We’re told that in places, the Mississippi River runs both ways. One layer of water heads south toward the Gulf, while underneath, the bottom layer is flowing northward. Obviously, that condition holds true only for a limited number of miles before it all gets together and heads back downriver. Riverologists (is there such a word?) have an explanation for the phenomenon, no doubt.

Two streams are flowing in opposite directions in New Orleans life these days.

The outward stream was on display Sunday morning at the First Baptist Church of New Orleans. While Pastor David Crosby led a prayer for the city’s recovery in his pastoral prayer, a time when the altar was filled with members interceding for the community, various church leaders announced their plans to leave.

Brian Skinner, minister of music at FBC-NO for the last year or two, was experiencing his final Sunday before departing for the same position at FBC-Daytona Beach. Brian said to me, “My family was just never able to make the adjustment to this city.”

The pastor thanked the former president of the choir. “Today is her last Sunday with us.”

Donna Johnson–whom I pastored in Columbus, Mississippi, when she was a teen and went by Donna Fielder–informed me she has taken a job in Mobile and bought a house in the bedroom community of Daphne, and that the family will be moving over soon. Her family has been a mainstay at FBC-NO for many years.

Meanwhile, the other current flows, the incoming stream.

Short-termers are arriving in droves to help us, a condition that apparently will hold true all summer. Pastor Crosby said, “We have 300 volunteers from all over America in our sanctuary today.” Many were wearing t-shirts of the same color and design and stood out in the large sanctuary. The names of at least a dozen churches scrolled by on the screen, home bases of these volunteers. Following the worship service, Associate Pastor Inman Houston led an orientation session as they prepare to head into the 9th Ward to build houses in the Baptist Crossroads.

The hottest week of the year, too. Pray for them.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Democrat from California, led a forum Saturday at Trinity Episcopal Church on Jackson Street to discuss plans to rebuild public housing and correct problems with the state-administered Road Home program. Waters chairs a House subcommittee overseeing the U. S. Housing and Urban Development Department. She announced to the group that the city will have 3,000 public housing units running by August 1, although she is concerned about the location of many of them. Apparently, some residents of one public housing development are being asked to relocate to another, and they’re not happy about that.

Ms. Waters drew cheers when she announced her commitment to see that every storm-damaged public housing unit in the city is rebuilt. This would seem to put her at odds with HUD and its subsidiaries which have announced that some local developments will be demolished and mixed income housing rebuilt on that property.

I do not know Ms. Waters personally and do not want to accuse her of pandering to her audience. We have a lot of that down here, politicians who arrive with their entourage and reporters, tell the residents what they want to hear, bask in the applause, claim time on that night’s television news with their great promises, then board a plane for Washington and disappear.

I confess to wondering about anyone who looks our people in the eye and promises that we’re going to get every dispersed resident back and that every public housing unit will be restored. I’m sorry, but it’s not going to happen.

And if what we’re seeing all over town is any indication, many of those who return will not stay.

The mayor, however, has everything worked out, to hear him tell it.

Mayor C. Ray Nagin told the conference at Trinity Saturday that “we’re close to the goal line.” A master of glittering generalities, hizzoner is quoted in Sunday’s paper as saying, “My message for today is it’s time for us to close this part of the recovery story, particularly on the public housing program. I want to make sure I’m looking eeryone in the eye, and I want everyone to put on their reasonable cap, and I don’t want anyone to give up anything that’s been done, but we’re close to the goal line.”

Nagin admitted that many people are mad at him, but insisted he has presented an administration that is scandal-free and has practiced financial discipline. As far as I know, he’s right.

Rumors circulate that Nagin will run for another political office soon, either governor to replace Kathleen Blanco or the congressional seat presently held by his friend William Jefferson who is expected to have to step down as a result of the FBI indictment against him. Nagin said, “I’m focused on mayor. I’m getting worn out. I’m going to tell you that. I’m going to keep pushing, but you know I’ll probably last three years,” referring to the balance of his final term as mayor.

These days, I get asked the well-worn question “So, how are our churches coming back?” by local people, not just by outsiders. The answer is, “At a fairly good rate. We have perhaps a hundred churches operating right now.”

And how many did we have previously? “Around 140. And some of the hundred in operation are meeting in someone else’s church or in a living room. But the overwhelming majority are back in their building. All of them have lost members to one degree or another.”

And how are they doing? “The report is mixed. Some are thriving, and some are barely managing. Drive through the neighborhoods and you can see why. Many are still years away from recovery, with only a family or two on each block and most houses still unrepaired.”

The recovery czar for the city, Dr. Blakely, says the recovery of New Orleans is a thirty-year project.

Now if we can just get the hurricanes to cooperate.

No wonder people who are not from this city and do not have to live here choose to move away. It’s tough, and upstream all the way.

All of this makes us appreciate even more pastors who move here from Normal-land to serve God by leading our congregations through this difficult period. West St. Charles Church-Boutte just called a new pastor who is moving here from Alabama, and FBC of Belle Chasse is welcoming their new pastor from Missouri. These are brave souls.

We appreciate the missionaries who sense a call from the Lord to give years of their lives helping our people. And we surely appreciate the courageous family of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for their presence and involvement in this city.

“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.” (Psalm 46:4)

“Flow through here, Lord. Refresh and encourage our people. Do your new thing in New Orleans, Father, and give us a mighty faith in Christ. Unite us behind the leaders you have chosen, then direct them in the chosen path. Bless our friends from across the nation who refuse to forget us and continue to come and send help and to pray. Amen.”