Fifty feet from the 17th Street Canal–the one which burst on August 29, 2005, drowning much of the Lakeview section of New Orleans–sits Pontchartrain Baptist Church. The new Pontchartrain Baptist Church, if you will.

Previously, it was a small red-brick sanctuary fronting Robert E. Lee Boulevard with a two-story white-block educational building down the side. Over 40 years ago, as a young seminarian I taught the couples’ Sunday School class in an upstairs room and led the worship inside the sanctuary. My classmate Vaughan Pruitt was the pastor. When the canal’s levee broke, the water cascaded across the street and destroyed most everything in its path.

The educational building has been torn down. Pastor Jerry Smith says it’s not particularly because of the storm damage, but the result of the shifting foundation. “It was built in the days when pilings were not required, and was beginning to tilt.”

A church in Jackson, Mississippi, has adopted Pontchartrain Church and its members have worked hard to bring the building back to speed. The latest thing they did was to paint the outside. It’s no longer a red brick building; now it’s white brick. And beautiful, if I may say so.

The sanctuary building is all that remains for nearly a block in every direction. Houses on all sides have been demolished, and the vacant lots surrounding the church have left it isolated like an island.

The new sign in front of the church announces: “REDEDICATION, April 1, 10:00 am. You’re invited.”

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Metairie Baptist Church is in an unusual situation these days. First, this wonderful old traditional church in the heart of what we call “old Metairie” (translation: old money) has as its pastor seminary professor Dr. Thomas Strong. The church called Bob Cole to handle weekday pastoral functions so Thomas can continue serving at both places.

And secondly, they’re going through some significant changes. Thomas is leading the church in a FAITH evangelistic ministry. Recently, he told me, “We have 42 people participating in FAITH this semester. On a recent Sunday we did door to door visitation. I’ve discovered that despite what people may say, door-to-door visiting is not a thing of the past. In the process of the day, we had the opportunity to knock on 96 doors and talked to about half of them (42, I think). We were doing an opinion poll that would lead to the gospel presentation. We shared the gospel with seven people! That is a huge praise.”

“Also,” Thomas said, “we offered the ministry at Metairie Baptist Church to the other 36 homes we visited. This now happens on a regular basis as the church is getting turned on to telling others. I am so thankful to see what God is doing by empowering the church for mission through FAITH.”

MBC is hosting our NAMB chaplain Joe Williams in a “Coping with Loss” conference, and their women’s ministry is flourishing under Terry Dickson (who heads the associational women’s ministry).

These are significant changes for this church. “Only God could do these things at MBC,” Thomas said and added, “I am rejoicing daily that he has let me be a part of it.”

Second Church: First Baptist Church of Avondale on the West Bank.

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“Thirteen years ago, this friend turned me down,” Freddie Arnold told the pastors at Wednesday’s meeting. “I was trying to recondition an old school bus for mission trips and I felt led to ask a certain member of my church to pay for it. He wasn’t able to–in spite of my knowing for certain the Lord led me to ask him–and nothing was ever done. We finally sold the old bus. That friend called this week.”

“He said, ‘I couldn’t help you 13 years ago, but the Lord has not let me alone about that.'” He knew Freddie is deeply involved in the rebuilding of this city, so informed him he is sending a sizeable check for the work here. Freddie said, “That will allow us to update our disaster relief van and buy some additional equipment.”

“I have an announcement for some of you pastors,” Freddie said. “The salary supplements several of you have been receiving are being phased out as of June 1. They will be reassessed at that time.”

Apparently–and we have no argument with this–our state leadership has decided that after over 18 months of post-Katrina existence, our pastors should be on their feet. Either their church should be back to the point of supporting them, they should have a job on the side to supplement their church income, or they should be thinking of moving on to a pastorate outside this hurricane area.

Freddie announced that Lifeway Christian Resources had sent us preschool and children’s books for a new church library. “See me,” he said to the pastor who was quick to volunteer that his church was in the process of creating a new library.

Speaking of Lifeway, John Moore was with us. John served for 30 years in student ministry with the Louisiana Baptist Convention before moving “to the dark side,” as he jokingly put it, meaning the denominational headquarters in Nashville. “I want you to know that Lifeway is partnering with you,” he said. “We have sent $1.5 million in non-Cooperative Program funds to the Louisiana Baptist Convention for disaster relief work. We sent $750,000 to the seminary. And we’re putting money into the Unlimited Partnerships.”

“Furthermore,” John said, “Bruce Raley of Lifeway is working to bring religious education people to staff your Ridgecrest-on-the-River conference this September. The ministers of education will be available at no cost for workshops in your churches, too. Bruce says these guys are hearing about this and calling to say, ‘Sign me up for New Orleans.'”

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Some months ago, we reported here that the city had blown it again, that City Hall had awarded the trash contract for the French Quarter to a company with no trucks and no history of this kind of work. A few weeks before the work was to begin, they still had no trucks and no personnel. You could predict how this was going to turn out.

