sis. Denean Scotts’ home with twelve (12) people in attendance. The great work of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ continues in New Orleans, La.

January 4, 2009, the Temple of New Life had grown too large to continue to meet at Pastor and Sis. Dee’s house, so after talking with Dr. David Crosby, the pastor of the 1st Baptist Church of New Orleans, they started holding services in the fellowship hall of 1st Baptist Church on January 4, 2009. The work increased and the congregation grew. But, after 5 months, the attendance began to decline. Pastor Scott consulted with Bro. Freddie Arnold of the New Orleans Baptist Association (NOBA) and Dr. Wayne Jenkins, the Director of Evangelism for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, and they advised him to leave 1st Baptist Church and to go to the Central City area in New Orleans around the “Taylor Park”. They told him that this is the area that he is supposed to be in. On June 14, 2009, the Temple of New Life had it’s 1st Service in a parking lot of a blighted building located at 2300 South Galvez St. God blessed the work there because in a two (2) year period of time over two hundred fifty (250) people responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, because the “Temple of New Life” was outside in the cold, rain, heat, snow, and all kinds of weather, the attendance was sporadic. Many construction experts from the Louisiana Baptist Convention and elsewhere came in to give estimates concerning the purchase of 2300 South Galvez St. and it was determined that it would cost over $500,000 to purchase and renovate that building. It was also determined that it would be unwise to make that kind of investment at that time in that area. 

We searched and searched and found a shopping center on Bullard Ave. and Morrison Road. The church went out there to look at the building. The church fasted and prayed and voted the following Sunday, 4/17/11, unanimously against moving to that building. The members found another building at 8480 Morrison Road, one block off of Crowder Blvd. The church voted unanimously the next Sunday, 5/1/11, to move to 8480 Morrison Road. We set the opening date for June 19, 2011, Father’s Day at 9 a.m. 

On June 1, 2011, the Temple of New Life Baptist Church (TONLBC) had its 1st Intercessory Prayer & Bible Class and Planning Meeting on June 1, 2011!

On Father’s Day, June 19, 2011, TONLBC had its 1st Sunday Service. There were twenty-nine (29) people present, and at the invitation to discipleship one person responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sister Erin Reynolds became the first candidate for baptism.

NOLA.com - The Times-Picayune - Complete Picayunes Index - New Orleans Picayunes

Thursday, January 07, 2010 
Marilyn Stewart
The Temple of New Life Baptist Church, 2300 S. Galvez St., began in the Dallas area after Hurricane Katrina and moved to Central City a year ago to begin a unique ministry under the leadership of the Rev. Ed Scott. 

The church holds outdoor Sunday services at South Galvez Street and Jackson Avenue at 11:30 a.m. Barbecue is served Wednesdays during 6 p.m. worship services at nearby Taylor Park, between Third Street and Washington Avenue. 

Portable tables, chairs and sound equipment are used. A partnership with First Baptist Church of New Orleans and its city-care ministry, The Care Effect, provides food, volunteers and resources for the midweek service. 

Scott said his involvement with the Taylor Park Booster Club and the church's meal provisions are intended to rebuild the community and fight hunger. 

"My goal is not just to start a church," Scott said. "My goal is to change a community." 

A lifelong New Orleanian, Scott was pastor of Shiloh Christian Fellowship Baptist Church before the storm. He has also been director of the Shiloh Christian Fellowship Economic Development Foundation and Bread of Life Baptist Mission and the Spreading the Gospel Around the World Ministries/E.J. Scott Ministries L.L.C. 

Scott said the storm forced the closing of his previous New Orleans ministries but opened new work in Dallas, where he fled from the storm. The new church formed in October 2005 under the sponsorship of Gaston Oaks Baptist Church and the Dallas Baptist Association. 

After learning of Central City's struggle to rebuild, Scott returned home three years later. Volunteers cleared the lot for the first Sunday service last summer. 

The Temple of New Life's Help Rebuild N.O. Corp.(renamed:Central City Community Development Corporation), a nonprofit ministry connected with the church, works to remove blight and provide activities for neighborhood youth. 
Scott said the program is planning basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading and dance camps, among other activities. 

For more information, e-mail e_j_scott@msn.com or call 504.460.4723.