A Returning Church Makes an Impact

It may have taken Carrollton Avenue Baptist Church over two years to return to their traditional location but they've wasted no time in focusing on reaching their community. After the morning service on May 25, pastor Brian Webber and his congregation invited the community to a crawfish boil there on the church grounds. Just over 300 from the Carrollton area came out to enjoy the food, receive donations of clothes, meet Brian and the members of Carrollton Ave. The Gospel was shared and six made professions of faith in Christ. After the event, the members gathered up the remaining food and served it to the homeless men and women living under the Claiborne Ave. underpass. In the process of serving this second meal, the members of Carrollton Ave. were able to find housing for five homeless individuals. What a wonderful picture; spending the morning worshiping together as one body and using the rest of the day to carry out the work of the church in the community and beyond.

Learn more about Carrollton Ave. Baptist Church at http://www.freewebs.com/carrolltonavenue/

When You Know the Grass is Greener

Post Katrina New Orleans is a difficult place to live and work. Our new reality isn't really a happy one for many of the city's residents. I know certain public officials have taken an almost Pollyanna attitude towards conditions in New Orleans in recent months but I have to disagree every time I look into hopeless eyes and hear desperate voices. Our plight becomes even more real when I travel outside of the area and am reminded what "normal" looks like. Jaime and I spent the weekend in Houston celebrating the marriage of a good friend and I was reminded again that there's a lot of green grass outside the New Orleans metro area. Not once did I hear someone utter words like Katrina, road home, or contractor. Instead, people talked about shopping, movies, and vacations. People smiled without forcing it and spoke kindly as if they meant it. Being around normal people with normal jobs in normal situations melted the stress away and I began to feel something strange in my face. The muscles had begun to relax and the corners of my mouth moved ever so slightly into the upward position. I believe the Ancients call it "being happy." By no means am I trying to say that Houston is some grand utopia. I simply want to expound on the very first statement I made in this entry and bring to the reader's attention that New Orleans is not, as was recently stated, "back, (and) its better than ever." I still believe that New Orleans can be a city on a hill shining bright with the love of Jesus but it's going to take a long time and a lot of effort to get there. Those who stay and those who come will have to give that time and effort knowing that just over the horizon lie greener pastures where life makes sense, things aren't so difficult, and Katrina is just a bad dream.

Praying for Pastors

About a week ago, Jaime and I received a booklet at church produced by NAMB that guides you in praying for your pastor for 40 days. We took it and did like most people and put it in the designated pile of "things we intend to get to" that, for us, resides in our kitchen. It sat there for a week with the fast food coupons, catalogs and sales papers until Jaime and I straightened up the house. At that point the booklet made its way to my bedside table which is where I noticed it this morning as I sat on the edge of the bed trying to enter the world of the living. Because I like to start my day focused on Christ (I usually say a brief prayer or quote a verse) I decided to pick up the booklet and start with Day 1. As I prayed for our pastor, I began to wonder things about him. You see, we currently don't have a pastor and this exercise is designed to strengthen the one God sends. I wondered things like his age, background, experience, attitude toward missions and so on. I wondered if he was married and had children and were they young, teenagers or all grown up. I wondered if he would take well to the unique New Orleans culture or be a bit resistant. I suppose that's part of the reason I ought to be praying for this fellow. But there's one other thing that ran through my mind this morning; we're not the only church in the metro area praying for a pastor we've never met. Since Katrina, more pastors have left the area than have come, leaving many of our churches without a shepherd to teach and guide them. As a missionary that works with our association, praying for pastors both here and yet to arrive has been an important part of my prayer life. In truth, I should spend more time praying for these men and I invite you to join me in that prayer. Our churches need God called, Spirit led, Christ focused leaders to wet their apatite for Scripture and to turn their eyes and hearts beyond the front doors and into the community and all the world.

I Need an Asprin and Some 23rd Psalm

After a good and productive week, shouldn't I go into the weekend with a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction? Then why do I feel like I've been dragged through the mud by a team of wild horses only to want to crawl into a hole and hide away from the world. My guess is that it has something to do with life. Jesus said that He came to give us life and to give it more abundantly. Good life? No, just life - warts and all. Sometimes life is bad and nothing seems to be going your way. Sometimes life is great and you feel you're on top of things. More often than not, I suppose, life is somewhere in the middle where good and bad mingle together. This week I check several things off of the to-do list, saw plans come together, and made positive strides on others. But I'm tired and emotionally drained. My spiritual battery is near zero and the resulting emptiness only adds to my overall sense of burnout. Burnout, that's a word we don't like to use in ministry. We're suppose to be supermen and women who put in 16-18 hour days 6-7 days a week for 52 strait weeks without a break. That's a lie by the way. You know who started it? Narcissistic ministers who truly believe they are important and who equate being a workaholic with faithfulness. Here's my advice, get over yourself. If Jesus was smart enough to take rest during His earthly ministry, so should we. David spelled out what that rest is like in the 23rd Psalm and I am encouraged by it and seek it for myself. Praise to our God who gives rest to the weary.



The Lord is my shepherd, (To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.)
I shall not want. (O my God, in You I trust)
He makes me lie down in green pastures; (Make me know Your ways, O LORD)
He leads me beside quite waters. (Teach me Your paths)
He restores my soul; (Pardon my iniquity, for it is great)
He guides me in paths of righteousness (Lead me in Your truth and teach me)
For His name's sake. (For You are the God of my salvation)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, (For I am lonely and afflicted)
I fear no evil, for You are with me; (My eyes are continually toward to LORD)
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Good and upright is the LORD)
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: (For He will pluck my feet out of the net)
You have anointed my head with oil; (Do not let me be ashamed)
My cup overflows. (Let integrity and uprightness preserve me)
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, (All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth)
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (For You I will wait all the day)

Closing the Open Window - On Purpose

After the events of September 11, the nation, in its grief, became more receptive to things of a spiritual nature. Churches across the U.S. saw an instant increase in attendance and a significant number of decisions for Christ were reported. However, this window of opportunity following tragedy was short lived. In a matter of a few months, it was all over. The window had closed and things went back to the way they were. Why? These types of opportunities are tied directly to the crisis that created them. When the crisis is over, so is the opportunity for evangelism that results in an increase in responses to the gospel.

Here in the New Orleans area things are a bit different. Our window of opportunity is still open. As we approach three years post Katrina the questions that begs to be answered again is "Why." Whereas the crisis in New York and across the nation abated after several months, Katrina continues her destructive ways in the hearts and lives of the citizens of Greater New Orleans. For reasons that seem to numerous to count, our people still live in crisis and thus retain a heightened sense of receptivity to the gospel. Although it is not as acute as immediately after the storm, it remains because Katrina is still with us.

