When I was growing up on the Alabama farm, we would come in from the fields at noon and eat like we had never seen food before. When the last of the bowls were clean, invariably someone could be heard to sigh, “I feel like everyone in the world has eaten now.”

That’s a real syndrome. When you’re satisfied, it’s easy to forget those still in need. The opposite seems to apply also: when you’re in severe need, you tend not to notice others in worse shape than you. Case in point: Pass Christian, Mississippi.

Monday morning’s Times-Picayune highlighted this little town not far inside the Mississippi line from Louisiana and the site of Gulf Shore Baptist Assembly, a wonderful retreat on the beach which we use as much as the Mississippians do. According to the paper, Pass Christian was wiped out by Katrina and still lies there pretty much untouched. “Mississippi coast remains a wreck,” said the headline. No lots are cleared, the stench is everywhere, and displaced citizens shiver inside their tent cities. Mayor Billy McDonald, working out of a trailer, does not expect the word ‘recovery’ to roll off his lips for many months. Few people had insurance, fewer have jobs, there is no money, there’s precious little hope.

So, where is FEMA? In the weeks following Katrina, while New Orleanians were griping about the lapses of this government emergency response organization, all we heard was how pleased our neighbors in Mississippi were with Mike Brown and his team. No more. According to U.S. Representative Gene Taylor, “FEMA could mess up a one-car funeral.” “The federal response, from highways to housing to trailers, is completely unacceptable,” he said.

A reminder to us in New Orleans that our misery is wide-spread, the needs are all around us, and there is plenty of work left for all.

Speaking of misery, I showed my new friend from Harrison, Arkansas, some today. Royce Sweatman has the same job there I do with the Baptist churches of metro New Orleans; he’s the director of missions. As a “blue cap,” Royce oversees the work of our feeding units set up at the First Baptist Church of Kenner, working with the Salvation Army and Red Cross. We sat under a tent for an hour this morning, as I learned how God is using his man to mobilize that rural area of Arkansas for missions. “In the same way Bobby Welch (president of the Southern Baptist Convention) preaches ‘Everyone Can,’ I tell our people ‘Every Church Can.’ Our goal is to have every church involved in mission trips every year.” One of the results is more young people being called to the mission field. As the blue cap, Royce is on his second trip to New Orleans, but he had yet to see the devastated region of our city. We made an appointment for 4 o’clock.

We drove into the usual areas–Lakeview, Gentilly, the Lakefront–and then I turned down Bellaire Drive. This sad little street was featured in Monday’s Times-Picayune as a macabre tourist attraction. Sure enough, there sat a large television truck with its massive satellite dish. On the side, a bright red “CNN” stood out. The crew was getting ready to broadcast. My friend Royce could not believe what he was seeing.

This is ground zero for the breach in the 17th Street Canal, just behind the backyard from this long string of residences. Broken houses, yards piled high with silt and dirt blown in by rushing floodwaters, mounds in front yards composed of cars and bedroom suites and mud, busted trees, holes in the earth, slabs where houses once stood now swept clean, complete and utter chaos. “I’m glad you drove down this street,” said Royce. “Otherwise, I would not have believed it.”

Dennis Watson, pastor of Celebration Church, itself recovering from the devastating effect of floodwaters, has convened a gathering of local pastors of various denominations to work together. At their first gathering, 120 ministers came and decided to quit competing with each other, but to become co-laborers. This Saturday, December 3, they will be directing their energies and those of their congregations toward Franklin Avenue Baptist Church–cleaning it out, stripping it down, preparing it for restoration. They’re inviting everyone to join them from 9 am to 5 pm. The church sits a few blocks south of Interstate 610 on Franklin Avenue in New Orleans.

“We took up an offering to help,” said Royce Sweatman. “Bear in mind, we don’t have any large churches. Most of our congregations probably run 50 or so.” He handed me a check for $14,000 made out to our association. “I know about associations,” he said. “When you lose half your churches, there’s no money coming in to support the work. You’re going to be needing help for salaries and ministries, and we want to be a part of that.” I was overwhelmed.

Wednesday morning, after a Thanksgiving week break, our pastors and other ministers will meet at the First Baptist Church of LaPlace from 9 am until 11:30 when the church serves lunch. The folks from the Franklin Graham organization will be on hand giving information about the upcoming two day event in the New Orleans Arena downtown. And we will be urging our folks to sign up for next Monday’s Christmas BAnquet, to be held at the First Baptist Church of Covington. Pastor Waylon and Mrs. Martha Bailey said, “We want to provide this for your ministers. You are our guests.” Monday, I had a long phone conversation with Martha and learned some of the things they have planned for our people. I can’t wait. More than that, I can’t wait to see the expressions on the faces of our ministers and spouses.

Anyone who has visited my website http://www.joemckeever.com sees at the top of the page a line from Job 4:4, “Your words have stood men on their feet.” I love the concept, but I’ll tell you something just about as good. That’s when someone else’s acts stand me on mine. People like Royce Sweatman and Dennis Watson and Martha Bailey.