Ask a local what “potpourri” (pronounced PO – purree) means and he or she will say, “A little of this, a little of that.” Which is a good description of our Wednesday pastors meetings at Oak Park Baptist Church.
Beginning, I told the pastors and guests of a preacher who had declared bankruptcy recently and how upsetting that was to his members. “Anyone can have money problems,” I assured them, then backed it up with my own tales from the early years of our marriage when neither Margaret nor I wanted to pay the bills because there was never enough money in the bank. “You need help. Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs, because He knew each one needs a buddy. You cannot do this by yourself. You need a friend, a counselor, someone to help you in a crisis.” Pastors are often isolated and bear both their burdens and their joys alone. Then wonder why they get into trouble.
Freddie Arnold presented information on how churches can start home Bible studies, taking advantage of the receptive climate God has given us. He promoted the September 9 “Ridgecrest on the River” when New York’s Gary Frost will be the keynote speaker.
Rudy and Rose French have returned from six weeks in Canada, seeing to some medical needs. “We were shuttled from doctor to doctor,” Rudy said. “It was enough to make you think FEMA had been managing Canadian Health programs.” One result of the runaway heartbeat he’s dealing with these days, Rudy says, is facing his own mortality. “I’m 57, and at the most, I may have 30 more years left. What to do with the rest of my life is a great question.”
Tobey Pitman, project director of Operation NOAH Rebuild, said, “God is so good. Last week I mentioned we need a volunteer to coordinate our food services for the next two years. And Cherry Blackwell stepped up and volunteered.” This Saturday, they are opening Volunteer Village in the World Trade Center downtown, floors 3, 4, and 5 with full accommodations. “We have 400 guests already lined up for next week,” he said, “making this a baptism of fire.” They still have to get the kitchen up and running. It has not been used in five years and needs work. “We need an ice machine,” Tobey said. “Time is of the essence.” He added, “We need a volunteer who can take over the renovation of that kitchen, and getting it inspected and licensed.”
Once everything in Volunteer Village is operational, the cost will be $20 per night per volunteer. This covers 3 meals, badges, supplemental insurance, and parking.
Anthony Orzo of Metairie’s Lakeside Church was with us for the first time in months. “I’m supposed to be part-time at our church,” he said, “giving about 10 hours a week of my time. For the last few months, I’m averaging 60 hours a week.” They’ve replaced the roof and now working on the ed building. “We had a block party 3 weeks ago. In 3 hours, we had 65 people come by, which is phenomenal. Next week, a group from Michigan is coming in to do vacation Bible school for us.”
Jay Adkins of FBC Westwego said, “Folks, please go by the World Trade Center and see the Volunteer Village. You will be so impressed.” The best thing that’s happening at the Westwego church is in the youth ministry, Jay said. He told of a Higgins High School student, a football player, getting saved and starting a Bible study in that school. “He’s really having an impact on the kids,” he said, adding, “Don’t forget the youth.”
Dennis Watson of Metairie’s Celebration Church said, “We are 80% finished with the rebuilding of our ‘west’ campus,” which is the former Crescent City Baptist Church campus. “The Airline campus was destroyed, causing $6 million in damage.” The church’s relief center has ministered to 125,000 families through May. They are partnering with FBC Arabi and planning to erect a facility on that site. “We’re working with Eddie Scott’s Christian Bible Fellowship, too,” he said. They’re sending mobile disaster relief troups to various sites.
“Feed the Multitudes” on the 4th was a function of several of our churches working with the Pastors Coalition. This is a group of 200 to 300 pastors working together, something unheard of before Katrina. (Since I reported on that July 4 event here, I’ll give a quick report. Thousands came, a lot of ministry took place, and in the early afternoon the heavens opened up and dropped 2 inches of rain on the park, shutting down the festivities. The leaders had wisely decided not to try to build a Habitat house there that day due to the mud at the Crossroads site.)
Dennis announced that Josh McDowell will be at Celebration on August 21. The first 200 pastors to register will be admitted. Then, August 26, Anne Graham Lotz brings “Just Give Me Jesus” to the N.O. Arena.
Christoph Bajewski reported that FBC Gretna is experiencing a spiritual revival and having the normal problems that go with that. God is really working; some are sharing their faith for the first time.
Boogie Melerine of Delacroix is looking for a permanent location for their church. “Things have slowed down,” he said. They’re averaging 70 with 4 or 5 first time visitors each Sunday.
Wayne Scholle, recently resigned pastor of Barataria in Jean Lafitte, will preach in view of a call for a church in central Louisiana. He confessed a little anxiety over the transition. “I have never served outside this association,” he said, “where 99 percent of the people are Catholics. How can I work in the Bible belt? Pray for me.”
Kevin Lee of Edgewater introduced Katie Davis, summer missionary. “She is a recent graduate of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore,” he said. “She came down in the spring and worked, gutting out homes. Later, she contacted us and volunteered to join us for the summer. She’s working with kids, cleaning parks, doing door to door work, anything. God is bringing families to our church because of her ministry.”
“We had a great week,” Kevin said. “InterVarsity Fellowship has been here gutting out homes. We are 3 weeks away from moving into the rebuilt part of our buildings. We are meeting this Sunday to vote on renovating the sanctuary and office. Two months ago, we thought that was another year off. We are so blessed.”
Kevin continued, “We’ve trying to decide whether to reopen our day care. We had a thriving 5 day/week program going before the storm. Now homeowners are asking if we plan to reopen. Samaritan’s Purse has just guaranteed us a new playground. There is some grant money available to help churches open day care centers.”
