Tuesday morning I dropped in on a church staff meeting already in progress. When the pastor asked for my prayer requests, I said, “Pray that churches wanting to help us will be willing to do whatever the situation requires. Many have their own agenda. They want to do what they want to do, and usually that means the kind of dramatic, save-the-city efforts that gives them a good feeling when they leave. But it’s not always what we need.” The others in the room shook their heads; they’re seeing it, too.

Now, I understand the problem. You go to a great deal of trouble in north Alabama or Tennessee or Kentucky to assemble a team of volunteers, the congregation raises money to send them, and you travel 500 miles. When you arrive, the host pastor says, “I need you to grind those stumps.” “Cut that grass.” “Clean this building.” “Fill in for the cooks from 3 to 7 am.” “Put on a block party for our neighborhood.” And you’re frustrated.

“I thought the city was in trouble,” you think to yourself. “I thought they needed us to clean out sheetrock and insulation, to rewire churches, and replace roofs. We went to a lot of trouble to help them, and they’ve got us pushing brooms and going down the street to asking the neighbors if they need our help.”

Make no mistake, this city is in desperate trouble. It has endless needs. More and more, we will be able to use outside volunteers to bring the city back. But it’s not so simple. To work in the worst affected areas, workers need training and equipment. To rewire a church or home, one needs permits and approvals from city offices, a time-consuming process that is causing many people to tear their hair out.

I know of no better counsel that this: before you bring a group to New Orleans, come scout the situation. Meet your host pastor and his team, learn about their community. Find out whether you will be working for that church and its members, or using their facilities as a base for branching into the city itself. If the pastor needs your group to help with a block party or to clean their buildings or to pick up trash, demonstrate a servant spirit for your group and pitch in.

If your group is able to do the heavy lifting (i.e., work in the worst damaged areas), they will need training. If they’ve not had the “official” disaster relief training, Freddie Arnold in our associational office can spend a couple of hours with your team and tell them what they need to know. His email is freddie@bagnola.org.

Here’s an update on the saga of the New Orleans Harbor Police chief who is being investigated for insubordination as a result of staying on the job in the days following Katrina. The state attorney general’s office assures the citizens their investigation is routine, that the man defied orders of his superior to close the office and leave the city, but there is no foregone conclusion as to what actions if any will be taken.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee, our legendary Chinese law enforcement officer who is capable of dishing out equal parts infuriation and inspiration depending on the circumstance, has a role in the fray. Turns out before Chief Becker defied his superior officer, he sought the advice of the sheriff of the adjoining parish. When Becker wrote a letter informing his officers that he was no longer taking orders from his boss, that he alone was in charge of this office, Harry Lee wrote underneath, “Done with the counsel and agreement of this office,” and signed it. In a television interview, Sheriff Lee adamantly defended the harbor chief and said, “They ought to pin a medal on him. And if they don’t, I’ll do it myself.” The citizens agree. A letter to the editor in Tuesday’s Times-Picayune calls for Chief Becker to be promoted and his boss to head for the unemployment line. Stay tuned.

Stressful situations do not make the man; they reveal him. We are making discoveries about ourselves that are not always welcome, as a result of these difficult days.

“Did you get that envelope I mailed you last Tuesday?” Nope. And there’s no knowing when it will arrive. The postal service is short-handed and heavily-burdened. They’re still not delivering third class mail. I haven’t read a Newsweek or Time since mid-August.

“Keep the faith!” shouted the yard signs promoting the New Orleans Saints. Throughout the summer, we were being urged on every hand to buy season tickets for this fall. “Keep the faith.” Um hmmm. When the storm hit and the Superdome became unusable, Saints owner Tom Benson moved the team lock stock and barrel to San Antonio. When his assistant urged him to agree to play at least four games this year in Baton Rouge at LSU stadium, Benson reluctantly agreed, then publicly fired the assistant. Next thing you know, Benson is meeting with the mayor of San Antonio who wants the team. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue got involved and, if I’m any judge of anything, rebuked Benson for the worst public relations in the history of the league. Instead of leading the way to rebuilding the city, inspiring a disheartened people, Benson wants to cut and run. So much for keeping the faith. Tom Benson may be the most unpopular figure in Louisiana right now. And that’s saying quite a lot.

Our Lord said, “He who would be great among you, let him be your servant.” If you want to lead, you have a problem; few want to follow. But if you are willing to serve, you’ve come to the right place. Everyone needs help.