When Keith Manuel attended a Christmas program planning session on Friday, Aug. 26, 2005, little did he know how his life was about to change. By Jake Roudkovski Special to the Message NEW ORLEANS – When Keith Manuel attended a Christmas program planning session on Friday, Aug. 26, 2005, little did he know how his life was about to change. His first clue that challenging weather was ahead came came as he left the planning meeting. He noticed long lines at gas stations. The next day, Keith and his family became evacuees themselves. Their story was typical of many that fled the path of Hurricane Katrina. Initially the Mauuels stayed with strangers in Florida and Georgia. A week later they relocated to his mother’s home in Ocean Springs, Miss., when power was restored to her house. Although the city of New Orleans was closed to the public, Manuel secured a pass as a chaplain to enter the city. “The family wants a priest, but you will do,” a hospital official told him at West Jefferson Hospital. Pre-Katrina, about 370 people attended Sunday morning worship at Calvary. Post-Katrina, the adult education, youth building and office space were unusable, but the worship center sustained minimal damage. It was cleaned up by … [Read more...]

KENNER – Even before Hurricane Katrina made landfall, local and out-of-town law enforcement personnel were gathering at Troop B to be the first responders to what would be called the worst national disaster in United States history. KENNER – Even before Hurricane Katrina made landfall, local and out-of-town law enforcement personnel were gathering at Troop B to be the first responders to what would be called the worst national disaster in United States history. Across the street, members from Williams Boulevard Baptist Church were preparing to host the troopers. By Aug. 31, members of Williams Boulevard Baptist began feeding state troopers, city police and other law enforcement officers from throughout the nation. Designated as an ex-officio command center by the Louisiana State Police, the church offered use of its building for housing, showers and three meals a day through Nov. 24. While Troop B Captain Kenneth Curlee could not provide exact statistics, he said that hundreds of troopers were fed each day. “Volunteers from the church worked round the clock,” Curlee explained. “They were the ones who kept us going.” Deacon William Frame said though some of the members were busy repairing their homes, they scheduled … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – It was the day after Hurricane Katrina had devastated his city and Inman Houston was having trouble communicating with fellow staff and members at First Baptist Church of New Orleans. NEW ORLEANS – It was the day after Hurricane Katrina had devastated his city and Inman Houston was having trouble communicating with fellow staff and members at First Baptist Church of New Orleans. Since the city’s phone lines were down, Houston had only one way to contact members of his church – First Baptist’s web site. Besides prayer, it would be the glue that held the church together in the weeks following the storm. “That immediate loss of connecting with other church members and staff was a feeling of uncertainity,” explained Houston, associate pastor of community ministry and single adults. “It was hard to find out what happened to my good friends; I didn’t know if they were alive and well or dead. “There was such a desire and craving to learn of their whereabouts,” he continued. “Even though we weren’t able to physically be together at our building in New Orleans, our website helped our church stay in contact with one another.” In the days following Katrina, church members utilized First Baptist’s message … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – Being raised in church by wonderful Christian parents didn’t assure Tim Agee a place in heaven. NEW ORLEANS – Being raised in church by wonderful Christian parents didn’t assure Tim Agee a place in heaven. Tim did all the church things: regular attendance, baptism, youth trips. Yet he still didn’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ. At sixteen, his family moved to Panama City, Florida. When he went to college, Tim quit going to church. Eventually he would meet and marry his wife, Kirsten. She was not a believer either. The two ended up settling in Tim’s hometown of Pine Hill, Ala. They would pop in on church a time or two but were never regular. Kirsten was the first to start attending church a little more often, but Tim always had something else to do. It was during a lay-revival that Kirsten gave her life to Jesus Christ. The church Kirsten attended, Pine Hill Baptist, became involved in construction missions. She knew immediately she wanted to go. Tim listened with interest because even though he was in the timber industry, framing was what he loved. “She talked about it so much that it got me to thinking about going,” he said. He loved the work, but hated the devotions and church … [Read more...]

Check it out!  Potpourri LAFAYETTE – First church:  “South Louisiana Sunday School Connection” conference; Sept. 16, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Bill Taylor, guest speaker; for information, call David Jeffreys at 337-365-5471; Steve Horn, pastor. PLEASANT HILL – Clara Springs camp:  Associational sponsored Ladies’ Fall Fellowship; Sept. 9, 9 a.m. – 12 noon; Tonya Hancock and Lea Ann Hawkins, guest speakers; Betty Ford and Brenda James, musical guests; $10 per person; for information, call Barbara Dickson at 318-352-4090; Lee Dickson, director of missions; Benny Alford, camp manager. HAUGHTON – Eastwood church:  Gloryland Quartet Patriotic Celebration; Sept. 10, 6 p.m.; free admission; Scott Teutsch, pastor. BATON ROUGE – Jefferson church:  “America, We Must Not Forget” musical; Sept. 10, 10:30 a.m.; Alan Shoumaker, minister of music; T. C. French, Jr., pastor. HOMER – First church:  “9/11 Appreciation Banquet” honoring law enforcement, firefighters and emergency responders; Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m.; Jack Daniels, guest speaker; Brad Mount, musical guest; James Simeon, pastor. DEVILLE – Longview church:  “Women’s Celebration” event; Sept. 16, 7 p.m.; nursery provided; Robby Poole, pastor. ZACHARY – First church:  Outdoorsman Banquet; … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – As Hurricane Katrina made its way through New Orleans, the storm destroyed most homes and businesses in the area, including the five churches in Plaquemines Baptist Association. While four of the congregations will probably never reopen, Port Sulphur Baptist Church has survived in this desolate wasteland, when it is still difficult to find businesses open one year after the hurricane. NEW ORLEANS – As Hurricane Katrina made its way through New Orleans, the storm destroyed most homes and businesses in the area, including the five churches in Plaquemines Baptist Association. While four of the congregations will probably never reopen, Port Sulphur Baptist Church has survived in this desolate wasteland, when it is still difficult to find businesses open one year after the hurricane. Though the church building was destroyed, the South Louisiana congregation has refused to die. Recently, the congregation joined Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. They continue to hold worship services under a tent until their original structure is rebuilt. Ninety-percent of its members have relocated to other parishes and cities in the United States; fifteen members have returned to the area. Since April, the church has … [Read more...]

