The volunteers working on these projects and others need inexpensive lodging, and Tobey Pittman has the $20/night answer: Volunteer Village. NEW ORLEANS – Hundreds of volunteers arrive each month to help Southern Baptists’ multiple recovery operations here. Baptist Crossroads is the largest residential construction project in the city. Already 30 homes have been completed; 10 more are under construction and 160 are on the books to follow by 2008. Project NOAH Rebuild’s goal is 1,000 homes and 20 churches to be rebuilt within two years, and they’re gutting hundreds of homes. First Baptist New Orleans wants to gut 1,000 homes by the end of the year. Many other churches in Greater New Orleans are in rebuild mode, and in helping restore the people and neighborhoods around their churches. The volunteers working on these projects and others need inexpensive lodging, and Tobey Pittman has the answer: Volunteer Village. This is three floors in the downtown World Trade Center, a block from the French Quarter. Originally designed to house construction workers, Pittman – longtime director of the Brantley homeless shelter – bought the contents, which includes an industrial-sized kitchen – and made a deal with the … [Read more...]
God honors faithfulness, Grace learns
SLIDELL – Post-Katrina, half its members moved away, putting the church in an even more precarious financial position. But, said Jerry Smith, associate pastor in charge of disaster relief at Grace, “One of the big things God has taught us is that whenever we’re faithful to serve, He is faithful to provide and bless.” SLIDELL—Despite having about 600 in regular attendance, Grace Memorial Baptist Church, one of seven Southern Baptist churches in Slidell, was almost $150,000 behind budget when Katrina struck. Afterwards, half its members moved away, putting the church in an even more precarious financial position. But, said Jerry Smith, associate pastor in charge of disaster relief at Grace, “One of the big things God has taught us is that whenever we’re faithful to serve, He is faithful to provide and bless.” God gave them an opportunity to serve, despite their own struggles, and Grace Memorial accepted the challenge. Now, Grace is about $20,000 above budget. “Had we not been faithful in opening our doors and serving others as God gave us opportunity, we likely would have missed the blessing of financial resources and other blessings too,” said Bob Heustess, senior pastor. Having lost only their steeple and minor roof … [Read more...]
Northshore’s gains outweigh losses
SLIDELL – A year after its 17,000 square foot, leased building was demolished by Katrina, Northshore Baptist Church continues to “impact the North Shore of New Orleans by reaching the unchurched and leading them to become disciples of Christ,” said Larry McEwen, senior pastor. SLIDELL – A year after its 17,000 square foot, leased building was demolished by Katrina, Northshore Baptist Church continues to “impact the North Shore of New Orleans by reaching the unchurched and leading them to become disciples of Christ,” said Larry McEwen, senior pastor. And they plan on continuing to connect “disconnected people with Christ through worship, small groups, and missions,” despite the fact that they have no building of their own, McEwen said. The “walls were blown out by the storm surge. The floor in the worship center buckled over a foot. The water level in the building settled to 5 1/2 feet,” and the sound equipment, the computers, and the pastor’s library were all destroyed, said McEwen of the building that had housed Northshore pre-Katrina. The $100,000 they had invested in the building was lost. The week after the storm, 82 people, all that was left of a congregation that had hit 398 the Sunday before Katrina struck, … [Read more...]
Calvary gets DR center-ring view
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...]
Williams Blvd. serves First Responders
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...]
Blogging helps churches stay connected
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...]
Couple find faith under construction
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...]
Louisiana’s people, places and events
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...]
Churches adapt to new normal
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...]
Mississippi Gulf Coast recovering from katrina’s wicked onslaught
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...]
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