Fluid Ministry

Fluid ministry would mean that it changes all the time, like water, which matches relief from floods and hurricanes. It was a different place when I got to Tammany Oaks and I'll BE in a different place tomorrow for an extension of the relief effort down here in Louisiana.

I'm riding tomorrow with Paul Crites down to Sunrise and Hialeah, Florida, loaded with a truck of water and food, chainsaws, and gas cans for some quick relief of the Wilma survivors. So pray for travel graces.

Spoke to Mike Clark of Valdosta on the phone today, he's Blessed and he's not afraid to say so.

Met Ralph Coles from Churches of Christ Disaster Relief, Inc. out of Nashville today. He's the Coordinator of Outreach and Follow-up on a follow up mission with one of the board members. They are staying here a few days, will be visiting with Fred Franke tomorrow. What an awesome ministry! They help people. They are sending some food boxes down to Florida, which is why we are only taking a small set. Their trucks will be leaving to get there about the time we will get there.

Fred gave a couple of elders from Woodland West Church in Arlington TX a tour today of the devastated churches of Christ and some of the other damage, much like he did for Janet, Rhonda and I on Tuesday.

I heard that White's Ferry Road has a mission to help out some of the Church of Christ preachers in hurricane effected areas with salary deficits due to familes and contributions leaving their congregations. The Texas brethren were surprised how few COC's there were in as big a town as New Orleans anyway. And now they're mostly ruined and taking many steps back.

I drove a truck to be serviced at the Penske dealership in New Orleans. Driving back, I was blessed in my time spent with Wayne Newland, a volunteer from Maine. Our discussions were focused on our Restoration Movement heritage. He came down here because he had told his church that he was already going to the Restoration Forum in Lexington KY, so he may as well go down to help with the Katrina relief effort... so they sent him. We spoke of our own journeys, Leroy Garrett (whom he wrote this article link about), and to cap off the day, he carried me to buy some pigma pens (for marking Bibles), then he went and bought me a Dr. Pepper. Good guy for that alone.

We moved a lady this morning named Kay. She has rheumatoid arthritis and had to move from her apartment to more of a retirement village. All of her neighbors seemed to love her and were taking care of her in a fine display of community. Get this: some of her furniture in her upstairs apartment were ruined by molds because the first floor in the complex were flooded! It wafted up through the floors. She can only get around good in her mobile chair and she had one of those lift chairs like my Meemaw has that got ruined. The insurance company said that she couldn't get another one because it wasn't necessary for living. They must not have family members who have one. pray for Kay.

One last thing: There's some girls from Wisconsin Tammy and Sadie who traveled down in a converted school bus/camper by the name of the blue whale. Jerry, it was awesome. I'll try to take pictures. An Airstream trailer is still my dream home, though-- for those of you who didn't know that.

A driving tour

Just riding down the street, you'll see:

Trash heaped up on the sides

Appliances that cannot be used anymore

Downed Power poles

Wrecked Homes

Wrecked Church Buildings

Police Barriers forbidding entrance into former neighborhoods

Even there are local ordinances against such advertising, contractors and lawyers have cheap tacky signs posted all over the place. In these areas, an occasional contractor truck is the traffic.

Back in Louisiana

Visiting Hilltop
I drove the Thing back to Valdosta on the afternoon of October 11th. Since Tim was back from Honduras, I wasn't expected to send off the "troops" in the morning, so I joined our friends at Hilltop. There I met Jerry Wyatt Trapp, an elder and go getter from the Hilltop Church in El Segundo. The mission of Tammany Oaks' Volunteer army and The Hilltop Rescue in Slidell have come to a point of planning the next phase of construction. The destruction and the "first aid" to the homes will not last forever and people will need to rebuild. While I was gone there were meetings and there are plans being made to take it to the next level. Will keep you posted.

Meanwhile, our friends at Hilltop are going through transitions with Jesse going back home to Tacoma and Rick moving to California for work. But thank God Vicki is still around and so many other great volunteers that are making it happen!

