LAFAYETTE — The Bayou Church in Lafayette and First Baptist Lafayette will host two important training events dealing with the flooding.
The Bayou Church will host its training tonight, Aug. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. while First Lafayette’s training event will be Wednesday evening. Both training events will be led by Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Disaster Relief.
Volunteers will learn how to properly and safely assist with flood relief efforts in homes. All volunteers must be at least 14 years old.
“Please share the word and join us tonight,” the Bayou Church wrote on its Facebook page. “Together, we can help our community.”
Pastor Mike Walker said churches needed to seize upon this event to minister to the community. “This is a magnificent opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a hurting community and literally see lives transformed.
“We prepared for this event five months ago as we did a teaching series on Generosity,” Walker continued. “We received a special offering to give generously to five non-profits in Lafayette and Haiti and one of the five was for Disaster Relief.
“We wanted to be poised to serve people promptly without worrying about asking for donations when a crisis occurred,” said Walker. “Since we had prepared our funding beforehand we have been able to provide immediate ministry assistance as this disaster has unfolded.”
Debris is piled in the yard of a Lafayette home. Dustin Lee photo
The Bayou Church has been quick to offer assistance.
“No one church does everything well,” said Walker. “Each church has specific things they excel in when it comes to doing effective ministry. When it comes to disaster relief The Bayou Church has been able to flex its spiritual muscle in Acadiana in marvelous ways.
“The membership always rises to the occasion with service, donations, boots on the ground, generosity and simply loving on hurting people. We offer assistance for physical needs and we offer hope with God’s love,” he continued. “As a pastor it is thrilling to see your members give of themselves tirelessly.
“The Bayou Church members “get it.” They understand and live the principle: service not serve us,” said Walker. “Coming together in a disaster builds teamwork, camaraderie and opportunities to live our mission: Transforming Lives In Acadiana Through Christ Centered Relationships.”
For more information on how to volunteer, go to http://thebayouchurch.org/acadianadisasterrelief.
Those needing assistance can pick up supplies such as canned goods, clothing, cleaning supplies, baby items and dry goods in the church’s kids ministry area from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, to Friday, Aug. 19. The church also is accepting those items for drop-off there.
First Lafayette Pastor Steve Horn said his church also is in ‘relief mode’ and will hold training Wednesday evening at 6.
“We have approximately 50 families who are church members and one staff member who have been displaced from their homes that we know of at this time,” Horn continued. “That number will grow as we contact those in the areas we know to have flooded.
“We are pretty well focused on this right now,” said Horn. “We are organizing teams within our church body to go and help these families. We are not actively soliciting donated items at present, but that might change.”
Important words were left behind on the floor of a flooded home in Lafayette. Dustin Lee photo
Horn said storage was an issue.
“A few churches around the state and one outside the state have notified us they will be sending money directly to us in the near future to assist with recovery efforts,” said Horn.
Like the Bayou Church, Celebration Church in Metairie already has an established Disaster Relief team for its members to give money, donate supplies and volunteer. The church also plans to post updates on disaster relief operations at https://www.facebook.com/celebrationchurchcentral.
“We know what it feels like here in New Orleans,” Pastor Dennis Watson said on a video on the church’s Facebook page. “Just like people came to help us, we want to rise up to help those who have experienced so much damage to their homes and to their lives in this recent flooding.”