With the restructuring of BAGNO now underway, we are faced with an interesting paradox. We desire to move to the forefront of the recovery effort of our city while becoming a more united and effective witness for Christ. We see the problems that plague our fellow citizens and we are resolute to do something about it. We are not trying to move towards a social gospel but are embracing the Word of God found in James 2:17 which says, "In the same way faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself." Imagine an united group of churches providing an authentic, irresistible witness for Christ throughout the New Orleans area. It is our hope that by the year 2020 we will have played a major role in helping our region through the first phase of its recovery and rebuild.

Here's the paradox. Doing so will no doubt usher in a sense of normalcy in the lives of individuals that live and work in our city as the new New Orleans begins to truly be realized. This strive towards normalcy will ease the Katrina crisis and thus close the window of opportunity now before us. While we embrace the openness of our city our compassion for its plight will lead us to have a hand in bringing that openness to an end. We are essentially pushing the start button on the countdown clock and then racing to plough up as much hard ground and plant as many seeds before the clock reaches zero and "thud" the widow closes behind us. Once closed, the obstacles of normalcy and complacency will again be before us. The questions for us then will be, "how much darkness did we drive back" and "how many did we add to the Army of God." The answers to these questions will determine whether normalcy and complacency will be mountains or mole hills. If we've done our work and fought hard for the Kingdom we will see the gospel continue to move forward, but if we fall into normalcy and complacency before our city does then we will have much to answer for when we stand before God on the Day of Judgement. The window will close and we will be the ones to close it. Let us commit to seeing as much of the city reconciled to God through Christ before this happens. The clock is ticking. The race is on. Ready, set, GO!

BAGNO Sets its Sights on 2020 Vision

During our annual spring meeting, the elected representatives of our churches voted to move forward with a very bold new strategy for completely restructuring our association. The strategy, entitled 2020 Vision, is designed to give BAGNO greater relevance within the metro area while bringing it to the forefront of the recovery effort. 202o Vision has five specific goals for attaining its purpose; visionary leadership, maintaining community relevance, church planting, associational restructure/reorganization, and strengthen existing churches as mission centers. As the vision statement states, "By the year 2020, we envision BAGNO as a dynamic beacon of hope for the community as we focus the love of Christ to the hearts of area residents and people groups on a daily basis." This is an exciting opportunity to lay the groundwork for what can become a model for local church/association ministry and cooperation. I've said all along that God is doing amazing things in the New Orleans area and this is just one very important piece of the puzzle. Commit to praying for this effort as we take a bold step towards seeing the Greater New Orleans area reconciled to God through Christ.

Missions Starts at Home

This past Sunday, I participated in an On Mission Celebration on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain. I had the opportunity to speak in four churches in and around Kentwood, LA. I do these things in order to keep people aware of the needs in the New Orleans area. Most importantly, I try to replace news of government failure, corruption, crime, murders, and drugs with news about the amazing things God is doing in the hearts and lives of the Crescent City. I end every presentation with a plea to come and serve Christ on mission in New Orleans. However, this time, I did things a little different. I've had something on my mind for quite some time now and I thought I would go ahead and include it in my presentation. After I made my plea to come and serve in New Orleans, I said something along these lines, "As much as I would like to see you serving with us in New Orleans, I pray that you will not neglect the rest of the Great Commission. Please don't turn missions into an endeavor where you repeatedly drive past your lost neighbors en route to an exciting mission destination." I believe this is part of the reason why I've seen a decline in the quality of volunteers over the years. Missions has become a place we go instead of something we do. Churches decide to get their feet wet in missions by going somewhere interesting. Entire groups go completely unfamiliar with what it means to be on mission and when they're asked to do the work of a missionary they become uncomfortable and sometimes uncooperative. We do this on a local level as well. We drive across town to serve in a ministry center but we won't take the time to walk across the street or engage the community sitting in the shadow of our church. Our first responsibility in missions is our Jerusalem. If we would take the time to reach out to our communities with the love of Christ first, then, I believe, we would see and increase in interest in going to places of interest and ministry centers and we would go better equipped to reach the lost. The army doesn't train its troops on the front lines; they send them first to boot camp. Why should the Army of God be any different? Let missions start at home and then branch out into the utter most parts. We will be better prepared, in greater numbers, and will have a more significant impact on the world for Christ. Missions starts at home.

What's a Guy To Do?

Have you ever had one of those weeks when things look optimistic on Monday morning and it seems you've adequate time to accomplish everything on your list only to find yourself screaming "slow down I'm not going to make it!" come Wednesday? I'm in one of those weeks, again. I just don't understand where the time goes and why it has to take so much longer to do what, at the time, seemed so simple. There's always these interruptions, or what my friend Kathy Frady would probably call Delay Delights, that keep popping up throughout the day. A last minute meeting here, an impromptu meeting there, lanes closed on the interstate, a flood of phone calls, emails piling up, high priority requests from state or national leaders, and volunteers, volunteers, volunteers flow over me like tidal surge rushing into a low lying area turning my blue Monday sky into a watery dome from which I must emerge to get air. You see, I like to get things done and I like to have them done well and on time. However, real life doesn't operate on my schedule. I imagine that it doesn't operate on yours either. It's times like these that I've learned that, in a little while, the curtain is going to draw back and all the work God has been doing behind the scenes is going to come into the light. My struggle, including my lament, has just been an aside a few lines before God takes center stage and brings the act to a close in dramatic fashion. It's the moment I've been waiting for. The moment when you lean over to your friend and whisper, "this is my favorite part." With the least effort, God preforms His part and then the curtain closes to my thunderous applause.

A Weekend With the WMU: or how Joe McKeever finally caught up with me.

I've spoken to WMU groups in various places and at various times and my favorite by far is when I'm given the opportunity to speak with WMU in my home state. I've matured far past my disdain for Louisiana as an adolescent. I think we all go through that stage in our lives when we think where we live is the pits and anywhere else is better that where we are. Today, I wear Louisiana with pride and love the land, the people, the food, and the culture. So, I had a great time this past weekend meeting with and speaking to the annual gathering of WMU at their state meeting in Baton Rouge. This group is like family. I grew up in front of some of these ladies, which they were quick to point out. I've lived in their towns. Jaime and I have attended churches with some. I've even had the privilege of serving in ministry with a few of them. Honestly, this was probably the most relaxed I've been while speaking to a group, unlike my friend Lonnie Wascom, Director of Missions for the Northshore, who said he was the most nervous he'd ever been (he said it from the pulpit, I'm not ratting him out.) All in all, Jaime and I enjoyed our time at the meeting and felt the love and prayers of the WMU ladies who were in attendance. Where would we be without the WMU? As for the Joe McKeever bit in the title of this entry, I've never made it known where and when I'm speaking for fear he might show up. Yes,yes, I confess. It's true. I think a lot of him and his opinion. However, this time I couldn't avoid it. Oh well.

