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Subject: Hurricane Katrina Update from Louisiana - #2

September 5, 2005

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters -

 

As you have probably all seen in the TV and newspaper coverage, the devastation and probable loss of life is staggering.  As previously reported, several of the saints from New Orleans evacuated the city and are safe.  We know now as of today's date that all of the saints from the church in New Orleans have been accounted for.  Many, if not all, of these of these saints, though safe physically, have, in all probability, lost everything.  They will need housing, clothing, food and jobs until they return to New Orleans, if indeed they choose to do so.  In addition, many saints in Louisiana and elsewhere have taken in the evacuated saints.  Some of the local saints in addition to housing these New Orleans saints are providing for their own family members and/or friends from the affected areas for what appears to be the foreseeable future.

 

We are also before the Lord as to how to minister the riches of Christ to all these suffering ones. From experience, we know that there is a window of time during which people who incur such sufferings are softened and open to the gospel.  Eventually that window begins to close as the hardness of the world begins to settle in.  We only know to do more of what we are already doing.  Many Christian groups in Baton Rouge, the nation, and the world are rising up to meet the physical and social needs. That is a genuine necessity in this situation, and for those services to our fellow man we are thankful. 

 

However, what we are seeing here is twofold: 

1.  Baton Rouge has become a transport point for the refugees, those who are in desperate straits, to be sent to other cities such as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio for extended care.  2.  Baton Rouge, along with other cities in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia is receiving large numbers of families and other working people who are relocating, moving from New Orleans to find housing, jobs, and schools for their children. The population of Baton Rouge quite possibly has doubled in less than one week!

 

        For example:  Much of our church life in these days is centered around the labor on the campuses and in the homes with the students sent to Louisiana State University (LSU) from throughout the state and the world.  Now LSU is opening its doors to all the students enrolled in New Orleans based universities (University of New Orleans (UNO), Southern University - New Orleans (SUNO), Tulane, Loyola, Xavier, Dillard, Delgado Community College) that have now been displaced.  (We know that Tulane and UNO will not even open this fall.)  LSU is providing free admission to these displaced students.  Therefore, for the new students being received by LSU, we have a campus presence through our team of full-timers and students with our campus organization Believers at LSU.  We have had a table on campus to contact these new students as they have been trying to get enrolled.  Thus far there has been a marked, positive difference in the reception from these new enrollees compared to our response from students during the first week of classes.  The field that was already white to harvest has just been enlarged.  Please pray for this. 

 

        In this present environment, the Wal Marts, real estate offices, convenience stores, clothing stores, department stores, etc. are teeming with people purchasing the necessities and niceties for relocating to our city.   Baton Rouge public and private schools have reopened registration for the children of these new residents. The city roads and the infrastructure in general are being strained and tested with the increase in population.  Whether this is for the short term or the long term, we want to take this opportunity to present to these new residents, while their hearts are open, the eternal economy of God, i.e., the vision of the age from the ministry of the age that covers the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.  How best to do this we are fellowshipping with the Body as well as among ourselves.  Please pray for this.

 

This same scenario is being played out across the South.  Many of the families and students will relocate to Shreveport, Louisiana, where there is a team of full-timers and a vibrant church life. Many of the evacuees have been transported to Houston, Dallas and San Antonio and we would expect that universities in those places will also be opening their doors.  

 

More information and fellowship will be forthcoming in the coming days.  Continue to pray for the dear displaced saints, the families of those saints in the churches around the country who are from the New Orleans area but now living elsewhere, and for the churches.

 

Again, we have been struggling to determine how to respond to the immense suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Many of you have called or written with offers of money and even houses for these displaced saints to live in.  This outpouring of love and concern is truly a sign that we are in the Body, and for this we are most appreciative.  To respond to this outpouring, we have established an account with Chase bank to which offerings can be made for these saints. Checks sent to us for this purpose should be made out to

 

    The Church in Baton Rouge - Special Needs Account

      and mailed to:

 

      The Church in Baton Rouge

      P.O. Box 41562

      Baton Rouge, LA  70835.

 

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