Edgewater is averaging 100 on Sunday morning, Kevin reported. “Our temporarily facility will only seat 125, so we may be the first church in our part of the city to have two morning services before long.”
In answer to my question, Kevin told the group that it is estimated from 25 to 40% of the homes in their area have not been touched since the hurricane. “Twenty percent of our pre-Katrina population are back,” he said, “and we have 70 houses on our list to work.”
Bill Day, Parkview Church and NOBTS, introduced Barry Rogers, seminary student and their summer worker. “We just finished VBS and then donated our leftover material to some other churches,” he said. Bill emphasized next Wednesday’s July 12 meeting of pastors in which we divide the city into 28 zones and begin to plan for the next phase of ministry.
Jerry Darby, One Faith Church, “We’re still praying the Lord will allow us to return. I’m still driving in from Texas. One of our adopted churches is flying my wife and me to Connecticut to speak on July 30.”
Tony Bellow, Hahnville Mission, “Two churches spent six days with us, putting on a new roof, and gutting out some houses. They did a vacation Bible school with a fish fry and barbecue for 80 people.”
Lionel Roberts, St. Bernard Mission, “We’re running 20 to 30 each week. But remember, most of our pre-K congregation came from the housing development that is now empty and locked down.” Lionel and his wife are traveling to FBC California, Missouri, their adoptive church. “They’re knocking themselves out helping us,” he said, “including paying for a new baptistry.” “There’s so much crime in the city,” he added, “we need to come together and pray.”
Paul Hussey is the interim pastor of FBC Belle Chasse. “We’re the last church standing in the parish,” he said, referring to Plaquemines. “Our people are slow to return. Pray they will catch the vision.”
Lynn Rodrigue of Port Sulphur, 30 miles below Belle Chasse, reported, “We have so much to be thankful for, so many groups to thank. Virginia Baptists are partnering with us. They see things I cannot see that need to be done. We’ve giving out food to 500 families a week. Katrina devastated us, but it also opened our eyes. We are flourishing. Getting to know people on a first name basis.” Lynn began to reminisce about the flood that followed Katrina. He said, “One of my neighbors rode his house downstream and passed my house twice.” Things are so open in the community now, he said. “Our church is the hub in the community. People know where to come for help.”
Lynn continued, “I thank God for FEMA. People make jokes about them, but they have really been good to us. They’ve sent us truckloads of supplies to give out. FEMA is there for us. Oklahoma Baptists sent in a water purification system for us. It produces 8 gallons of pure water a minute.”
He went on. “Someone asked what do we need? I said, ‘An ice machine.’ Now we have it. It turns out 500 lbs every 24 hours. Now I’m looking for a freezer to keep it in. Thank you, Southern Baptists.”
“Without Southern Baptists,” Lynn said, “where would we be? Every time we have a need, the phone rings and God provides. That’s not human. God is doing that. God tells me, ‘Trust me. I’m going to provide.'”
“We’ve been focused on physical needs, but a group from Virginia is coming to do Bible School for us. And folks, the Virginia Baptists are going to be providing a house for my wife and me and our four children.” They’re now living in that tiny FEMA trailer. And if Lynn is to be believed, loving every minute of it.
It’s gotta be a God thing.
Scott Smith and Jeff Walker of Highland Church: “We have 200 gallons of bleach to give. Anyone need it? Also a window air-conditioner.” Boogie Melerine claimed that immediately for his house church. Scott asked for 4 or 5 more churches this Sunday to host World Changers in their services and feed them lunch. He was getting volunteers before the words hit the floor.
Ken Taylor and Jimmy Dukes from Elysian Fields Avenue Church: “We’re meeting at Gentilly Church right now. They were supposed to have air conditioning in, but it’s not. So we’re meeting outside on Franklin Avenue. People find that strange and stop and take pictures. So it’s a good witness.” Arkansas Baptist Convention is housing their people in the Gentilly building without a/c, bless their hearts. And a New Jersey group is on its way. What about the old Elysian Fields site? “We’re praying for the Lord’s direction.”
Tom and Juanite Pewitt of Memorial: “Our sanctuary is gutted, and we’re waiting on several things before we can rebuild it. About two-thirds of our members are back. We had 65 last Sunday. Three of our senior deacons have died since Katrina. Woodmont Church of Nashville is coming next week for VBS.”
Anthony Pierce of Evangelistic: “Morristown, TN, sent a United Methodist Church group last week into the St. Roch area of town to do backyard Bible clubs in a FEMA trailer park. This was an energized group. They did a great job of drawing kids and parents to the gatherings, including the FEMA security guard and N.O. police officers. When I took the guests to the Lower 9th Ward to show them the devastation, a 15 year old from Tennessee looked at me and said, ‘Thank you for coming back here and for giving us the opportunity to serve.'” Anthony looked at the pastors and said, “The reason I’m back is some of you.”
The final word of our meeting was a question about the Bush-Clinton Katrina fund. The deadline for applying is the end of July, but the money the fund is offering is no longer capped at $35,000. Now the ceiling is an inspiring $200,000.
Next week, July 12, at 10 am, our state leadership and possibly NAMB leaders will present plans for a new zone ministry of R & R, reach and rebuild, for all our pastors and church leaders. Important that each one be present. We had 36 today, but need three times that next week.
The following week, our “Wednesday” pastors meeting will move to Tuesday. Frank Page, newly elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of the FBC of Taylors, SC, will be with us, so we’re moving the meeting to fit his schedule. It’s also 10 am and lunch will follow. No charge. You are invited.