You Want To Do What Today?

There I was, busy in front of the computer, working out the details for this weekend's speaking engagement, tonight's conference call, and July's summer camp for our Baptist Centers when my cell phone rang. It was my good friend Don Snipes, a construction coordinator for Operation NOAH Rebuild. After exchanging pleasantries , Don said, "I've got a team that whats to do a block party and I wanted to know about the block party trailer at BAGNO." "The trailer isn't quite ready yet because it needs some work" I explained. "When are they wanting to do the block party?" (Okay. Here's my thought process at this point. Although the trailer wasn't ready at that moment, we were scheduled to have it in order by the end of next week. Therefore, I figured the trailer would be available for them to use when they arrived on the field. Now back to reality.) "Uhhhh, today" Don said into the phone almost as if it were a question. I let out a chuckle of nervous laughter. Volunteers, God love them! Skipping some details, I learned from the team leader that what they really wanted to do was grill some burgers, play some music and hang out with folks in the neighborhood. I was relieved by this clarification since this type of event is much easier to put together last minute. So what did our intrepid team have to pull this off. Next to nothing. To their credit, they had the setup for their praise band which was some good lagniappe. We love live music. It took the better part of the day, but in the end the team had pieced together an impressive event. I had to leave before things got kicked off. I still had that conference call to make. I'm all the time telling teams about the need to be flexible when coming to the New Orleans area. Sometimes I have to practice what I preach.

It's Good to Hear Your Voice

Yesterday marked the return of local radio personality Garland Robinette, host of WWL 870 AM's Think Tank, to the airways after a five month hiatus. A medical mistake during surgery left Robinette unable to speak. In fact, doctors informed Garland and his family that things didn't look good for his voice to return. Hosting duties for the Think Tank were turned over to Tommy Tucker while Garland recovered at home. The absence of Garland and sudden replacement by Tommy prompted rumors of termination. However, WWL Radio graciously stuck by Garland in hopes of his return. How many of you have a boss that would hold your job for five months in hopes you would return? Yesterday, Garland's voice was husky and he had to take the occasional sip of water but he made it through all three hours of the Think Tank. Although Garland dedicated the majority of the show to its usually content and call-ins, he did take a few minutes at the beginning to thank those who had seen him through. The comment that I found the most interesting was related to his faithful substitute of five months, Tommy Tucker. Garland, although raised Catholic, admits to leaving his faith as he became an adult. Tommy, on the other hand, is a devout Catholic and out of his religious experience he did something that caused Garland to think. Just prior to Christmas, Tommy used the airways to begin a prayer campaign for Garland. He asked listeners to pray specifically for Garland to be healed. This was during the time when doctors were still pessimistic about Garland's recovery. However, as Garland admitted yesterday, it was at the time that Tommy began asking for prayer that he began to regain use of his voice. This experience, he stated, has caused him to rethink his position on religion and faith. It seems he has begun a new faith journey (my words not his). I write this for two reasons. First, I'm a fan of Garland and his show and I'm excited to have him back on The Big 870. Second, prayer is a powerful thing and I encourage you who read this to continue to pray for those special people in your life. Often we get discouraged because of the lack of results or the length of time that passes. Be faithful in your prayers because they are heard by a God who is faithful.

Resurrection and New Beginnings

As we gathered together this past Sunday to celebrate our Lord's victory over sin and death, some of our area churches were taking the opportunity to mark the beginning of a new chapter in their history. Sojourn, a church plant on Magazine St. that targets "cultural creatives," officially launched Sunday services. James Welch, Travis Flemming, and their ministry team had put in way more time than the typical church plant in investing in their community before attempting the much sought after milestone of a launch date. While Sojourn was gathered for worship, down the river in Arabi, Celebration: St. Bernard held their first service in their rebuilt sanctuary that had just been completed. In fact, I spoke several times to campus pastor Craig Ratliff last week and each time he was busy overseeing the final details of construction to ensure that their Easter service would go off as planned. A little closer to where I live, St. Rose Baptist Church celebrated the Lord's resurrection with an outreach to the community. Pastor Jim Louviere had been getting the congregation ready for weeks for the event. This is a church that was averaging five on Sunday morning six months ago before Jim came and gave the Holy Spirit some room to work. Now about thirty strong, St. Rose Baptist used Easter as a day to share the good news with their neighbors.

Larry Norman - Goodbye, Farewell

1947-2008

Inspirational. Controversial. Eccentric. Whatever opinion you held about Larry Norman, there is no denying the profound impact he had on Christian music. At a time when the only spiritual music available for young people were choruses and camp songs, Larry emerged on the scene with rock rhythms and potent lyrics that took the message of Christ to the air waves as well as the street. Like the great hymnist Issac Watts had done centuries before, Larry took the message he loved so much and put it to the popular music of the time. A child of the 60's, Larry's long hair and rock music was condemned by the church but embraced by the culture. He was well respected as an artist by the likes of Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead but despite such praise from high-profile musicians, Larry stuck with his evangelistic message. "He really could have been a star if he were singing about something other than Jesus," remarked Chris Willman, senior music writer for Entertainment Weekly, when reflecting on Larry's career. Unfortunately, Larry's final years were spent in poor health. In a final statement to his fans just days before his death, Larry said "I feel like a prize in a box of Cracker Jacks with God's hand reaching down to pick me up...I am ready to fly home." Although his presence in the music industry has been absent for several years, Larry's death leaves a void that will be felt for quite some time. As for me, Larry Norman was an imperfect man who was way ahead of his time and although I didn't agree with some of his political views I found myself profoundly affected and inspired by his music and his uncompromising message of salvation through Christ alone. I am truly sad he is gone. Larry, we love you and our prayers are with your friends and family. See you at the throne of God.

