“BAGNO” is the acronym for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. Our pastors are scattered from one end of this country to the other, thanks to Katrina. Those who read this may know some whom we have not located (yes, we’re still trying to find several), and we would surely appreciate your passing this along to them.

1) About our Wednesday ministers meeting. We gather ALMOST every Wednesday from 9 to noon at the First Baptist Church of LaPlace, ending with lunch at 11:30 which the church provides. These informational/inspirational/fellowship meetings have been the best thing we have done.

However, a couple of changes are about to occur as we move into the holiday season. One, this Wednesday, November 16, the meeting will be abbreviated, beginning at 10 am. Some of us will miss it, as we will be driving back from the state convention in Monroe on Wednesday. Then, the following Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, the LaPlace church will be closed, so we will not be meeting at all. We will resume on Wednesday morning, November 30, at 9 am.

2) About the money that is available to help you, your church, and your members. Thanks to the generosity of the Lord’s people, we have several hundred thousand dollars available to assist you. Our committee of three (Gonzalo Rodriguez, Tony Merida, and Lionel Roberts) meets weekly to receive written requests for these funds and to make decisions about who gets what.

Originally, I said to the committee somewhat humorously, I hope, that they may want to use the philosophy that guided me in the pastorate when people asked for financial assistance. The Lord told us to “give to whoever asks of you” (Luke 6:30), but He did not say we have to give them what they ask for or as much!

Pastors who are unable to attend the Wednesday meetings may write out and mail your requests to Tony Merida at First Baptist Church, p. o. box 1357, Kenner, LA 70063, or e-mail them to Tony at tmerida6@hotmail.com or to Gonzalo at revchalo@hotmail.com.

3) I always feel a need to emphasize to everyone that this large amount of money is not as much as one might think, considering we have over 100 churches. How many churches exactly? It’s impossible to know. Some we have put down as destroyed are meeting in exile (for want of a better word) and still trying to carry on as a body in Christ. Pre-K, we had 75 churches and 60 missions.

Those wishing to contribute to our associational fund will want to know that this money is being distributed faithfully, carefully, and generously. Our rule is grace. And you need to know that we will be needing more money soon.

Send contributions to NEW ORLEANS ASSISTANCE, Louisiana Baptist Foundation, p. o. box 311, Alexandria, LA 71309. Everything you give is tax deductible, and we will be writing to thank you.

4) I want all our ministers to know of two important events coming up. a. Our PRAYER WALK FOR NEW ORLEANS is next Saturday, November 19. We will meet at Williams Boulevard BAptist Church at 10 am to receive instructions and a “PRAY NEW ORLEANS” t-shirt and some refreshments before departing with host pastors to walk their neighborhoods and pray. We’re delighted to hear from the Lord’s people in distant areas saying they cannot join us bodily, but will be praying at the same time.

b. Our CHRISTMAS BANQUET will be Monday night, December 5, at the First Baptist Church of Covington on the North Shore, at 7 pm. This outstanding church is providing the evening for all our ministers and wives at no cost to us. Please let us know you’re coming, by calling the office of First Baptist Kenner, 504/ 466 5381. You’ll have to arrange for your own child care, but if you need $$ help to cover it, let me know.

5) Pastors and staff ministers, you are being loved and prayed for and supported as you have never experienced in your life. Enjoy it. Stand tall. Be strong and courageous. This is no time for fear, for timidity, for negativism, or for sitting back and watching. This is the time for action, for faith, for praise, for love. This is a scary ride, admittedly, but you will be remembering it and talking about it the rest of your life. Make the most of it.

I don’t have the exact quote, but I have savored the line engraved on an English church that pays tribute to its founding father, and goes something like this. “In the year 1655, when all the world was (something…in bad trouble, becoming more evil), Sir Robert Shirley founded this church. Whose singular testimony is that in the worst of times, he did the best of things.”

When they write the history of God’s people in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, may they say that about you and me. No praise could be higher.