I learned yesterday that a disaster relief group from Arkansas has been in Kenner feeding hundreds of meals a day ever since last Tuesday! No sooner has the wind passed into central Mississippi than these good folks pulled into the city and set up operations. When one group of them announced their intent to use chain saws and clear roadways, they were told the timing was not right for this, so they drove into Mississippi and have been at it ever since.

The group in Kenner, I understand, is being housed and restricted to the Kenner city jail. They cook the meals and police drive the containers to the two shelters in the city where the “refugees” are being held. The Arkansas group is not allowed to venture out into the city for security reasons, I’m told.

All of this is as it came to me, as they say, from a reliable source, but I do not know it personally. And something else.

A television network contacted the volunteers and indicated they want to send a crew in to participate in/videotape/something a Sunday morning worship service locally. They were told none of the churches are operational, but if we can get a minister in, he’s welcome to lead a service in one of the shelters. I spent a while on the phone Friday afternoon locating one of our guys (ahem, one of our ministers) and put him in touch with the leader of the Arkansas team. According to my source, veteran newsman Howard K. Smith would interview the minister.

I hope all this works out. About time for the right person to be interviewed. I’ve about had it with Jesse Jackson and some others who gravitate to these situations in order to interpose themselves as the spokesman of the victims.

On the other hand, I’ve had a little experience with these media “promises.” They may or may not show up. If they do, you might get 30 seconds on television. Or not. Or it may be something wonderful.

Next Tuesday in Baton Rouge, some of us will meet at Florida Boulevard Baptist Church in the morning with Rick Warren and other leaders, then have lunch, and in the afternoon meet with other local religious leaders. Rick is supposed to lead a rally that evening for everyone interested in attending. Not sure if the rally will be in Florida Boulevard church or where.

I’m getting email notes from people all over telling how evacuees from metro New Orleans have arrived in their city, sometimes thousands strong, and how the churches are rallying to minister to them. In Arkansas, they are filling the various Baptist encampments scattered all over the state. The governor, Mike Huckabee, is a Baptist minister himself, we’re pleased to say.

When I gave out the address where people can send monetary contributions to assist New Orleans churches and residents, I was uncertain of the zip code. Please note that the correct address is: NEW ORLEANS ASSISTANCE, Louisana Baptist Foundation, P. O. Box 311, Alexandria, LA 71309.

Several people I’ve never met have sent me one-sentence email notes that read like this: “I just want you to know we are really praying for you and for the New Orleans.” I tell them: “There is no way I can tell you what that means. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”