We were all wrong. The company called SDT has the most gorgeous shiny black garbage trucks you’ve ever seen (I predict Hummer owners will soon be trading up for one!) and employees who take a great deal of pride in what they’re doing. I think we’ve reported previously an account of the supervisor following the truck through the Quarter in her car, making sure no motorist pulls around the truck–lots of sanitation workers get killed that way–and seeing that every scrap of paper is picked up and the garbage cans replaced neatly.

Wednesday morning, someone wrote to the editor of following an SDT truck through the Quarter and seeing the driver stop, get out and pick up a single cup someone had tossed in the street, then driving on. Alan Petro said, “I just want to say thank you, SDT. You are doing an incredible job.”

It’s so inspiring to see people do their work well.

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After the recent series of scary articles the local newspaper ran on the disappearing coastline of this state and the urgent need for action, a citizen wrote the editor to ask the obvious question: What can one person do?

Steve Saucier said he is a fisherman who sees with his own eyes what is happening to the land south of here. He drives his boat over what used to be high ground. He studies the comparative photos showing what the coastal wetlands used to look like and how they appear now, and he is frightened. But he’s only one person, not a government agency, and what can he possibly do?

The editor responded Monday, and admitted that the natural reaction to this overwhelming situation is to feel helpless. “But as we have seen since Hurricane Katrina, individuals banding together can accomplish the unthinkable.” Then, he (or she) gave several examples.

Pre-K, South Louisiana was protected from the water by levees which in turn were overseen (that was the theory at any rate) by a multiplicity of levee boards. Every parish had its levee boards, and some had more than one. And if anyone had stood up and called for these tiny agencies of political patronage to be consolidated, he would have been laughed out of town.

But Post-Katrina, citizens demanded consolidation and that’s what we now have.

Pre-K, the state legislature let New Orleans alone with its odd system of seven tax assessors for the one parish. This created the most bizarre situations where similar houses across the street from each other, but in different zones, were assessed by totally different standards and the owners paid vastly different tax bills. The assessors seemed to inherit their jobs, some being passed down in the same family for generations.

Post-K, the citizens called for a stop to this monkey-business and a state constitutional amendment was passed to create a single assessor’s office, the way the rest of the world operates.

In the same way, says our editor, citizens can attack the problem of coastal erosion. Speak up, band together, get to work, and refuse to be silenced.

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“I’ve learned one thing from this whole Katrina experience,” said Dr. Chuck Kelley Saturday morning. He was addressing members of the NOBTS Foundation Board in their annual on-campus gathering. “What I’ve learned is this: Do Not Be Afraid.”

Dr. Kelley said, “Tragedy dogs the footsteps of every great Christian through the centuries.” He backed that up with stories of the hardships various saints have been called on to endure. And in our time, we are called upon to deal with the destruction and rebuilding of this city.

The gentleman who prayed the benediction said, “Lord, we thank you for Katrina. It was your will.” That was a sobering thought, and one I’ve never been bold enough to make. Once we claim that, immediately loved ones of the thousand-plus who lost their lives in this hurricane/flood demand some answers from us. If it is true, however, it means the Lord does not put the same value on houses and furniture that we do. For starters.

I sat in the meeting jotting down the lessons I’ve learned–and that I think our people have learned–from this Katrina experience.

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Bill Rogers, the 30-year pastor of Grace Baptist Church in the Bywater section of the Upper 9th Ward, has resigned, effective April 1. Charlie Dale has been in place the last two years as Bill’s associate pastor, with the understanding that he would get the job once the pastor retired. Charlie is so humble, he was willing to grant the church the freedom to revisit the issue, but the leaders were firm: you will be our new pastor.

We have reported here previously how Bill Rogers received his doctorate from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville last December. He’s youthful and has a lot to offer. Barataria Baptist Church down in the fascinating little community of Jean Lafitte, LA, has asked him to come down and preach for them this Sunday.

Meanwhile, Grace is hosting a group from North Richland Hills Baptist Church in Fort Worth over the next week. They will be painting the inside of Douglass High School, just across the street from Grace. On Wednesday, they’ll serve hamburgers at the church for the faculty and staff of the school. Thursday, they’ll have a block party with a live band (those dead bands are such a drag!), food, and fun. I’ll be there, sketching people. Then, on Sunday March 18, Joe Williams our NAMB chaplain will be leading a “Coping With Life’s Losses” conference at the church. The Texas youth will be covering the neighborhood during the week to invite everyone.

Grace Baptist Church is asking all of us to make the next few days “pray for the Bywater” time.

We found out today that Shiloh Baptist Church on North Claiborne Street is up and running. They’ve been shut down since Katrina. Pastor Edward Scott had relocated out of the state. Today, Friday, Freddie Arnold ran into Michael Raymond–whose church in the lower 9th ward was put out of business–and he reported that he’s been preaching for the Shiloh group.

This brings our total number of churches up to 93. That compares to 145 before Katrina.