Deeper Service
Before I left, Janet, Tim and I had a conference call with Brad Hayes about making sure that the relief effort doesn't fizzle out. There is a joint effort of beefing up the web presence, see servantsunite.org The Spring Road Church of Christ and so many volunteers from there and elsewhere have been helping as much as anyone locally... that is to say that this effort has been a major uniting point for many-- as many have bore the burdens, many should get recognition. But we're all about sending the glory up to God who allows us to bless his name in serving.

While I was gone
Things change so rapidly in this fluid service. Just before I left, we phased out of serving individuals from the lobby, i.e. shut down the store.

Distribution has become focused through the schools. Backpacks are being handed out at elementary schools filled with goodies such as school supplies, other important paper products!, personal hygiene, food, and cleaning supplies. We have some partnering organizations such as Nickelodeon and the Bruce Willis Foundation who are supplying the stuff and we get to hand out the goodies and bless the children!


As I returned
today flying via Cincinnatti back to New Orleans, I was greeted Janet and Rhonda picking me up. They asked me if I was hungry... so we went to dined at Chevy's with Fred Franke, elder at the Carrolton Street Church of Christ. Fred is a dedicated servant of God who has given up his business to answer the call to help the church of New Orleans. Pray for this man. And his family. And the churches of course. There are few servants dedicated to the level that Fred has sacrificed in the past eight weeks--and for probably YEARS to come. I didn't count the number of phone calls he received while we were riding with him this afternoon where his side of the conversation was solely variants of "it'll be all right"s.

I want you to stop reading what I'm writing and go follow the link to servants unite and read
the opening paragraph about New Orleans returning to normal. Brad said it better than I can, but I'll say again... don't you believe that New Orleans is anywhere close to normal-- now or anytime in the near future. Did you see the pictures on the Carrollton Street Church website?

Well these pictures were taken just today:

The sign of the Elysian Fields Church: See that line? That's one of the sediment marks from flood waters that stood for over a week.

The stair well leading into the basement of Elysian Fields Church of Christ. The water mark is barely above your ankle on the first floor, but look what it did in the basement. You would think a couple of inches wouldn't hurt much, but there was mold in the pews... and you can't just get it off.

The SONGS OF THE CHURCH serves as a reference mark so you can see the mold spots. I wonder whose pew this was? You know how everybody has their section that they like to sit in church. Where do you think the Church of Christ's are meeting now? Have you ever thought about that?

Welcome to the Crowder Blvd Church of Christ. This is what's left of the front lobby.

Crosses over broken glass shards.

I stood on the stage to take this picture. That's the lecturn tossed up against the side of the baptistry. The orange you see are pews that were thrown onto the stage by the waters.

Look at this picture. This is the reason I'm here in New Orleans so I can show you the depth of hurt. Look at this. I tried to pick this Bible up, but it was cemented to the carpet by that brown crusty mud. It's been eight weeks and this church is still untouched. It's exposed to the outdoors, just like in the pictures above. Thousands of people have been served immediate needs like water and food. 100's of volunteers have come through who have sacrificed their time, service and vacations. But still all these church buildings that are THIS BAD! Can you stand it?!

Comfort follows pain
Some dear friends of mine are in Africa right now, four of them dedicating at least two years of each of their lives toward loving the multitude of children orphaned and often infected by AIDS. Hope For Africa

The Tim Hines family lives in Honduras building homes for poor people and feeding them, loving them. Torch is finishing up a children's home in December Lord willing. Mi Esperanza is teaching women a trade so they won't have to depend upon infidels for their sustenance. IRC

So there's sad stories everywhere and you could spend your money, time, and tears to many good causes.

I was on the plane today and this young mother was holding her baby in her arms. The baby was crying-- LOUD. She was speaking words of comfort to her in such a way that she was really apologizing to every bothered adult around her. I thought if I even looked over there it would make her feel bad, so I just stayed into my book (Blue Like Jazz). I thought about babies and how they cry--they are often so soon to be comforted. Maybe by a bottle, or a diaper change, or just the familiar ga-ga's of their mom may convince them that everything's all right. Crying their heads off one minute and cooing the next.

