By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
HOUMA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief recently completed a two-week pilot program dedicated to rebuilding homes damaged by Hurricane Ida in Houma.
Florida and South Carolina disaster relief volunteers joined Texas Baptist Men to work alongside Louisiana team members, March 24-April 8, on 18 Houma homes.
They also repaired the Bayou Baptist Association office (located in Gray) as well as buildings on the campuses of Christ Baptist Church and Couteau Baptist Church (both in Houma). Projects ranged from smaller jobs like replacing fence boards to more complex ones such as drywall installation, electrical line re-wiring and plumbing replacement. Teams were housed at Coteau Baptist Church, and funding for the project was provided by Louisiana, North Carolina and Texas Baptist Men disaster relief ministries.
“We have learned during these two weeks what all is involved and chose to do projects of different magnitudes so we could learn what is needed logistically for all projects we would undertake in the future,” Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Associate and Volunteer Mobilizer Mark Morelock told the Baptist Message. “Once this is over, we can take what we learned and then go from there in deciding our strategy year-round.”
Morelock said Louisiana Baptists have ample experience responding to disasters with feeding and cleanup efforts for communities, but typically have limited their rebuilding efforts to the restoration of church facilities and pastor’s homes. The added ministry focus will assist homeowners throughout communities, Morelock said, and he is hoping the Rebuild Program will help give residents more opportunities to find hope in Christ.
“It’s hard to believe Louisiana Baptists are not in the rebuild game since we get so many hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters,” Morelock told the Baptist Message. “We have a good start on getting into the rebuild stage, but it will take a lot of support from Louisiana Baptists who have been great to step up and help when needed.”
Herman Calais, pastor of Christ Baptist Church in Houma, expressed his
gratitude for the work of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams. Brian Blackwell photo
Morelock said before the teams arrived in Houma for the rebuild, homeowners were skeptical. But a few days into the project attitudes had changed.
“They have been burned a lot down here with others cheating them or making promises and not following through,” he said. “Now, hearts are softening, and hope is being re-instilled in this area. That is helping to pave the way for plenty of opportunities to share the Gospel.”
Herman Calais, pastor of Christ Baptist Church, said he is grateful the DR teams helped install drywall during the project and that other mission teams have come throughout the year to help the church finish renovations to facilities that sustained significant damage from Ida. Calais said a section of the church’s main building will be renovated to house mission teams who will work on more homes in Houma.
“Our facilities are here to be used and we are working with disaster relief to fix them up so we can house volunteers whenever we have disasters here on the bayou,” Calais told the Baptist Message. He added that although “it’s been a long journey” he’s thankful for Baptists from around the country “who love the Lord and care.” “We are filled with hope because of the kind and wonderful people that helped us out,” he continued. “I’m praising God for all of them.”