Basketball and Bibles

This past Friday night, Jaime and I joined fellow missionaries, local ministers and seminary students in assisting Lagniappe Ministries with their volunteer project at the New Orleans Hornets home game against the New Jersey Nets. It was Gospel Night at the arena which is different than the typical faith and family nights other sport venues promote. The owner of the Hornets is a committed Christian and he has Gospel Night. The game was exciting as our Hornets put on a great show in their win over the Nets. Its great to see really good pro basketball in New Orleans (CP3-MVP). After the game, we went to the American Bible Society's booth for our volunteer assignment. The ABS was sponsoring Gospel Night and had free copies of The Psalms and "Element of Life" magazines to give away. You know how people can't get enough of "free." We handed out boxes and boxes of The Psalms and magazines before the crowds finally thinned out. I was impressed with "Element of Life." Each article was a story about how Jesus had transformed someones life. The magazine appealed to the urban crowd in both design and content with an evangelist message to boot. My prayer is that many will read the articles and take the next step towards a relationship with Jesus.

Now That's What I'm Talking About!

In the words of Col. John "Hannibal" Smith (from the A-Team for those lacking in culture)"I love it when a plan comes together." We've worked hard here on the ground to put together a plan for evangelism that is both easy and effective. No rocket science, no complicated program, no confusing guidelines. Just simple evangelism that takes the Gospel to lost people in New Orleans. I had the privilege last week to work with a team of volunteers from Callahan Baptist Church who "got it." They came to New Orleans with the attitude of "point us in the right direction and turn us loose" instead of "could you please come and hold our hand." What exactly did they get you might ask? The fact that Opportunity + Availability = Awesome. This team came ready and willing to share their faith. Once we identified the neighborhood they would be in, I put them in touch with the local Baptist church in the area so the church could be aware of their presence and activity in their community. While half their team did rebuild, the other half went door to door to meet and visit with the neighbors. Those encounters led to the simplest of relationships which led to opportunities to share the Gospel. Despite bad weather throughout the week, the team from Callahan Baptist were able to lead seven people to faith in Christ. Praise the Lord! They had no special equipment nor clever gimmick. They simply followed the plan God had given us to effectively reach people in and around rebuild projects and God blessed their efforts and souls were added to the Kingdom. Dear Lord, please send me more volunteers like these from Callahan Baptist who will leave egos and agendas behind to take your love and message of salvation to the lost and hurting in our city.

Celebrating Missions in Prattville, AL

I had the privilege to spend this past weekend with the good people in and around Prattville, Alabama during their On Mission Celebration. If you've been watching the news lately, you'll know that Prattville was hit hard by tornadoes just over a week ago. However, none of the Southern Baptist churches were damaged despite the amount of devastation in the area. So, with clean-up and disaster relief still commencing, I along with 30 other missionaries from North American and overseas shared what God is doing in our particular corner of the world. At their mission fair on Saturday night, I met a young lady who was part of a team that helped us put on a block party for Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in New Orleans East. I was using a couple of photos of that event on my display and she immediately recognized the images. One of my joys as a missionary is to meet people in unexpected places who have given their time to assist in the work that God is doing in the New Orleans area. Continue to pray for the recovery efforts in the Prattville area and for the witnessing opportunities that naturally arise from such events.

Lions and Tigers and Volunteers, Oh My!

This is the time of year when my job does a major flip-flop. I go from being David Rhymes - Evangelism Strategist, to David Rhymes - Professional Volunteer Wrangler. Yes, from now until about mid-August, I will eat, drink, breath, and sleep volunteers. I'm not sure whether to ask you to pray for me or just put me out of my misery. Wait a minute. I though volunteers were a great and valuable resource? They are. I love volunteers and have worked with them for about twelve years now. But anyone who has worked extensively with volunteers knows it has its ups and downs. Because of Katrina, the number of volunteers in the New Orleans area has grown exponentially. Between now and the end of the summer, Southern Baptist will put an estimated 15,000 volunteers in the field in the New Orleans area. And we need each one of them. The tricky part comes in the logistical nightmare that these numbers create. Praise God for His all sufficient grace and strength! It never fails that when I've exhausted every option I can imagine to place volunteers in the field, God shows up and fills in the gaps. Those last minute mega groups that call and tell me they're arriving next week, God's got me covered even if His help comes in the midnight hour. Yes, it’s an all volunteer diet for me for the next several months. However, when it’s all said and done, the work God has accomplished through the countless faces that pass through our neighborhoods is beautiful to behold.

Christ in the Crowd

This year's Mardi Gras is in the books. At midnight on Feb. 5, the party was officially over (and literally because NOPD clears the streets). However, Mardi Gras Day didn't pass without God's people living out the Great Commission at the two premier parades on Fat Tuesday, Zulu and Rex. Pastor Kemp Johnson and some members from Urban Family Baptist Mission set up a tent near the beginning of the Zulu parade route. While parade goers waited for Zulu to roll, Kemp and Urban Family mingled with the crowd where they visited with individuals and offered to pray with them. This opened the door to share the Gospel. I don't know what the final outcome was, but at the time I had to leave, two men had prayed to receive Christ. Awesome! At one point during the morning, Kemp used the tent and their sound system to deliver a brief evangelistic message to the crowd. Quite a few people stopped by the tent to see what was going on, or to visit, or just to have prayer. It was a good start to Mardi Gras Day.

Meanwhile, on St. Charles Ave., Philip and Debbie Smith had set up a tent along the parade route and were reaching out to the many children that had come to see Rex (Remember from a previous entry the most of Mardi Gras is family friendly). The Smiths, along with a volunteer from the seminary, passed out Power Band bracelets and laniards left over from the BCS Championship game that had been stuffed with children's tracts. Before and between parades, children were invited to the tent to hear a story. At this time, the Smiths would use any number of attention getters to illustrate the story of the Gospel. While I was with Philip and Debbie, I was introduced to a girl who had given her life to Christ at last year's Mardi Gras when the Smiths were there. She saw Philip and Debbie and wanted to visit with them again. Isn't God amazing? There are a lot of nay sayers that declare Mardi Gras a lost cause when it comes to evangelism. I guess God never heard that because He blessed these two efforts and lives were added to the Kingdom on the biggest party day in America.