Crying isn't so comfortable to adults as it is to the babies. Grown men fight back tears so hard our bodies convulse from the battle. Or even worse, we believe the lie having conditioned ourselves into "real men (who) don't cry."

Well God has touched my heart so much lately that I feel like I'm always sitting on the next cry. There is so much heartache in this world and God expects me to share some of it with those who are weeping amid the fires of pain.

You know that song "GOD IS SO GOOD"? Well He is. God's whole existence is being good to people. And He's been good to ME is about the most profound theological realization of them all. I accept God's goodness. I'm jealous of it. I'm selfish of it, because I want it all!

I'm OK with crying and I long to share my tears with people who are hurting. The tears are a gift from God to those who are hurting. A God-like presentation of shared sufferings with those who are crippled by their pains. Comfort is the next thing after crying.

If you can't come to Mandeville to help, if you can't send money, then like the prophets of old, I call you heretofore hired to cry. Process the world problem of AIDS in Africa and all the lost children. Be bothered that there are people who still don't have a home in Honduras and even so in the USA. Let it cause you pain in your heart that so many people have suffered and are not anywhere near normal down here in Lousiana. The process of mourning should lead to prayer and calling out to God for an answer to this shared pain. Perhaps he will answer us. Perhaps we'll be prompted to stop crying and start doing more. Maybe our consciences may no longer allow us to accept comfort in any situation without sharing the sufferings of those who haven't found the blessing of comfort yet.

Comfort is the next thing after crying.

Walk To Emmaus

I've been back in Georgia for many days, now, traveling back with the express purpose of attending South Georgia Walk to Emmaus #62. To borrow words from a worship song, it was beautful beyond description. I didn't know how God was going to bless me any more than I have been while serving in Louisiana, but He had a plan to get me back in touch with my loved ones in Georgia and also meet many new brothers. I now have a wonderful "great cloud of witnesses" whom I know are praying constantly for my fourth day mission in Louisiana or wherever God sees fit to send me by His mercies.

the elders' statement

A couple of the elders stood before the Tammany Oaks congregation Sunday and encouraged the church members and volunteers from all over. They gave an overview of the work that has been done at Tammany Oaks. It's been six weeks since God called them into this ministry under the darkness of Katrina. They continue to look to God for His guidance.

quote of the day

I don’t want to go back to church and dress up and everything be nice and pretty. What we’ve been doing here is real church, it’s getting dirty and helping people. --Angie G.

The operation

The Git r dun board.

We clear debris

We tarp roofs

We de-muck houses

While someone is back at camp cooking us dinner.

These are our showers

We do chapel twice:

in the morning to pump us up and send us out--

in the evening to talk about where we saw Jesus

Trucks come in and go out

The warehouse

Volunteers come from everywhere across the states.

All part of the same kingdom

Thursday October 6, 2005

A half day of rest
They blessed me with a half day of rest yesterday. By "force" Becky took me to her home and sent me to the bathroom where this fantastic invention named "hot water" abides, then she left while I bathed and returned with a plate of a fantastic concoction of shrimp, round hollow noodles, scrumptious cheese, marinara AND alfredo sauce. Mmm. Then I was going to sit down and dig in the word, but ended up snoozing until time to get back for dinner and evening devotional.

HILLTOP
In the morning, Jason Chesser and I loaded up some appliances for Hilltop camp and took them over. If I never told you before, it's a work-camp ran by brother Machen and his son Rick. They are from Slidell and Rick's house was totaled. But he continues to help people get on their feet before taking care of his own. They are different from Tammany Oaks-- some people just won't wear a shirt with a church's name on it. So they get people from all over, from all walks of life. Their mechanic, Rich, is not a believer, though he grew up going to church said, "I've seen more true Christians since I've been working here than I've ever seen in my life." That's strong. Rich was also visibly touched and shaken when he was telling me that someone had told him that he was an answer to a prayer!

