Choice International ups outreach: Family Worship Center’s new complex offers low-cost office rentals
Published 12:20 am Monday, October 29, 2018
- Choice International Multipurpose Complex on Cambridge Drive will serve as a business hub for economic development in St. John the Baptist Parish by offering business startups rent they can afford.
LAPLACE — Motorists traveling down Cambridge Drive may notice the brick building that once housed Riverlands Skate Center and, most recently, LaPlace Skate Center, is now branded “Choice International Multipurpose Complex.”
The complex, an extension of Choice International Family Outreach Worship Center at 516 E. Airline Highway in LaPlace, will serve as a business hub for economic development in St. John the Baptist Parish, according to Bishop Dr. Antoine Jasmine.
Construction scheduled for a May completion will create rental space for approximately 10 to 20 lock-and-key office spaces.
Jasmine envisions 1005 Cambridge Drive as a center for St. John Parish residents to grow new businesses while they secure the financial resources necessary to move into larger office buildings.
Dr. Antoine Jasmine, Bishop of Choice International Family Outreach Worship Center in LaPlace, said a church should equip community members to help themselves and others.
As a St. John Parish resident of nearly 20 years, Jasmine has witnessed too many businesses succumb to high rental costs.
“I believe a church that is involved in its community is not only feeding the hungry,” Jasmine said.
“Our church angle is different because we understand that doesn’t represent everybody. We want to empower not only one group, but also the whole community, which includes health and wellness and economic development. With the economy now, it’s hard to rent a suite, so we want to decrease the incurred logistics and provide nurturing support for the businesses of this Parish.”
Jasmine said month-to-month rental costs would be affordable, based on what is feasible for the business owner, while Choice International covers utilities.
The main Choice International building is located at 516 E. Airline Highway in LaPlace and also houses The Right Choice Project and a kickboxing gym, located directly behind the complex.
He compared it to the proverb, “You give a poor man a fish and you feed him for a day. You teach him to fish and you give him an occupation that will feed him for a lifetime.”
“We’re giving people in the community the tools they need to help themselves and others,” Jasmine said. “It all encourages the mission of Jesus.”
Currently located at the left wing of the Airline Highway church building, The Right Choice Project will relocate to the Multipurpose Complex on Cambridge Drive in 2019, according to administrator Danis Walker.
Adilah Brodie is an active member of the Choice International team, which is expanding its mission to help small business owners in LaPlace.
The Right Choice Project is a nonprofit launched in December 2013 to provide HIV and AIDS awareness, free health screenings, counseling, contraception and youth leadership seminars to the River Parishes.
Jasmine said The Right Choice Project’s health services would likely be accompanied by real estate, childcare, men’s clothing lines, health consultant and cosmetology businesses in the new location.
Members are seen congregating at Choice International, a nondenominational church with services at 10:30 a.m. Sunday and 6:45 p.m. Wednesday and a prayer service at 7 p.m. Monday.
The Airline Highway building, which hosts church services at 10:30 a.m. Sunday and 6:45 p.m. Wednesday and a prayer service at 7 p.m. Monday, also serves the community with event rental services for wedding receptions and other occasions, according to Choice International Administrator Sabrina Joseph.
Directly behind the church building, there is a large Grind Time Boxing Gym aimed to keep community members active and healthy.
Joseph said the kickboxing gym has been open for approximately four years.
“There are classes going on all day,” Joseph said. “They make time for everybody.”
Choice International’s Grind Time Boxing Gym is aimed to keep community members active and healthy and routinely has classes in action.
According to Joseph, Choice International has been in LaPlace for approximately 10 years and in its current location since 2011.
She said Jasmine is a prophet of God known for his great accomplishments, including a Lifetime Achievement Award delivered by former President Barack Obama in 2016.
Jasmine never expected to become a bishop, but he said he’s always had the drive to see projects to a successful completion.
For more information on Choice International Multipurpose Complex rentals, call 985-651-7844.