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Someone e-mailed us asking about State Farm Insurance, saying they had heard our city had had real difficulties with the firm and wondering if they should cancel their policies in support. I replied that the true culprit–if you ask the average New Orleanian–is Allstate rather than State Farm. (I’ve been a State Farm policyholder for over 30 years and have had only good experiences with them. My home is insured by American National and they were more than fair in our post-hurricane dealings.)

Recently, Allstate sent cancellation notices to 4,772 policyholders in our part of the world, informing homeowners that “since this house is unoccupied” they were ending the policy. The Times-Picayune did story after story on residents who have rebuilt their homes and who have been living in them many months, but who received those cancellations. It turns out that Allstate’s investigators had done drive-by inspections only, spending an average of 60 seconds per house.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has ordered Allstate to re-instate all those policies immediately and to redo the inspections. Today, Friday, the newspaper announces that the insurance company is appealing that decision to The Division of Administrative Law, a state body which handles disputes with state agencies. A judge will listen to both sides and issue a ruling. The hearing must take place within 30 days.

Earlier, the state had informed insurers that they could begin canceling policies on any damaged property on which repairs had not begun by March 1.

After some 600 policyholders complained to Donelon about the cancellations, he sent his people into the city to test 18 of the complaints. In each case, they reported it should have been obvious to anyone–even sitting in his car on the streets!–that the homes were occupied.

By an odd coincidence, January’s Sugar Bowl in our city was sponsored by Allstate. A number of unhappy policy-holders pointed out the irony of that. I don’t know how long the contract has to run, but I’ll betcha it will not be renewed. This is one company locals do not like.

Quick rundown of local stuff.

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We began our weekly pastor’s meeting with the monthly “Executive Committee” meeting of our association of Baptist churches. John Galey, vice-moderator and pastor of Poydras Baptist Church, presided.

Scott Smith, chair of the administrative committee, reported that his committee had approved money for the Disciple-Now youth activities this spring and money for a Spanish Sunday School conference in June.

Scott told how his church (Highland, Metairie) received a phone call last week. “Someone was calling from Georgetown University of Washington, DC. They had a group of 20 students coming down to gut out houses in the 9th Ward and their accommodations had fallen through. They got our name from the FEMA list and wondered if they could stay with us.”

Scott explained that this is a terrific group of young adults, very respectful, hard-working. “They even attended our Sunday night worship service,” he said, and added with a grin, “I don’t think many of them are Christians. Just think–now we’ve got the world coming to us!”

Keith Maddox is the new interim manager of Camp Living Waters, the historic campground at Robert, Louisiana, jointly owned by our association and several others in this part of the state. He has resigned West St. Charles Baptist Church of Boutte where he served as worship leader and youth/education man for the past decade. Already, Keith has made a big difference in that camp, and is urging our churches to bring their people for conferences. I told the pastors, “If ever there was a man matched to a position, I believe it’s Keith Maddox and Camp Living Waters.”

Rudy French reported on the ribbon-cutting at FBC Norco last Saturday. “We registered over 140 people, and heard some great messages. Two hours of them, in fact.” He went on to say that the present accommodations can take care of 20 guests per night, but he’s got 35 coming next week. “Eventually, I want to be able to host 80 people,” he said.

A residual effect of the new vision Rudy has brought to that church is the 8 visitors they had in church Sunday. One young woman prayed to receive Christ in the service.

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Tuesday night, our family attended the Billy Joel concert at the New Orleans Arena along with 10 or 15 thousand of our closest friends. If you like Joel’s music–“Piano Man,” “The Longest Time,” “She’s Always a Woman to Me”–you’ll understand why a couple of oldsters like Margaret and me were there. Not many our age made the trek, though. Too much trouble. Too expensive (tickets were over 80 bucks). Easier to buy the CD and stay home.

In a word, he was great. He gave a terrific show; he is an incredible musician. But it was loud. Man, was it loud. Some of the numbers, I sat there thinking, “I’m sure there is a kernel of music somewhere on the inside of all that noise.” But I think I know why they made it so loud, added the blinding lights, and rocked that building: for the young people. He was appealing to the youth. And apparently he did, because they were there in surprising strength. They knew the words better than I did.

Couple of times I thought my cell phone was going off. It was my body vibrating.

At the end, I decided that even though Billy Joel is of my generation or close to it, I am most definitely not his target audience. And I’m okay by that.

Earlier that evening before we left the house, our back door neighbor Bill called as I was setting out the garbage cans. “Joe, you got a minute?” I said, “Just about that.”

He said, “I preached a sermon recently, and now my home church wants me to preach it there. I need your help.”

Bill is a United Methodist. He owns a farm in the country and lives and works here in the city. We’ve been neighbors 13 years. He’s a good guy. Quiet. A family man.

“What did you preach about?” I asked. He said, “That we need to return Methodism to the old ways.” I said, “What old ways?” He answered, “To the ways of John Wesley.”

I said, “Okay, so what are the bad things you see in your denomination these days?” He answered, “Hillary Clinton is a Methodist.” That is exactly what he said.

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