Virtual Prayer Walk Now On-Line

Not everyone can make the trip to New Orleans to walk our streets and pray for the physical and spiritual recovery of our city. Not to worry, our friends at the Louisiana Baptist WMU have put together a virtual prayer walk that will allow believers around the world to lift up New Orleans to our Lord. Try it out yourself then pass the link on to a friend. The more prayer the better.

http://www.lbc.org/Women/Interior.aspx?id=4182

This link has also been added on the sidebar

The Way You Dieux The Things You Vieux

"Going to the dogs" would be considered a compliment during the annual Barkus parade that rolls through the French Quarter during Mardi Gras. Barkus (a spoof on the Super Krewe Bacchus) is a dog parade that raises money for the Humaine Society. Towards the end of the winding parade route is Vieux Carre Baptist Church and a wonderful opportunity to minister to the owners of the estimated 1500 dogs in the parade. After morning worship (the parade rolls on Sunday afternoon) pastor Greg Hand and his congregation set up a rest stop in front of the church for both dogs and people. Water dishes and doggy treats are provided for the marching dogs while their owners enjoy cookies, hot chocolate, and coffee. Chairs were provided for owners to rest their feet and Vieux Carre opened its doors for people to use their restrooms. Mardi Gras cups with doggy treats and information about Vieux Carre were given as gifts to the owners when they stopped by the church. This simple act of hospitality was well received. I actually heard one lady, once she realized who was doing this, exclaim "This is a church?" She was blown away by the fact that a church, not to mention a Baptist church, would do something so thoughtful and kind for the community. Oh, if only we could all find a way to do something for our community that was produce that kind of response. Those opportunities are all around us you know. We just have to be intentional in looking for them. Vieux Carre could have closed their doors and chosen to get out ahead of the crowd. I'm thankful they saw this as an opportunity to love people with the love of Christ.

Find out more about Vieux Carre Baptist Church and their unique ministry at http://www.frenchquarterchurch.com/

Its That Time Again

If there's one thing we love in New Orleans, its a good party. Now before you start throwing the items on your desk at the computer screen, there's a few things you need to know about Mardi Gras. That stuff you see on T.V., the drinking, the carousing, the flashing (don't act like you don't know), the debauchery, only accounts for less than 10% of Mardi Gras activities. The rest of Mardi Gras, the part that never makes the news and that we locals love, is very family friendly and safe. Personally, I love the parades, although not as much as Jaime. The second thing you need to know about Mardi Gras is that its ingrained in the New Orleans culture. Mardi Gras is just what we do. Wisconsinites sit bare-chested on aluminium bleachers in Lambou Field in sub-zero weather. New Yorkers cram into Time Square like sardines each New Year's Eve. Iowans willing subject themselves to presidential candidate after presidential candidate every four years. New Orleanians stand on the side of the street with hands raised in anticipation of catching 13 cents worth of beads from a guy who paid around $2000 for the right to throw them. The third thing you need to know about Mardi Gras is that its a great time to show people the love of Christ. Because many have such a harsh view of Mardi Gras, their view of those that participate becomes tainted. What passes for evangelism during Mardi Gras usually takes the form of judgement and condemnation. Do I approve of some of the activities that go on during Mardi Gras? No. More importantly, does God approve of some of these activities? No. However, not once do I recall in Scripture where Jesus brow beat or belittled a sinner. In fact, we usually find Him having dinner with them or hanging out in their homes. Jesus has authentic love for the lost and demonstrated perfectly what it means to be in the world but not of the world. Pray for our efforts this Mardi Gras to love people as Christ loves us as we live out our faith in plain sight of parade goers. Pray for us as we share the Gospel with those who listen and may Christ be glorified this Mardi Gras season.

Think Greek

As the spring semester gears up at our colleges and universities in the Greater New Orleans area, men and women dedicated to bringing Christ to these campuses make last minute preparations for their respective campus ministries. Cory Olivier, regional BCM director for New Orleans, and a good friend, keeps these various campus ministries organized. From four year colleges and nationally recognized universities, to community and trade schools, Cory and his team are working hard to see lives transformed by the power of Christ. Colleges are micro communities with their own subset of people groups that need culturally relevant means of experiencing the Gospel. One of those people groups are Greeks. No, not those Greeks. I'm talking about frat boys and sorority girls. These social and service organizations are on nearly every college and university campus nation wide. Mention Greeks and it doesn't take long for images from the movie Animal House to creep into one's mind. Some would say that's just a stereotype. I say Greeks work hard at their reputation and I'll leave it at that. Regardless, Greeks are just as in need of a Savior as everyone else. The trick is reaching them. Although Greeks make up only 1% of college students nation wide, they dominate positions of leadership in business, industry, and politics. Here's some numbers:

• 85% of Fortune 500 executives are Greek
• Of the 50 largest North American corporations; 43 are headed by Greeks
• 76% of U.S. Congressmen and Senators belong to a fraternity
• 85% of U.S. Supreme Court Justices since 1910 have been Greek

All this (and more) out of only 1% of college students. The results of reaching the Greeks for Christ boggle my mind. Campus ministry doesn't happen in a bubble. There are lasting effects on society when we support the efforts of our Baptist Collegiate Ministries. Students, get involved. Churches, find out what you can do to help minister to your local college or university. And if you like a challenge; think Greek.

Special thanks to Chaz Churchwell for providing the information for this entry.

You can contact Cory Olivier at nometrodirector@bellsouth.net

Geaux Tailgating!!!

Fact: LSU fans are professional tailgaters

Fact: I am not

No matter. We had a blast tailgating during the LSU vs. Ohio State Championship game on January 7. There's nothing like making outreach fun. One "fun" aspect that is debatable is that Jon Young and I had to spend the night on the neutral ground on Poydras St. in order to secure a location. We turned our trusty canopy tent into the camping variety and slept on the ground like real men, real crazy men. It was worth it in the end. We were able to being visiting with our fellow tailgaters on Sunday night instead of having to wait until later on Monday. We spent most of our time Sunday night visiting with the social director of one of LSU's fraternities who too was spending the night on the street and happy not to be alone. The night passed slowly and we were often awakened by fans honking their car horns as they drove past. Thanks to a few cups of coffee the next morning, we were ready for a long day of meeting and visiting with the hundreds of fans in our immediate area. In fact it was not long before a charter bus pulled up and dropped off a load at a group of about 10-12 RVs set up next to us. Professionals remember. Our volunteers from LSU-A were a blessing and they fell right into the day's festivities. We visited, played football with kids, and did a little face painting. We did our best to show those around us the love of Christ and to bring them one step closer to a relationship with Him. We ended the night by distributing just over six cases of specially labeled bottled water and two boxes of evangelistic audio CDs. It was a great event and we learned a lot from the experience and look forward to presenting this to our churches as a valid means of engaging our sports community for Christ.