We filled up 100 gallon tank of diesel for the work crews and came on back. It was good to visit with my buddy. He mucked one day and really got his hands dirty, then I talked him into hanging with me the next day. I told him he served me whilst he was here.

JOYCE
She doesn't know this, but someone put us up to knocking on her door that day. Her dead husband's brother told us while we were there cutting down the tree on Saturday. He said that she was in denial about the condition of her home and that she was trying to do it all herself. De-mucking is not work for the timid, older folks, or for widows! We broke her in slowly, first by doing her yard work with the dream team from Saturday, plus Corey who climbed up into trees to cut down limbs. Corey was with Starr from New York. The second day, we came back and did just one room. The whole time, we would apologize for having to do this to her home... and tell her regretably that the things that she said she wanted to keep were going to have to go. When those flood waters hit anything, the whole thing is just ruined. You would think that you could get a little water and bleach and fix it, but it's too much yuck for that. We finally returned today and finished her up. A brother on the way back had a fender bender on the causeway.

The Montagut experiment
We tried something new with farming out some of our volunteers to other churches. We sent Brad Childers and the group from Providence Road Church of Christ down to Montagut to the South Terrabonne Church of Christ. Don Neyland is the preacher there (yes, sister Kelley, THAT Neyland is in his family tree!) . They de-mucked houses with lots and lots of mud and visited with the church there.

Brad walked in on Don praying in his office and he was visibly upset. When he finished, Brad asked him what was going on and Don said that out of 55 members, about three families are moving away from the church and moving to Houma.

The team worked themselves out of a job, so they, disappointed, drove back. Arriving about lunchtime, they fed and went out and did a job. The man they had to borrow a lawnmower from got to talking to them, telling how he had been a music minister for a church and ended up having bad marriage problems and leaving the church. They asked him what he was going to do and he mentioned that he may move to North Carolina, not knowing that these men he was talking to were from the same town! He took this as a sign from God bringing him back into the fold and they all promised to keep in touch.

Providing a channel of ministry
Brother Brad Hayes did the devotional message and quoted this phrase concerning the Tammany Oaks Church of Christ. That's exactly what's going on here. It's wonderful to see God working so mightily every day. I'm tired, but it's worth it.

We're looking forward to seeing Tim come back for a while, and I'm looking forward to taking some time off. I'm planning to "walk" when I get back to Valdosta. Then I'll take some time and then have a camping/canoing trip planned before I get back to Louisiana. Much love to the peoples.

Update on the Mission

We got in a truckload of appliances: refrigerators, ovens, washer and dryers. To give to people.

We have made some well-needed improvements on the facilities to make them more liveable for the "residents." Remember this was a church worship hall for only three weeks before God made it a ministry center! We got some power hookups installed for pull-behind trailers. Got an industrial size cooler in the dining room-- to replace the six or seven coolers we had to trip over to get drinks. The washer is now tied into the sewer through the clean-out. I finally got my own computer in the Relief Effort office. I haven't said much about my co-workers, but they are awesome people: Janet Hines, Becky Gilbert, Rhonda, Marcus, Pat, Lana (have a good vacation), Tracy, Tod, and of course Tim-- who is not working with me but away from me! And to many others, big ups.

The operation here at Tammany Oaks is a resource center to other churches in the area who have been hit hard. We sent out a group from Providence Road "down on the bayou" to help some of the folks gut out their flooded homes, church folks from the Montagut church. They'll stay a couple of days. Also sent supplies, then the crew stayed the night at the church in Lafitte. We're sending another truck and crew tomorrow there.

about the Montagut church

• An 80 year old man from the church was up in a tree on an EXTENSION ladder tied on with a CHAINSAW trying to cut down a limb by himself. He said he had to come down before he got it cut because he said he lost feeling in his back and had to lie down.
• A little old lady from the church was found in water covering her wheelchair up to about 18" before she was rescued. This was just a week ago with Rita.