GULFPORT, Miss. (BP) – One year after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma devastated the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast region, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders are looking back at the remarkable ministry already accomplished – and settling in for the daunting task still ahead. GULFPORT, Miss. (BP) – One year after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma devastated the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast region, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders are looking back at the remarkable ministry already accomplished – and settling in for the daunting task still ahead. More than 60,000 homes and 160 churches were damaged or destroyed along the Mississippi coast. Countless people were left homeless in New Orleans. Southern Baptists rolled in just hours after Hurricane Katrina hit bringing with them a convoy of relief – and an eternal hope rising above earthly circumstances. In all, Southern Baptist volunteers from 41 state conventions prepared more than 14 million hot meals, completed 16,973 cleanup and recovery jobs, provided 103,556 hot showers, cleaned 25,826 loads of laundry, cared for 7,817 children and purified 21,595 gallons of water. Through the efforts of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and other agencies, God … [Read more...]

First Baptist Church of Lacombe was without electricity for three weeks after Hurricane Katrina. But they didn’t allow that to get in their way. LACOMBE – First Baptist Church of Lacombe was without electricity for three weeks after Hurricane Katrina. But they didn’t allow that to get in their way. Despite the lack of electricity they still held services – only missing one day of worship, the day of the storm. The first Sunday back, the church had about 15 people in worship. The second Sunday, 50 people and by the third Sunday there was standing room only. Attendance went from 120 before the storm to 130 after the storm with losing a few families along the way. The pastor of FBC Lacombe, Byron Brown, was back in town within the week after Katrina hit and quickly began to help with disaster relief in the area. One of the first things Brown did was to introduce himself to two policemen and a sheriff he saw at the grocery store. “I told them if FEMA or Red Cross or if anyone needs to use our property or our building they are more than welcome to do so,” Brown said. “At that time I didn’t realize the impact that conversation was going to have.” One day later Brown was cleaning his own property when a church member … [Read more...]

Seminary professors and students have said as much with their actions. They have returned to campus to continue to train and be trained for ministry. They have returned to be witnesses in the city of New Orleans. NEW ORLEANS – Seminary professors and students have said as much with their actions. They have returned to campus to continue to train and be trained for ministry. They have returned to be witnesses in the city of New Orleans. “All throughout our seminary family there has been a confidence in God and commitment to the future and a real attitude of love and grace and mutual support,” NOBTS President Chuck Kelley said. “We are going to mark the anniversary of Katrina by having a worship and ministry day.” Classes are cancelled Aug. 29. Beginning that morning, the Louisiana Baptist Convention will provide disaster relief training in Leavell Chapel. The seminary family will then gather for worship and remembrance followed by a meal together. After lunch, students and faculty members will be sent out into the community to clean, cut grass, gut homes and prayerwalk. “This will be more than a one-day effort; it will formally launch our seminary’s [post-Katrina] ministry in the community,” Kelley said. On Aug. 16, … [Read more...]

In list form ... Highlights from timeline of campus recovery Aug. 29 – Hurricane Katrina hits; levee failures leave NOBTS and the city underwater. Sept. 1 – NOBTS officials meet in Decatur, Ga., to work on a plan to provide relief toseminary families and continue the fall semester. Sept. 12 – Campus cleanup and restoration begins. Sept. 27 – NOBTS trustees unanimously vote to keep the seminary in New Orleans. Oct. 3 – Fall main campus courses continue via reformulated online study. Oct. 5-9 – Seminary residents return to campus to salvage personal items. Oct. 31 – SBC volunteers began helping with NOBTS campus restoration. Dec. 17 – 137 graduates receive NOBTS degrees in first post-Katrina graduation Jan. 11 – A limited number of NOBTS offices return to the main campus. Jan. 23 – Commuter courses begin on the main campus; more than 200 students take    classes in New Orleans. Online courses continue for displaced students. April 24 – All main campus offices return to NOBTS. May 13 – Seminary celebrates 241 spring graduates on the main campus June 6 – Students begin moving back to campus. Aug. 1 – NOBTS resumes normal campus operations; campus restoration more than 80 percent complete; SBC volunteers have saved … [Read more...]