Tuesday morning, some folks at Edgewater and Lakeview churches were masked up and tearing out sheetrock, pews, and other church innards. It remains to be seen whether the buildings will be salvageable, but give the folks credit–they’re trying.

“The only word to describe this area is ‘dead zone,'” said Tom Billings. The Director of Missions for Houston, Texas, flew in Tuesday morning and spent the day with Freddie Arnold and me before departing that evening. I’m afraid we showed him more of the devastation than he wanted to see. I took him up Canal Street and across Paris Avenue and Elysian Fields, then over to Algiers and back across the Huey P. Long into Kenner. Freddie took him to lunch while I did a funeral, and then showed him the greater devastation in St. Bernard Parish and the Lower 9th ward. I expect Tom was happy to get back on the plane that evening.

“This is not going to be a quick fix,” he said. “We’re talking about years.” Indeed. In fact, Tuesday, the folks at Lifeway who were going to provide architectural workshops for our pastors notified me that they think it’s premature, that this needs to be scheduled sometime after the first of the year, that the pastors aren’t at the point of thinking of rebuilding yet. I believe they’re right.

Freddie told Tom Billings the best thing Houstonians can do for us is pray. While this is on target, it’s hard for people to voice the same prayers over and over for years when you are not present to see how the prayers are being answered, and whether they are. That’s our challenge–to keep them praying. New Orleans may be the biggest prayer challenge our people have ever faced.

Wayne Jenkins has a plan.

On Saturday, November 19, he will be leading an all-day prayer walk in sections of metro New Orleans. Wayne is Director of Evangelism for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, and is inviting our pastors to lead the way in bringing members out on that Saturday and matching them up with out-of-towners and out-of-staters who will be joining us to prayer walk. We will meet at one of the local churches that morning for organization and instructions, then go with leaders to our assignments. The t-shirts we’ll be wearing will be in “Saints colors” (black and gold) and read “PRAY NEW ORLEANS.” We hope to involve neighbors in conversations, getting their prayer requests, and bearing a witness as God opens doors. Stay tuned for details.

“You need to re-imagine this city,” said Tom Billings. In your mind, wipe away all the churches and start from scratch. Where would you prefer to have churches, what kind of ministries will you be needing, what new thing does God want to do here? Find out where in the world new kinds of churches are being built and what they’re doing. Get your leaders together and begin to dream. It may be a cliche, but think outside the box.

Years ago, Tom was considering a call from a church in a big city. He phoned his friend and mentor Dr. Jim Henry for counsel. He fully expected Brother Jim to say, “You’re young, it’s a great church, go!” Instead, he said, “Go pray until God calls you to the city. Then He will call you to the church.” Too many pastors seem to be called only to their churches, Tom pointed out, and they expend all their energies and resources, their very lives, on building that single congregation. That is the system we presently live with, and its flaws are evident. A church with an exciting program or dynamic leaders may siphon off members of smaller churches around the area, and grow at their expense. It appears to have a thriving ministry, yet the overall witness in the city diminishes. To be called to the entire city means working with like-minded men and women of God in other churches and other denominations to achieve God’s greater purpose.

“Work for the shalom of the city where you dwell, and pray to God on its behalf, for as it prospers, you will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7)

“When He approached, He saw the city and wept over it.” (Luke 19:41)

“Come, let us rebuild…that we may no longer be a reproach.” (Nehemiah 2:17)

“Heavenly Father, give us teams of prayer-warriors, people who can see this city–as needy as one has ever been in this nation’s history–and will weep over it in prayer, then rise up and build in thy power according to thy blueprints.”