Football, Hawaiians, and Freezing Temperatures

The New Year was kicked of with the annual Sugar Bowl and we were there for a trial run of our new tailgating outreach. While die hard fans from Georgia and Hawaii walked the streets of downtown New Orleans, we were setting up to tailgate. My truck was loaded down with our tent, ice chest, grill, about 12 cases of bottle water to give away, and all the other little things that were needed to make the outreach possible. We were able to get a great spot on the neutral ground (that's what we call our medians) next to the interstate about a block and a half from the Superdome. Everything was nicely in order except for one minor detail. It was the coldest it had been all winter. The high on January 1 was 41 degrees with a wind chill in the lower 30's. Now I know what you folks from up north are thinking, "That's not cold." I'll agree that the temperature drops lower up there but remember that our climate is wet. What is tolerable up north soaks into your bones in New Orleans. The wind that day blew constantly between 12-15 miles an hour with gust up to 20. Needless to say, our weather conditions for tailgating were less than ideal. Our tent acted more like a sail at times and even tumbled over my truck at one point. Despite the weather, we had a good time and our efforts were well received. Locals were supportive and visitors were grateful for our hospitality and assistance. Few people took our water (I wouldn't want it either as cold as it was) but we at least made it through the day and were able to make note of things done right as well as needed improvements. Next up, LSU and the BCS Championship.

Jaime and I would like to give a big thanks to Jon Young for sticking it out for the duration. What a trooper!

Something New For New Years

New Years is a popular time to commit to do something new and different. I think this old tradition can be a healthy thing for our churches as well. New Orleans is a city that revolves around and bases its economy on sports and entertainment. This is a major aspect of our culture that has been almost completely untouched by our area churches. These events open the door wide for both local and kingdom outreach and yet we typically shy away from them. Our churches that have made even small attempts at such events have seen encouraging results in exposure and establishing relationships. Its natural for many to want to avoid the commotion and crowds these events bring. I know because I'm one of them. However, if we're to have a lasting impact for Christ in our city, we have to engage it at every level. Jesus' ministry on earth left no cultural stone unturned and we ought to follow His example. So what's new for New Years? We will be piloting a simple, reproducible, cost effective outreach strategy to those participating in the area's many sporting events and festivals. We even kicked off the New Year with a tailgating outreach at this year's Sugar Bowl (a report on this is coming) and have plans to do the same for the BCS Championship game. Later in the year we hope to have in place a hospitality outreach for festivals. Pray for our churches as we work together to develop a strategy for taking Christ to places where He has too long been absent. This is no small thing so be faithful in your prayers.

Merry Christmas

Blessings to you as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

-David & Jaime Rhymes-

Port Sulphur Bapt. Addresses Medical Needs

If you're geographically challenged concerning the New Orleans area, let me go ahead and mention that Port Sulphur is a good piece down the road in Plaquemines Parish. Its about a two hour dive from our home in LaPlace to Port Sulphur Baptist Church. Due to Katrina, Port Sulphur is now the southern most church in our association. The fact that its still there is a testimoney to the strong call pastor Lynn Rodrigue feels to server Christ in this area. Katrina made landfall in Plaquemines Parish and the resulting devastation didn't leave much. People struggle to rebuild their lives in this isolated region of the state. Because of the lack of infrastructure to meet many of the area's basic needs, the members of Port Sulphur Baptist decided to host an area wide health fair and supply give-away. By partnering with area businesses, organizations, and church volunteers, Port Sulphur was able to offer such services as blood pressure checks, eye exams, health screenings, and hair cuts. Household supplies were also given out to each family that attended. It was quite a site to see wheelbarrow loads of supplies being loaded into the vehicles of some very grateful individuals. I took the time to visit with many of those in attendance as they waited in line for their supplies. We talked recovery, shrimping, Saints' football, the uncommonly warm weather, and many other things. We also talked about belonging to God's family and I encouraged as many as I could to visit Sunday services at Port Sulphur and to get to know Lynn. Children of all ages enjoyed the bonus of having Joe McKeever, our Director of Missions, on hand to draw their portrait. The event was an overall success and gave Port Sulphur Baptist many prospects for follow-up in the days to come.

Homelessness in N.O. & Southern Baptist Response

Read how Southern Baptist are addressing the mounting homeless issue in New Orleans.

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=26995&captcha=1

Not Ya Mama's Church

On December 8, the Louisiana WMU joined BAGNO once again to participate in the final prayer walk of 2007. The previous five were a blessing both to us and the church and community where we prayed and this one was no different. However, it was different in some regards. God laid it on my heart to pray for Sojourn, the first church planted in the city after Katrina. Their pastor, James Welch, and his core team have put down roots in a part of our city that is one of the least favorable to the Gospel. Magazine Street is a key corridor through what is known as The Lower Garden District. Walk a few blocks down Magazine and its many galleries, boutiques, and coffee shops and you'll see the type of environment that attracts a group of people known as Cultural Creatives. This subgroup of the post modern generation is the target for Sojourn's compassion and Gospel witness. They have spent the last year and a half in this community building relationships and establishing a legitimate presence among their neighbors through The Convergence Center for the Arts. This hard, and necessary work has led them to the point of being ready to begin having worship services in January '08. So it seemed a good time to walk the streets and lift up in prayer Sojourn, James, and the work they have done in Christ's name. Not many churches meet in art galleries but that is exactly where Sojourn will gather together as the body of Christ. Sojourn is reaching out to a segment of our population that is strategically important for the spiritual transformation of New Orleans so please continue to lift them up in prayer.

A Birthday Reminder

Dr. Mark Tolbert, seminary professor and local interim pastor, shared an important truth with his congregation during the Sunday morning service at First Baptist Kenner. As we move full force into the Christmas season, Dr. Tolbert reminded those present just whose birthday we were celebrating. With all the gifts we buy for kids, grand kids, family, and friends, it may seem like its anybodies birthday but the Lord Jesus Christ. Christmas is one of the best times to share our faith but, we too, can get so wrapped up in office parties, shopping, travel, decorating, and yes, even church, that we push Christ into the background and miss opportunities to share the good news of great joy that is for all people. Let's use Christmas (by the way, it is still officially Christmas despite what the ACLU thinks) as a means to share Christ with others. Get involved in a Christmas related ministry (toy giveaway, food for the needy, etc) if your church has one. Organize one if they don't. Have your Sunday School or small group offer free gift wrap at the local mall or shopping center. Get to know your neighbors by bringing them homemade cookies with a note that expresses the true meaning of Christmas. If you're on church staff, choose a Christmas program that will communicate the Gospel and spend more time inviting your community than catering to church members who will come anyway. There are many possibilities and endless opportunities so let's spend our time wisely this Christmas and make known the time when God invaded history and made a way for our salvation.

