Churches in Gulf Coast area are caring for more than 150,000 displaced survivors

[Blessedx4]

http://www.mnnonline.org/article/7754
September 12, 2005

USA (MNN) -- "God is using the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina to give the Church an opportunity to be the Church."

That's what Rick Warren of Purpose Driven Ministries said after he spent time observing the areas ravaged by the Hurricane. He says it's even worse than what is seen on television.

But even in the midst of the devastation, Warren was encouraged, for the Church is rising to the challenge. In every crisis, there are opportunities for God to show His love, and He's working through His people who have an open door to show God's love to those in need.

Warren says that the Purpose Driven network is working, and churches surrounding the hurricane zone are caring for more than one-hundred-fifty-thousand people. Long after the short-term aid is gone, churches will still be there to show God's love in action.

It's critical that churches everywhere get involved in ministering to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Warren says, "Because there are so many displaced people, we have to figure out a way to do something that has never been done before in America. By bringing people to our communities who are under stress and in transition who need to experience the love of God, He is giving us a unique opportunity to be what God intended the church to be."

[Blessedx4]

Victims of Hurricane Katrina will get "Books of Hope"
September 12, 2005
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/7753

USA (MNN) -- Thousands of Christians are in the Hurricane Katrina zone helping with the physical needs -- food, water, clothing, shelter, medicine. That and more accompanies a relief effort as massive as this one. The other relief can't be seen. It's the emotional relief, the spiritual relief, that type of relief that can only come through Christ.

Book of Hope , USA is helping with that relief effort by shipping 100,000 Books of Hope to the region. Book of Hope's Blake Silverstrom says, "I think it's important, of course, to take care of their immediate physical needs, but also we need to take care of the needs of the heart. We've got great Christian people down there that are participating in this evangelistic effort on all levels. Holistically, spiritually and so on, this is an incredible way of reaching people dwn there."

Funding is needed to help with this unbudgeted purchase. Silverstrom says this is just the beginning of what they plan to do as finances allow. "It's just the tip of the iceberg. As long as we can prints books fast enough we will make these books available to organizations for this disaster and beyond."

Silverstrom says it's been difficult for them to minister in the U-S until now. "We've really struggled to get into schools. We've been met with a tremendous amount of indifference and regulations. This is one way where God's going to penetrate the hearts of those in need."

$1 can put purchase a Book of Hope for someone in need. Click on the link above to help.

[Blessedx4]

World Vision is proud of Church response to the hurricane
September 12, 2005
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/7751

USA (MNN) -- Hurricane Katrina relief and now recovery continues to headline news throughout the world. It's being called the worst natural disaster in United States history. Many people have died, thousands of homes have been destroyed and thousands remain displaced. But, World Vision says the church has responded.

Many in the United States believe race had a part in the response time to hurricane victims. Vice President of World Vision Steven Haas says the church has responded with open arms. "The disproportionate numbers of people that have been impact have been the African American community. The most trusted institution for them is the church. The first place they went, was to the church. From the church leaders I have been with, I have seen such heroism it has made me one very, very proud individual to be a part of this thing we call the church."

He says the church, especially the African American church, is helping sacrificially. Haas has been amazed at the decisions taking place as they help. "People begin to say, 'why are you doing this? What drove you to be kind to me?' And, obviously that opens up an opportunity for someone to share who they are, what they're relationship with Christ is all about, and in a very natural way just continue the conversation."

World Vision has a reputation of responding quickly to natural disasters. However, Haas says this response is unique. "Typically we do not handle domestic disasters because typically there are the social safety nets, when this thing hit, it took everyone by surprise," says Haas.

World Vision is raising money for the American Family Assistance Fund. Haas says it's the money needed to help the victims is completely unknown. "When compassion begins to fatigue a bit, when the hotels that these people are in finally decide to go back to doing business as usual, and they can no longer afford to stay, because of that the dollars needed for this disaster are still being calculated."

Your gift is needed today. Click on the link above to get connected.

[I Believe!!!]

How awesome! I really liked the article where one African American talked of having to change his perspective of white people as he had been generously and lovingly helped! Maybe we'll have a cultural healing as well.

[Blessedx4]

The Church as a whole and Christians in general have really shone during this disaster that's for sure :nod :thumb

[Blessedx4]

Baptist Meals Top 1 Million in a Week
"We're approaching 250,000 meals a day... including about 5,000 trained Southern Baptist volunteers."
http://www.religionjournal.com/showarticle.asp?id=3250
(BP) In the first week of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief efforts, volunteers prepared more than 1.3 million meals in the Gulf Coast area devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Jim Burton, director of the North American Mission Board's volunteer mobilization team, said he expects Southern Baptist's national disaster relief response to quickly eclipse disaster services provided following four hurricanes in Florida last year and in New York City following 9/11.

"As of today, we're approaching 250,000 meals a day and we have more than 200 mobile disaster relief units on site, including about 5,000 trained Southern Baptist volunteers," Burton said.

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=21582

[elac]

I have one of the tracts they were talking about. :nod The SBC fed us for a few days when we were running out of food that didn't have to be cooked or heated and officials put a ban on "campfires" like we had been cooking over. They were wonderful and I pray that God blesses them abundantly.

[dded0618]

What a wonderful witness to the Gulf Coast and the rest of the world.:clap

[Blessedx4]

I have been trying to find more stories to add to this. There's so much negative news I was trying to find something positive and uplifting to "give a rest" from the ugly stuff.

if any of you run across anything else I wish ya'll would post them.

