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A Year After Katrina, Churches Still Picking Up the Slack
Orginally published on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at 7:51 AM
by Todd Rhoades
It's been a year since Hurrican Katrina ravaged the gulf coast, and much has been on the news this week about how the situation could've been handled better. I've seen stories critical of the federal government and President Bush; I've seen stories critical of local New Orleans may Roy Nagen; and stories about how the Louisiana Governer really dropped the ball. One of the real stories that goes mostly uncovered is the fact that many churches from across the United States have flocked to the gulf coast to really make a difference; a difference that governments with their billions of dollars have been unable to make...
One example is NorthRidge Church in Plymouth, MI. NorthRidge has continued to volunteer on construction teams nearly one year after the disaster.
“The devastation still exists in many areas,” says Beth Harris, Outreach Coordinator for NorthRidge. “Even though we’re approaching the one year anniversary, there is still much work to do and people still need help.”
Between October 2005 and April 2006 NorthRidge sent 16 teams (over 300 people) to partner with Samaritans Purse and the relief effort. Just in the past two months NorthRidge launched an additional 5 teams to continue the work. Many of these volunteers are going for their second time with seven people making their third trip.
“Reaching out to those who cannot reach back is what we are called to do in living out our faith. Reflecting Christ’s love through our actions is an honor and a privilege,” said Brad Powell, Senior Pastor of NorthRidge.
NorthRidge has plans to start another recruitment campaign in September for another 300 volunteers to carry through to May of 2007.
Great job, NorthRidge.
I know my church in Bryan, OH has sent two separate groups down to help with reconstruction in Biloxi. I was wondering, what have some of our other “MMI” churches done to help with the after effects of Katrina?
Please take a moment to share your experience, and how you’ve been able to help. If your church did nothing; share that too, and why. It should make for an interesting discussion.
Todd
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Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at 10:58 AM
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Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at 11:17 AM
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Thursday, August 31, 2006 at 8:36 AM
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Friday, September 01, 2006 at 7:24 AM
Post Your Comments:Sent financial support immediately (2005) to some churches in the MS region. Youth ministry of our church took several dozen teens this summer (2006) into the MS region to help with re-build projects.
We are partners with an EFCA church in the “central city.” Many of their people live in the shadow of the Superdome in the “housing projects.” Besides taking up HUGE offerings, churches have been GOING in the name of Jesus to clean-up, gut out and rebuild houses for those in New Orleans who have NO connection to the churches at work.
Recently, the Compassion Ministries of the EFCA and the response teams in N.O. have communicated with us the life changing stories that have come from residents experiencing the love of Christ through volunteer teams.
Our own church will be going to help re-build homes this fall. We had a coolege student spend the summer there as well. For more info on WHAT is really happening… don ‘t watch the network news… check out the ministries that are on the ground!
The one we love is http://www.urbanimpact.org But, there are literally thousands of Christians on the ground in the area ravaged across Mississippi, and Louisiana…
We are, in the next few weeks, sending our fourth and fifth groups (some people, bless their hearts, have been part of all of them so far and continue to take time off to do this) to Passagoula, MS to rebuild. Our commitment is long-term. It is one of the things I am immensely “proud” of with our people, the caring that they have done in this regard…
We are a smaller church of about 120 active members. We have a core (but growing) group of about 10 15 who are experienced and gifted in the World Changers style of construction ministry. So our church has sent about 4 teams to help. Last two trips (including one this October) have been to Gulf Shores, which was nearly wiped off the map along with Pass Christian and Waveland. One guy had an 18 wheeler that the kids from his wife’s middle school filled with supplies and he took that down there somewhere early on. We also sent a team down to help after Hurricane Ivan (Sept 04?). It was kind of neat, while on the highways headed south, to see church van after church van headed that way - and you knew they were going to help out. We have relatives in N.O. proper and visited them last Thanksgiving and saw the devestation first hand. Unreal. God bless the folks who are working to rebuild.
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