The Good News Rolls at Rachel Sims

Before Thanksgiving I paid a visit to my friends and fellow missionaries at the Rachel Sims Baptist Mission in the Irish Channel of New Orleans. I had been in the area working with a pastor on some outreach ideas so I dropped by and chatted a while with Larry Miguez and Linda Middlebrooks (I got to meet Larry's mother too, she's a card). I had arrived on one of those "real life" days, the ones you never read about in the Baptist press. Some things weren't going as well as hoped, one of their semester missionaries was having car trouble, plans for an upcoming event were becoming more and more last minute, and frustration had set in. By the way, we missionaries have lots of days like this. This is why we go on and on about how much we appreciate your prayers. Anyway, if there's one thing that missionaries do for one another, its to bare one another's burdens. Its considered uncouth for us to vent to others so we get things off our chest to one another. Its very therapeutic and helps us get over the hump. Larry and Linda did get over the hump. God is good that way. In fact, I spoke with Linda earlier this week and she had very good news to share. Several children and youth had accepted Christ as their savior through the ministries of Rachel Sims in the two weeks since we had last spoken. Linda was excited about discipling these new Christians and shared some great ideas for future evangelism efforts. We work through all the hardships and frustration when all the wheels fall off so we can get to days like this. Growing the Kingdom is what it is all about and the work of Rachel Sims Baptist Mission plays an important part here in the New Orleans area.

Memories of Emma Lou Rhymes (1927-2007)

the old farm place ............ electric fence .................

my cousins and I scraping the frost from her old freezer to make Coke snow balls

......Unchal........ those pointy-tip glasses she wore back in the day

.... picking names for Christmas ..... that cat of hers that Daddy loved to torment

her collection of bells ....... her travel adventures with Aunt Hedy

.."Hello my Darlin'"..... coffee ............

..........her love for each and every member of her family ...

.....the interesting nurse related object scattered throughout the house

............that time my brother kicked her to make her stop snoring

.............her time working in Baton Rouge ...........

talking to her on the phone .... stories about growing up Daddy had "forgotten"

...her graduation from Alcorn .............

her positive spirit even as her health failed

We've Got Next

Jaime and I had the opportunity to spend the weekend in central Louisiana during this year's Crossover event. Crossover is the evangelistic blitz that precedes the Louisiana Baptist Convention (We got the idea from the SBC). Crossover '07 was only the second year for the event and despite the inclement weather, things were productive overall. The reason Jaime and I went to this year's Crossover is because the LBC is coming to New Orleans in 2008. This means that our area will be hosting the Crossover event. This is an exciting opportunity for the Baptist churches in the Greater New Orleans area to unite for a three day, area wide, evangelistic full court press. Although we are still in the process of forming our Crossover team, the ideas area already flowing. I believe that 2007 has been a year for prayer and preparation for what God wants to do and that 2008 will be the beginning of great things to come. Crossover '08, we hope, will be part of a great movement of God in our city and the surrounding area.

If Charlie Brown Grew Oranges

Pitiful isn't it. Some have said its cute but I can't help but feel sorry for it. I thought it would be cool to have a fruit tree in our backyard so I purchased a satsuma orange tree from Home Depot planted it back in the spring. I chose satsuma because we grow them in this part of the state, particularly down in Plaquemines Parish. It had a lot more branches when I planted it. However, as it bloomed and oranges began to form, all non-orange baring limbs died. Thus I was left with an orange three Charles Schultz would be proud of. If I wanted a conversation piece for the backyard I definitely got it in this sad looking satsuma. I hope it will survive "harvest" and bounce back this spring. I admit that I have to admire it for hanging on despite its current condition. I suppose that is why I can't help but find myself cheering the little guy on. Everyone loves and underdog.

The Best Artist You're Not Listening To

Jake Smith. Remember that name. In an industry that tries to pass off assembly line produced music-in-a-can as quality comes something real. In fact, Real is the title of Jake's debut album on Rockettown Records and its worth picking up. Jake's music has been described as "a fusion of funk, soul, R&B, and rock blend" with a distinct New Orleans area feel. There is a musical depth to Real that is usually missing in other Christian albums. The layers of sound and their presentation to the listener let you know you're hearing more than just a vocalist. Jake's talent as a song writer is clear in his lyrics as he goes below the surface and hits on themes that relate to real life. Real has good crossover potential and would feel right at home in many of today's music collections. I feel Jake Smith is a breath of fresh air and wish him and his band success. Keep it real Jake, your on the right track. Go to http://www.jakesmithmusic.com/ to purchase Real, learn more about Jake, and the band's tour schedule.

The Intense Prayer of the Righteous is Very Powerful. Jas 5:16

This past weekend's prayer walk was good, if not better than expected. In all, sixty-nine WMU ladies (and a few of us men) gathered together to lift up in prayer the area we designate as Zone 6. After an orientation on Thursday night, the ladies from Alabama spent Friday prayer walking the neighborhood around the building Faith Baptist had just purchased, had lunch at and prayer walked Tulane University, and visited and prayed for the Baptist Friendship House and Rachael Sims Baptist Center. Louisiana WMU joined the effort on Saturday and we put our feet to the street in six prayer areas within Zone 6. We even took the time to swing down to Carver Baptist Center to pray for their ministry as well as the new church plant, led by Kelly O'Conner, which meets in their building. Over 100 residence were personally prayed for and around 90 copies of God's Word were given out. Most importantly, however, is the fact that spiritual warfare has been waged against the powers that hold this zone in sin. I am excited to see what God will do as we build off of the foundation of prayer that has been laid.

Faith Takes Root

Even before the storm, Faith Baptist Church has been a congregation without a building. They could have found property must easier elsewhere in the city but they are committed to the community where God has placed them. And now, after a lot of searching and prayer, the members of Faith have been able to purchase a building at the corner of S. Claiborne and Fern. Once renovated, Faith's nomadic days will be behind them and they will have a set place from which to anchor their ministry. The timing of this purchase is truly a God thing because Faith sits right in the middle of Zone 6, the area of the city where a small army of WMU ladies will be prayer walking this weekend. We have the opportunity to quickly get on the field and begin the process of spiritually tiling the ground to make hearts ready for the Gospel. Celebrate with Pastor Tim Searcy and Faith Baptist as they look forward to being into their new building.

The Big One

This coming October 27 will be our fifth and largest WMU/BAGNO sponsored prayer walk. For this event, the Louisiana and Alabama WMU have come together to lift up a specific part of New Orleans in prayer. Early in the post Katrina process, we divided the association in to zones for better strategic focus and Alabama Baptist adopted what is known as Zone 6. This zone falls in a part of our association that needs to be rebuilt physically and spiritually. Zone 6 has only two evangelical churches and they are struggling greatly. This zone is the most like a foreign mission field out of any other in our association. We are having to start at zero in many ways. Therefore, this zone is in desperate need of prayer. The WMU of Louisiana and Alabama have responded to this need and will be putting their feet to the streets the weekend of the 27th. As an evangelism strategist, I can't see us moving forward in Zone 6 without first laying a foundation of prayer. This will be the beginning of the work that is to come.

