The Rev. J.L. Franklin is leaving Lake Charles to return to Oklahoma after 15 years as pastor at Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Fellowship Church.

Franklin said he originally came to Lake Charles to organize a new church and that he will miss Bethel Metropolitan Baptist, the community and the food.

“There are some wonderful people here, and I have had wonderful experiences,” he said. “I’m going to miss everything about Bethel and Lake Charles. The people here were all a jewel to me.”

Franklin said he played various key roles in making a difference in local politics and civil rights and in education with the support of his congregation.

“I always had their support, and I’m really going to miss that,” he said. “They are my family, and I just can’t explain how wonderful those people are and how grateful I am of all the support they have given me.”

Franklin served on the School Board and said he took on several issues.

“I didn’t think the school system was being fair to all children, and I wanted to make sure all our schools were up to par and that children were getting the education they deserve,” he said. “I was just being the voice for the voiceless, and some people counted on that.”

Franklin said people knew that his heart was in the right place for the issues that he took on in the community. “Sometimes, I made people uncomfortable and not everyone saw things the same way I saw them, but I think they knew I was trying to make a difference and that a difference was made,” he said.

“I stood up for a lot of tough issues that weren’t popular. I stood for what I thought was right, and I am thankful to have been a part of those things.”

Franklin said he also stood up for justice during the Wilbert Rideau trial.

“I wanted to make sure justice was done,” he said. “I have had friends in every color who are appreciative of some of the things I have accomplished and tried to do, and respected me for standing up for what I believed in.

“I just wanted to make sure the playing field was level, and I was never afraid to voice that.”

Taking Franklin’s place at Bethel Metropolitan Baptist is Clyde Lewis from Tampa, Fla.

“I have been helping the new pastor transition,” Franklin said. “He is a wonderful gentleman.”

Franklin said he will be leaving the church in the next month.