In 1882, sixteen churches met at Liberty Hill Baptist Church in Knowles, Louisiana, about three miles north of Grambling, to establish the Liberty Hill Baptist Association, an organization of churches in north-central Louisiana. The Association brought together nearly all the Baptist churches in Lincoln Parish, hundreds of people young and old, and provided valuable Christian education and support for the various congregations. As the flagship agency for Baptist churches in the area, it represented African Americans' efforts to organize institutions to provide their basic needs and form enclaves for their physical safety during one of the most difficult periods in their history. The political networking of North Louisiana churches made Grambling a focal point for area African Americans. Together with the North Louisiana Colored Agricultural Relief Association Union, also headquartered in Grambling, the Association helped to found the Allen Green Normal and Industrial Institute on this site in 1901, marking the beginning of Grambling State University. This involvement of a church-based organization reflects the historical importance of the Black church in the education of African Americans. Today, the Association continues to serve as a gathering place for community events and remains a stalwart symbol of African American spirituality, hope, and perseverance.