I wondered what kind of turnout we would have at our weekly pastors’ meeting at First Baptist-LaPlace since our Christmas banquet was just Monday night. But 40 or more of our ministers showed up, including several for the first time and perhaps a dozen wives, also for the first time. We roped off the rear of the sanctuary, forcing everyone to sit closer to the front in order to hear one another. Today, the primary speakers were the ministers and their wives themselves.

“How has life for you changed since the hurricane?” I asked, adding that this is not about the church, but your personal situation, your family. I wrote down the responses.

Jose: “We’re eating a lot of fast food. We’re in a lot of churches these days, a different one each week. Expecting to get a FEMA trailer soon, and then we can cook for ourselves.”

Lionel: “My wife cooks great ribs. But none since the storm. We go to a lot of churches, but no church means as much as your own. We’re all separated. My sons are in New Mexico and Houston, and my wife is back and forth between here and Atlanta, where she’s working. It’s tough.”

Willie: “I miss the fellowship with the brethren. There was a restaurant where the preachers congregated, and I always knew when they would be present. I miss that. I miss my books–lost my library in the flood. Can’t get to my members; they’re scattered everywhere. I miss the seminary.”

Le: “I was living in California and God called me to the Viet Nam church here. When I told my friends I was moving to New Orleans, they said, ‘No, this is not the right time.’ I said, ‘It is for me. They need me there.'”

Jay: “I’ve become aware of the spiritual temperature of my family a lot more. My sons are 5 and 6 years old. They’ve had lots of questions about why God let this happen. I finally had to tell them there are some things hard even for preachers to understand.”

Rana: “I’m shopping a lot less–and saving Bobby a lot of money! (laughter) For one thing, there are fewer places open, and then again, you’re not sure if you’re going to have a paycheck. The children have lots of anxieties. I was teaching school, but decided my family needs me at home.”

Jill: “At one point we had 15 family members in one house. We love each other, but the teenagers especially get on your nerves quickly. Our patience was really tried. Thomas has led some of our family members to the Lord.”

Christoph: “I live in Gretna, and as you know, we’ve developed a reputation for turning people back on the expressway when they were fleeing the floodwaters. Lately, the city has turned down requests to put trailers in driveways. I’ve decided I need to become politically involved; we need to make some changes.”

Alberto: “The big change for me is my attitude toward possessions. Relationships with family and friend are far more important. We’ve been tested a lot lately, with family members living in cramped conditions, having to adjust, etc. Some have been angry.”

Bobby: “Our family is learning to show each other the grace of God. To cut each other some slack, be patient. Before the storm, I had peace. But afterwards, I still have the peace, only now with that I carry a deep burden and heaviness in my spirit. It’s like I’m running on two tracks: peace on one and a daily burden for the church family’s grief on the other. This has been a wakeup call for me. I’ve seen how desperately people need their pastor.

Gabriel: “My family was displaced until October. Now, we’re in Boston. Few of my members are coming back, but they keep calling me. Our buildings had lots of damage. I’m going back and forth between here and Boston for a while longer.”

Mel: “Our son is in public school. Since the storm, he has had six teachers. Before, was on the honor roll, but he’s suffering now. We have some relatives living with us. They’re nice, but it’s still a strain. One of them doesn’t like to go to bed at night. The television stays on all night. The clothes she salvaged from her home are stacked to the ceiling in our little home.”

Scott: “As you all know, I married over my head.” (lots of amens) “Jennifer and the kids are doing so much. They wake up in the morning and ask if we’re going down to the church today to help people. I’m so blessed.”

Chip Turner and Atalie Kerne of FamilyNet, the cable channel of the SBC North American Mission Board, arrived from Fort Worth to announce that the local Cox people have agreed to start carrying our programming. It’s also to be included on Sirius radio. In addition to bearing an excellent witness for the Lord, this should raise the visibility of Southern Baptists in the New Orleans area, always a concern for us in past years. Since the hurricane, the ubiquitous yellow-hatted volunteers have helped to turn that around.

Gibbie McMillan, of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, spoke about their involvement here and with the churches on the Northshore. “We’re also giving money to seminarians who were flooded out of their homes,” he said. “It’s not much–five hundred dollars.” He told of one couple, living now back in their parents’ home, who had gone to a dealer to purchase a car to replace one lost in the floodwaters. They needed $500 to meet the purchase price and told the dealer they would go home and reflect on it. When they arrived, they found an envelope from the SBTC containing that very amount. “This is from the Lord,” they said, correctly.

Freddie Arnold, of our associational office, relayed an offer from the Greater Baton Rouge Association for our people to journey there next September for the Saturday of training which we call “Ridgecrest on the River,” and which Katrina sabotaged this year. Several ministers chimed in with various viewpoints, but everyone being thankful for the offer, and concluded it would be best for us to plan and put on our own training next year.

Freddie had dinner Tuesday evening with David and Ninfa Rodriguez of the Horeb Baptist Mission in Gretna. Their church is flourishing, he said, and they have baptized 23 since the storm, part of the 150 who evacuated with them to the Dry Creek campgrounds in the western part of Louisiana. Horeb has begun an English speaking service, with 30 attending. Most are relatives of the Spanish-speaking members of the church.

Everyone knows that Freddie and Elaine Arnold lost their home in Eastern New Orleans. She is staying with relatives in Walker, Louisiana, toward Baton Rouge, and Freddie is building a small house on their family property there on weekends. During the week, he frequently spends the nights at my house. Today he said, “Everyone has received me with open arms. People have given me the key to their house. Brother Joe hasn’t yet.” (Laughter. I said, “No, but I leave the door unlocked and the porch light on!”) He continued, “Maybe this is why God hasn’t allowed the FEMA trailer to come yet–for me to enjoy fellowship with some of you this way.”

Rick Lopez, pastor of the devastated Lake Forest Church, told of a team from First Baptist-Brevard, NC coming down to start cleaning out the church. He was offered a job and needs the income, of course, but was torn, feeling he needed to be at the church helping his helpers. A deacon agreed to meet them at the church and let them in. Once Rick arrived at the place of employment, he told his new boss, “I don’t know what I’m doing here. I’m out of place. I need to be back at my church.” He resigned the job before he ever started. When he told his wife, she said, “I’m glad to hear you say this. I was about to give you the Scripture you’re always giving me: ‘Be still and know that I am God.'”

Aaron Arledge, associate director of campus ministry for our local colleges, asked the pastors to get house-renovation job requests in from their members and get them in the hopper. “We have many groups coming in to help you, and we need to know where to send them.” He’s also looking for churches to host volunteer groups, especially in fellowship halls and Sunday School rooms, particularly during Christmas and Spring breaks.

David Crosby is keeping the Franklin Graham “Celebration of Hope” before our people. It’s scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, March 11 and 12, at the New Orleans Arena. Training will begin soon to prepare our people for reaching their friends and counseling those who come forward in the services.

The plans are to meet next Wednesday, December 14, at the usual time, 9 am, at First Baptist-LaPlace, and then skip December 21 and 28 because of the holidays.