God is at work in this place

Wednesday’s pastors meeting was attended by forty to fifty pastors and guests. Among the developments we are rejoicing in are the resumption of worship services on February 12 in three places.

The Baptist churches of Chalmette will meet for worship on Sunday, February 12, at 10:30 am in Chalmette High School. Paul Gregoire (St. Bernard church) and John Jeffries (FBC Chalmette) and possibly others are working together to pull this off.

Same day, same time, Poydras Baptist Church, a few miles further downriver, will be having its first service since the storm. Pastor John Galey is excited to be getting back in business. Last I heard, there was still no electrical power down there, but adopting churches have worked hard to restore the church sanctuary.

Same day, but not sure of the time, Edgewater Baptist Church on Paris Avenue in New Orleans, will hold its first service at the church site, outside in a tent. They’ve been meeting in the West Bank home of Charlie and Cheryl Ray until now.

I have passed along to the Baptist Press a couple of stories we learned of Wednesday which I’m eager to learn more about, and which everyone will find fascinating.

Alberto Rivera, pastor of the Getsemani (Spanish) Baptist Church on Elysian Fields Avenue in New Orleans–the church with “1 DB (dead body) in rear” spray-painted on the building by the National Guard–has been leading worship services at Frost Chapel on the seminary campus while workers have been restoring his buildings. Some of the thousands of Mexicans who have come to help rebuild the city have been attending these services. One Sunday recently, they entered the chapel in soggy clothing. “What happened to you?” Alberto asked. They were sleeping in small tents on the parking lot of Community Grocery across the street, and it had rained the night before and drenched them and everything they owned.


Alberto felt so sorry for them, having to live like that, he invited them to stay in his back yard. His home is close to his church and they have no power or water, so Alberto moved outside with them. Result: a fantastic ministry to this group, and some coming to know the Lord.

David Lema, pastor, and Eric Gonzalez, minister of music, of Emmanuel (Spanish) Baptist Church in Kenner announced, “We have started a Portuguese church!” It turns out that a contractor had brought in a large number of Brazilian workers, then when the job was finished, they decided to stay behind. Some of them connected with each other and showed up at Emmanuel asking for a place to meet for worship. “They had fifty-four last Sunday,” Pastor David beamed. Eric said, “We’re sharing the sanctuary with them at various times. And they’re going to baptize three of their number.”

Freddie Arnold in our office says he has tried three times to begin a Portuguese-speaking mission in New Orleans, each time unsuccessfully. And now the Lord does it without the help of any of us.

I asked Pastor Lema who preaches for the Brazilians. “They do,” he said. “One of them is a preacher!”

How like the Lord to do such a wonderful thing.

It’s not unlike the March 11-12 “Celebration of Hope,” the Billy & Franklin Graham meeting scheduled for the New Orleans Arena downtown. For the last two years, we have had meeting after meeting trying to build support for a Franklin Graham crusade. With a couple of exceptions, no one but Baptists attended and they require wider support before agreeing to come. Then, Katrina hit and broke this city, and we get a call that Franklin Graham wants to come to New Orleans, at no cost to the locals.

Speaking of this crusade…

On Saturday, February 11, from 9:30 to 11 am, all pastors are invited to a “follow-up” meeting at Parkview Baptist Church on Camphor Street in Metairie, in preparation for the Graham meeting. In order for your church to receive the names of people making decisions at the Arena, pastors need the information available only at this meeting.

Then, Sunday afternoon, February 19, Cliff Barrows and Bev Shea will lead a great Prayer Session at Victory Fellowship on Airline Highway, next to the Saints headquarters and Zephyrs stadium.

God is at work. What a great time to be here.

Our thanks to all who are praying for us, for our churches, and for these events.