Most of the New Orleans church buildings have been ravaged. One of the preacher from here, an old friend of the White family told me that he wept when he visited one. It seems that forward looking churches like North Atlanta are shopping to support a church and nurture it during the re-building stages. We are sending a big crew to the Carrolton Ave. congregation first thing in the morning. Will report later on details.

Volunteers we have a capacity to hold about 100 comfortably in the building. The number fluctuate greatly and it's a constant challenge. There are churches who have made committments of regularly sending members for as long as needed. We've had some great people coming by-- some alone, some couples, and groups from three to over sixty. Jason Chesser, my college roomate is here for a few days.

I saw the Mandeville Lakefront today with Janet. I had never seen it before, but the sleepy and pretty little town of Mandeville "across the lake"-- won't be the same for a long time.

Now for a little fun. These are some names of volunteers and people we've helped who have celebrity names:

Jim Lovell

Bill Cosby

James Taylor

Joseph Wheeler

Ray Robinson

Robert Frost

and of course, Charles and Linda White

good night.

God's Team

Nick from Oregon, Starr from New York, Danielle from Wisconsin via Tennessee, Melanie from Peagram, Tennessee, and Brett from Valdosta, Georgia. All children of God's.

Floyd Parker is a good friend to me and professor of mine from my Southern Christian days. We used to exchange ideas about God and sometimes we would just keep them to ourselves, because it seemed that to try to put them into words, it would spoil the sacredness of them.

I feel that way about this team God blessed me to be a part of on Saturday. The works God did in our hearts and through our hands was holy like the lips of Isaiah that were touched by the hot coals. It was not us ministering, but God through his Holy Spirit. Oh that we would stand back and let God work!

That song "If we are the Body" is being lived out here in Louisiana. I'm reminded of the Scriptures in 2 Corinthians about me being a jar of clay and the glory of the Lord abiding in here. Who am I that He is mindful of me? I rejoice that God allows us to be a part of his work. He wants every Christ-follower to know the joy of alleviating suffering, to add joy to someone's heart by taking away just one little burden that they will not have to bear alone. And blessed are those who suffer. For they will be comforted!

One of the elders at the church, Ambrose told me tonight that he wished he could be here more. And he knew the importance of the ministry happening here. He said, "We must not forget."

There are so many miracles here. I haven't used that word much before because I was taught that they don't happen anymore. But I don't believe that any longer. Because it's a miracle that God transforms sinners like me into instruments of his peace.

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much

seekto be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

St. Francis of Asissi

The Robinsons

Friday September 30, New Orleans

This family was living in shelters since Katrina. The picture doesn't show all eight children. See that small house that they all live in? A team of us cleaned it up; we went there with them the first time since the storm. We had to break-in because a friend had locked the door with a chain to prevent looting. They didn't get flood damage but the roof had broken because it was rotten. With all respect to the family, they were poor. "Jesus said blessed are the poor... " You may say, "Brett, you didn't finish that passage correctly..." But when was the last time Jesus talked about how important THINGS were? Things get ruined by floods. Winds. By trees falling on them. But check out these pictures of these kids.

They were glad to be back home. Some of you remember being poor and what it was like when you finally got over letting someone help you. The Robinsons were keeping appliances worse than the ones we had been throwing away in other places. But Ray has his own business of hauling and he should have plenty of work coming up in the months to come.

A brother and sister from Ohio gave them their van. I told Mrs. Robinson that the way God works is that he blesses us and expects us to return the blessings to others. That any time that she sees someone that needs help, remember that her van was God's chariot, to be used for good. That's easy for me to preach when I know the value of that minivan, but often don't know the value of my own gifts that God gave me. God, I pray to be a shrewd manager of every THING, every thought, every idea, every talent, every resource you give away so freely.

I don't mean to be preachery writing this blog, but the pictures are worth many words, but not even words can express the blessings of being able to help people and ask them just to thank God in return. I wish you could all be here.