[Blessedx4]

Lutheran Agencies' Response to Hurricane Katrina, and Beyond
http://www.earnedmedia.org/lwr0915.htm

[Blessedx4]

Evacuees get faith foothold
http://www.denverpost.com/portlet/article/html/fragments/print_article.jsp?article=3033565
By Eric Gorski
Denver Post Staff Writer
DenverPost.com

At the gates of Camp Katrina, it has become a familiar sight: church vans coming and going, shuttling hurricane survivors to Wal-Mart, church services or the post office.

The pastors and volunteers driving onto the Lowry campus in Aurora, where more than 400 uprooted Gulf Coast residents are temporarily living, welcome their passengers not as victims or refugees but in the most polite terms: "our guests."

The religious community's response to meeting the needs of Denver's newest residents began little more than a week ago as a small grassroots effort.

Now, the so-called clergy coalition is part of the unified command running Operation Safe Haven at Lowry, sharing equal billing with state and emergency services personnel and the American Red Cross.

[Blessedx4]

Shoes are providing opportunities to share the Gospel to U-S hurricane victims
September 16, 2005
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/7772

USA (MNN) -- More than 372,000 school children in Louisiana and Mississippi have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. U-S education officials aren't sure where they will end up going to school, or who will pay for their education. But, many of these students are receiving love in the form of shoes.

Buckner Orphan Care International has taken their Shoes for Orphan Souls program to the victims of the hurricane. Buckner's Shaun Hawkins says, "At this point we've been able to give almost 14,000 pairs of shoes and 35,000 pair of socks -- new shoes and socks to these individuals and I cannot begin to tell you what a blessing it is for them."

These donated shoes come from people just like you, who donate to churches or civic groups who have shoe drives for their ministry. Hawkins says while thousands of needs remain, the Gospel is being shared in incredible ways. "A lot of individuals write notes. They'll write out passages and put them in the shoes. And so, as we're able to hand out these shoes and distribute these shoes to the evacuee, we're also able to hand them the truth, the Gospel message."

How you can help...... http://www.mnnonline.org/media/group.php?agencyAb=BOC

[Blessedx4]

United Methodist center takes in evacuees with special needs
http://master.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=2&mid=9835
Sept. 15, 2005

By John Gordon*

PALESTINE, Texas (UMNS) — In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, churches across the South have opened their doors as shelters. But one place of refuge in east Texas has taken on a special role helping storm survivors.

More than 70 physically and mentally challenged children and adults from Volunteers of America group homes in the New Orleans area have found a safe haven at Lakeview Methodist Conference Center near Palestine. Without help from the federal government or relief agencies, United Methodists are providing food, clothing and shelter, and volunteering their time to help.

Sixteen-year-old Brittney McGee is one of those who made the journey. “It was very scary, and I didn’t want to leave home, but I had to,” says McGee, who is confined to a wheelchair.

[DeeLeeKay]

All I can say is Thank God for GW Bush. As he is telling he world that Faith based organizations are the bedrock of civilized people. The Jews and Christians are at the forefront here in America leading the relief efforts. While the government(read this as secular authority) has failed, God has given his people(Jews and Christians-Judeo/Christian values) a chance to witness to the world what love and morality can do in a time of crisis.

We here in America have been praying for God to heal our land. Maybe this is his way of getting rid of the bad-and leaving the good. Are we are being put through the fire(of tribulation-general not as in great) to burn up the wood, hay and stubble?

[sonya]

I live between Houston and Louisiana, right on the coast. Some of the things that have happened here with the evacuees has been remarkable and heartwarming, even in my little town.

But now, as hard to believe as it is, plans are being made to evacuate the evacuees in the event tropical storm Rita becomes a hurricane and heads this way.

*sigh*

[the chef]

I'm glad the churches are helping out. I don't know where these people would be without the help everyone is sending. My church is sending aid to Bayou Le Batre (sp)?
It seems a lot of the smaller areas have been forgotten because the people in that town have yet to see ANY redcross, fema, national guard etc we were told Sunday. The only aid the people have gotten has been from the churches in town.

[jadeeyes]

I just returned from Baton Rouge and Slidell. There is a Baptist church in Baton Rouge named Istrouma that has more than 500 evacuees. We spent time there emptying a semi that was filled with clothing and supplies, we distributed clothing and supplies and my job was helping with showers and talking to and listening to the stories of evacuees. We saw some people get saved. This church is doing a fantastic job. Many of the evacuees told me that everything ran so much better and they were treated so much better when it was just Christians helping them. They said the Red Cross was not as efficient and many of them didnn't seem to care. I saw some of that, but I also saw that many Red Cross and many church people were working 12-16 hour days. The temperatures are well into the 90s and the humidity is so thick you can cut it with a knife. Many of the workers are just exhausted and there are never enough volunteers.

[Blessedx4]

Defiantely. The Church has really shone through this disaster! I keep running across article after article about the things churches are doing.

I hope the people down there and those who evacuated-out to all areas of the country, are hearing the gospel and SEEING God's love in action. :nod

Alpha Omega Publications Commits Over $1.2 Million in Curriculum to Aid Homeschooling Families Displaced by Katrina and to Help Low Income Families
http://www.earnedmedia.org/em0920.htm

Little Rock Baptist Church Makes 357 Housing Units Available for Victims of Hurricane Katrina
http://www.earnedmedia.org/lrbc0919.htm

MINISTERING TO THE MEDIA IN THE WAKE OF KATRINA
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s05090045.htm

Katrina bolsters church groups
http://washtimes.com/national/20050919-100155-6962r.htm