By Message Staff
LORANGER – A fire Monday, April 23, destroyed the maintenance building at Camp Living Waters in Loranger, but camp staff are thankful no one was injured.
Camp Director Scott Mercer told the Baptist Message the fire, believed to be electrical, started around 1 p.m. Monday. Responding to the fire was the Loranger and 8th Ward Volunteer Fire Departments. A total of 14 firemen from six trucks battled the blaze until it was extinguished.
Among the most expensive items lost in the fire were a tractor, two zero turn lawn mowers and golf cart, worth more than $60,000. The fire also destroyed Mercer’s personal camper.
He is waiting to find out what items insurance will cover.
“Prayer is the beginning of the process as we wait to hear from insurance,” Mercer said. “Then people can begin to pray for us as we recuperate our losses and rebuild. Pray for wisdom of where to start and how we can do this process in a way that honors and glorifies our Lord.
Two fire companies, 14 firemen and six trucks were needed to battle the blaze, which was believed to have been electrical.
“When you think of the shop it’s not just a building,” he continued. “It is the contents of the building that takes its toll.
“So our immediate needs will be for those bigger items,” he continued. “Grass doesn’t stop growing and camp season is just a few weeks away.”
Lonnie Wascom, director of missions for Northshore Baptist Association, said whenever churches in his association have faced challenges such as hurricanes, floods and tornadoes, Christians have rallied to support those impacted by disaster. He expects the same to happen with Camp Living Waters, which is owned by Northshore, Eastern Louisiana, Two Rivers, Washington and New Orleans Baptist Associations.
“The associations are calling on their churches to pray and to consider ways they can help this camp through this time of difficulty,” Wascom said. “We encourage our Baptist brothers and sisters throughout the state to remember us in prayer, particularly our director Scott Mercer and his staff.”
Even though the fire damaged much of the camp’s equipment, Mercer is hopeful for how the Lord will provide in the days ahead.
“When we face these types of obstacles we can only set back to see what God is about to do,” Mercer said. “The working of His mighty hand is the only thing we can draw strength from.”
Anyone wanting to donate to Camp Living Waters should send money to 21230 Living Waters Road, Loranger LA 70446.
