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Tharpe invited Shreveport [[Mayor]] Clyde Fant, a [[Democrat]], to the dedication of the santuary building of Shreveport Tabernacle. In his memoirs, Tharpe referred to Fant, a Southern Baptist, as "a remarkable person and instrumental in helping us in so many ways. . . . He was such a great mayor and did a lot for the church to make the dedication day possible."<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 58-59</ref>

Tharpe invited Shreveport [[Mayor]] Clyde Fant, a [[Democrat]], to the dedication of the santuary building of Shreveport Tabernacle. In his memoirs, Tharpe referred to Fant, a Southern Baptist, as "a remarkable person and instrumental in helping us in so many ways. . . . He was such a great mayor and did a lot for the church to make the dedication day possible."<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 58-59</ref>

Tharpe gives special consideration to two [[Episcopal]]ians who aided the ministry. Shreveport attorney George Whitfield Jack, Jr. (1906 - deceased), himself the son of a former [[U.S. District Judge]] and the brother of the late Louisiana State Representative Wellborn Jack, flew to [[Washington, D.C.]], just prior to [[Christmas]] on one occasion to represent Baptist Tabernacle before the [[Securities and Exchange Commission]], which was investigating the sale of church bonds. A government administrator in Fort Worth, Texas, had told Tharpe that the church had two weeks before it must declare bankruptcy, but Jack's trip quickly resolved the matter.<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 71-74</ref>

Tharpe gives special consideration to two [[Episcopal]]ians who aided the ministry. Shreveport attorney George Whitfield Jack, Jr. (1906 - deceased), himself the son of a former federal judge and the brother of the late Louisiana State Representative Wellborn Jack, flew to [[Washington, D.C.]], just prior to [[Christmas]] on one occasion to represent Baptist Tabernacle before the [[Securities and Exchange Commission]], which was investigating the sale of church bonds. A government administrator in Fort Worth, Texas, had told Tharpe that the church had two weeks before it must declare bankruptcy, but Jack's trip quickly resolved the matter.<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 71-74</ref>

Tharpe also developed a close friendship with [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Governor]] Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr., whom Tharpe supported in the 1995 jungle primary before Foster began to emerge as the leading candidate. The Episcopalian Foster invited Tharpe to lead the [[prayer]] at Foster's [[inauguration]] ceremony. The Tharpes stayed overnight in the Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge, and he delivered a [[Bible]] study at a prayer breakfast. Foster later invited the pastor to join him on a duck hunting trip in [[South Louisiana]]. Tharpe presented Foster with an honorary degree from LBU. Earlier, Tharpe had accorded such honors to former Republican Governor [[David C. Treen]].<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 91-92, 112-113.</ref>

Tharpe also developed a close friendship with [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Governor]] [[Mike Foster|Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.]], whom Tharpe supported in the 1995 jungle primary before Foster began to emerge as the leading candidate. The Episcopalian Foster invited Tharpe to lead the [[prayer]] at Foster's [[inauguration]] ceremony. The Tharpes stayed overnight in the Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge, and he delivered a [[Bible]] study at a prayer breakfast. Foster later invited the pastor to join him on a duck hunting trip in South Louisiana. Tharpe presented Foster with an honorary degree from LBU. Earlier, Tharpe had accorded such honors to former Republican Governor [[David C. Treen]].<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 91-92, 112-113.</ref>

Others listed as "Friends of the Ministry" are the late [[Jerry Falwell]] of [[Liberty University]] in Lynchburg, [[Virginia]], [[Lee Roberson]], the founder of Tennessee Temple University, Falwell mentor [[B.R. Lakin]], and [[R.G. Lee]] of [[Bellevue Baptist Church]] in Memphis, Tennessee. Two [[Western (genre)|Western]] [[film]] stars, Lash La Rue (1917-1996) and [[Dale Robertson]], best known for his old [[television series]] ''Tales of Wells Fargo'', are also mentioned in Tharpe's memoirs. Tharpe declared "Lash La Rue" day at Baptist Tabernacle and baptized the Louisiana-born actor, who had already declared his belief in Jesus Christ.<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 74-76, 86-87, 115</ref> Missionary Baptist policy restricts formal pulpit speaker to members of that denomination, but Tharpe said that he felt he should offer access to any traditional believer in the Gospel regardless of denominational ties.<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 53-54</ref>

Others listed as "Friends of the Ministry" are the late [[Jerry Falwell]] of [[Liberty University]] in Lynchburg, [[Virginia]], [[Lee Roberson]], the founder of Tennessee Temple University, Falwell mentor [[B.R. Lakin]], and [[R.G. Lee]] of [[Bellevue Baptist Church]] in Memphis, Tennessee. Two [[Western (genre)|Western]] [[film]] stars, Lash La Rue (1917-1996) and [[Dale Robertson]], best known for his old [[television series]] ''Tales of Wells Fargo'', are also mentioned in Tharpe's memoirs. Tharpe declared "Lash La Rue" day at Baptist Tabernacle and baptized the Louisiana-born actor, who had already declared his belief in Jesus Christ.<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 74-76, 86-87, 115</ref> Missionary Baptist policy restricts formal pulpit speaker to members of that denomination, but Tharpe said that he felt he should offer access to any traditional believer in the Gospel regardless of denominational ties.<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 53-54</ref>