Please continue to pray for the many who are suffering as a result of Isaac. Some areas were hit much harder than we were. I’m going to include an update from the Baptist Disaster Relief team. Help with your time or your money. Certainly prayers are appropriate. I think we may not be aware of all the problems because many of us have been limited to such a small area.
Pray for those who are out and about helping others in our area and throughout the state. Especially pray for the first responders, police, electrical people, etc. who are giving so much time and effort to make life safer/better for us. As I write this, we are experiencing another heavy rain. I’m safely in my home with all its comforts, but others are out in the weather trying to help us. Be patient if you do not have power, it takes time to locate problems and get them corrected.
Stay at home if you are not helping. Trees are down on roadways and will continue to fall with the wind and rain. I know of several homes that had trees fall on them. Even at home, this is very dangerous weather. For example, Russell Thompson of Amite was seriously injured when a tree hit him inside his home in Amite. He has been hospitalized in Hammond. Also, a tree the fell west of Kentwood fell on Mr. Dee Newcomb’s truck and caused Dr. Trappey to run into it. Mr. Newcom is hospitalized in Baton Rouge in ICU and will have additional surgery tonight.
As you can, help people. Generators are difficult for older people. Some driveways need to have a tree removed. People without electricity would love a meal or a bed in a home with air conditioning. I don’t have to tell you how to help. Make yourself available. The needs are all around us. As if Isaac hadn’t disrupted life enough, people along the Tangipahoa were asked to leave home due to possible flooding from the lake at Percy Quin. Flooding is still a major issue in many parts of our state, Mississippi, and Alabama.
If you can’t help in big ways, help in small ways and be an encourager. Those who are without power, and they are many, could use ice, cans of gasoline if they have a generator, a place to take a shower and cool off, a hot meal, etc. Be available. The needs are all around us. You will be blessed as you bless others.
Say thank-you to those who are helping. Be patient. Be helpful to families that have a member our helping others. They may need something you can do. Open your eyes and ears.
Louisiana Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Update 8/31/12
The Baptist Message reports the news below following Issac’s soaking path through the state:
According to Gibbie McMillan, LBC Disaster Relief Director, chainsaw units from Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas are scheduled to be onsite Friday and Saturday.
Two Louisiana feeding units are onsite in Houma, including the new “LA1” purchased earlier this summer. A laundry/shower trailer is set up at Coteau Baptist Church in Houma, which also is serving as a community shelter. A chainsaw unit from Lake Charles is scheduled to arrive in the Houma area sometime today, Friday, Aug. 31.
Two additional Louisiana feeding units are scheduled for Friday at Northshore Baptist Church in Slidell, and First, Covington.
In New Orleans: Disaster Relief feeding units are slated for Gentilly Baptist and a community center in Westwego. The Incident Command Center will be stationed at First Baptist, Kenner.
Feeding units from Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma also are onsite, according to Erich Greer of the LBC DR Office. Texas Baptist Men are at First, Covington. Arkansas is at First, Kenner and Gentilly, New Orleans. Oklahoma is sending two units to Westwego. Southern Baptists of Texas’ unit is at Zoar Baptist in Baton Rouge.
Preliminary damage reports include:
- A dozen large trees were downed on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, two of them on homes occupied by professors; most fell across fences. One of the student apartment buildings sustained significant roof damage.
- Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, where SBC President Fred Luter is pastor, sustained some wind damage and roof leaks but no flooding.
- Oak Park Baptist Church, First, Chalmette; Barataria Baptist, Celebration in LaPlace (including pastor’s home); First, Madisonville; several churches on the Northshore and the New Orleans Baptist Association’s building all report damage of some extent.
Issac’s winds tore down the steeple at Barataria Baptist Church, a steeple that had withstood Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike and Gustav “and several more before that,” said Pastor Eddie Painter. The hole left by the fallen steeple caused interior damage as well.
Reports indicate that First, LaPlace probably was flooded, but with the town cut off by high water, the condition of that low-lying church is unknown at this point.
First, Madisonville, rebuilt after Katrina, was flooded. Volunteers are to mud out First, Madisonville starting at 1 p.m. today, Friday, Aug. 31.
In the Baptist Associations of Southeastern Louisiana, Stan Statham reported that both Trinity Baptist Church and Bethel Baptist Church in Franklinton are flooded. In Bogalusa, the roof of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church has been torn off and the parsonage of Main Street Baptist has roof damage.
Assessments by directors of missions were done Thursday and Friday, and hopefully by later today, Disaster Relief assessors will be able to start work. Due to a procedural delay, the first meal to be prepared by the feeding units is noon Saturday, according to Greer.
Please continue to pray for those adversely affected by the storms as well as the volunteers who are providing much-needed services.
Donations to Disaster Relief efforts can be made by clicking this link,www.LBC.org/DRFund.
Check the LBC website, www.LBC.org, for additional updates.
Baptist Message staff are monitoring Facebook and Twitter for updates from churches, as well as onsite over the long weekend in southern Louisiana. Send news of your church to karen@baptistmessage.com.
Elizabeth Hyde Stevens (mother of one of my early school friends)
(March 12, 1924 – August 28, 2012)
“Our Mama wanted all of her life to go to Heaven and see Jesus. This week she got to go!”
A resident of Roseland, Mrs. Stevens went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at Willis Knighton South Hospital in Shreveport. She was born March 12, 1924 in Chesbrough and was 77 years of age. She is survived by her 3 daughters, Sue Ellen Pearson and husband, Craig, Shreveport, Terry Pye and husband, Tommy, Paula Hodges, Kentwood; 15 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; sister, Ann Ballard, Roseland; 2 brothers, John Hyde, Westlake and William “Bill” Hyde, Tickfaw; plus many friends and relatives. Preceded in death by parents, Charles “Tot” Hyde and Ethel Smith Hyde; husbands, Shelby O. Russell, Delbert Toney and Jack Stevens; sister, Rita Westmoreland Lee; brother, Charles Hyde; granddaughter, Taylor Hodges. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 10 a.m. until religious services at 12 Noon on Tuesday, September 4, 2012. Services conducted by Rev. Bob Simpson. Interment Big Creek Cemetery, Roseland. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
The Prayer Link 