Fall is in The Air

Here in South Louisiana about the only way we know Fall has arrived is because the calendar says so. The leaves don't change and cooler air usually just comes in spurts. However, this doesn't stop us from engaging in typical Fall activities like football and camping. Another Fall favorite our churches enjoy is to host a Fall Festival for their community. These either take the form of a Halloween alternative or a more traditional community event over the weekend. Regardless of what shape it takes, Fall Festivals are a great way for churches to meet their neighbors, build a positive relationship with the community, and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the lost. As it stands right now, there will be around ten Fall Festivals in the New Orleans area this year and each church has their own spin on the event. In total, these events will impact a few thousand people from their respective communities, many who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. Pray for these upcoming Fall Festivals and for those who will be attending. May Christ be lifted up and glorified during this season. I'll take Kingdom growth over cooler air any day.

Paying My Respects

Its a little known fact that visitors are not allowed out of the state of Wisconsin until they have made a pilgrimage to Lambeau Field in Green Bay. No fan base is more loyal and die hard than Packer fans. Even a lifelong Saints fan like myself has to admit this (they only edge us out by a little bit). I watched the local newscast my first night in Wisconsin and was amazed at how they tied almost every news story, even the weather, to the upcoming Packers - Bears game on Sunday. Wisconsin eats, sleeps, and breaths Packers football all year long. After all, they own the team. So I wasn't surprised when I was offered a trip to Lambeau Field and the Packers' Hall of Fame. If you're a fan of pro football, you really owe it to yourself to swing by Lambeau Field regardless of who you root for on Sundays in the Fall. The stadium is open year round and is one of the most impressive football venues I've visited. There's a lot of history and great football that's come out of Lambeau and its worth seeing. I got to see three of the four Vince Lombardi trophies (the first two weren't named for Vince), a site that eludes us Saints fans for now. There is also a lot of historic Packer memorabilia for the history buff. I didn't buy a cheese head while I was there, but I did parade around the stadium in my Drew Brees jersey just to make it clear where I call home.

Baptist Frontier Land

I just finished a week speaking at churches in the Bay Lakes Association in Wisconsin. This was my first time in Wisconsin and my first time to personally experience what its like to serve in a part of the country where evangelical Christianity is the minority. No Bible Belt up there. It was an eye opening experience that has helped reshape my view of ministry in a positive way. Being removed from the Baptist culture we experience here in the South is not necessarily a bad thing. The work is more difficult, but that type of trial blazing excites me. I only spoke in one church building the entire week I was there. Most churches were less than ten years old and met in storefronts, hotels, and even a converted pallet factory. Although the area has few churches, spread out over a large area, I still met several people who had answered God's call to participate in the rebuilding of New Orleans. In fact, I was greeted by and Operation NOAH Rebuild T-shirt as I entered the building of my very first event upon arriving in Wisconsin.

Casting the Vision for New Church Plants

On October 1 & 2, the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans hosted a church planting vision tour which featured seven potential plant sites. Pastors from Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Maryland, and others came to hear directly from the strategist working on the plants and to see first hand the community where these efforts are being made. This event was different than the typical large group bus tour where individuals are asked to consider if and where God might lead them to plant a church. This tour started with seven actual proposals where the sites have been determined and demographic surveys conducted. This was the only tour that I've been on since Katrina that took and optimistic look at the devastation and real possibility of what God can and wants to do in the Greater New Orleans area. If you would like more info about these potential church plants and how you or your church and be involved, please get in touch with me. These church plants are a very important part of the spiritual transformation of our city.

Laughter - It Does The Body Good

I was hunched over my parent's kitchen table with tears running down my cheeks when I realized, "I've not laughed this hard in a long, long time." Jaime and I were visiting family and celebrating my grandmother's 80th birthday this past weekend. It was good to see all my aunts, cousins, second cousins, third cousins... you get the idea. After the festivities, it was back to my parents house where we visited around the kitchen table like good southerners. However, as the night grew old things began to turn, well... a bit silly. That's why I was hunched over the table crying. We laughed and laughed. It was wonderful. Since Katrina, laughter, real laughter, has been illusive. I get so use to the fact that life is still very hard in New Orleans and I'm lulled into thinking things are normal. I forget that life use to be easier, smiles more plentiful, and when the good times rolled we really had a blast. It takes being around people unaffected by the storm who have that spark in their eyes, that we in New Orleans have lost, to make you feel like a whole person again. This weekend was an important reminder of the immeasurable value of family and the joy they bring to your life.

Needs List (You've asked for it)

I get asked from time to time about specific items we could use in our ministry that churches and groups could provide. Due to the nature of my work and the situation in New Orleans, it was not easy to come up with a list at first. However, we've reached a point where such a list is practical and I've given it a permanent spot on my blog. It is on the right hand side of the screen and titled "Ministry Needs." Most of these items can be found at Lifeway stores or online at http://www.lifewaystores.com/. I've also included my address at the bottom of the page. These items will be used in all sorts of evangelistic events and activities throughout Greater New Orleans. Thank you in advance for all of your help in bringing the Gospel to the lost in our city.

A Gift of God's Word

After members attended one of our prayer walk events, the WMU of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Alexandria, LA decided to purchase 100 pocket New Testaments for us to use in our missions activities in the New Orleans area. The New Testaments are in an easy-to-read translation which makes them perfect for new believers or those interested in the claims of Jesus Christ. We will have many opportunities to give these out with the assurance that God's Word will not return empty, but will accomplish and prosper in the manner God sends it. A special thanks to the WMU of Emmanuel Baptist for the New Testaments and for your continued prayers for work God is doing throughout the New Orleans area.

13 Pallets at 3 A.M.

God showed His amazing hand of providence again this week as a major food service company donated all its leftover food from a recent expo. Now when I write that it was a lot of food, I am understating the fact. You should have seen the cuts of meat, boxes of pasta, cheese, sauces, vegetables, and even cheesecake. This donation of food went to Operation NOAH Rebuild to help feed the volunteers currently rebuilding homes in the New Orleans area. It may have taken us into the wee hours of the morning to load but it was worth it. This was indeed a blessing because NOAH was completing a move from their old volunteer village at the World Trade Center to their new location at Hopeview Baptist Church which has a functioning kitchen. One week prior and NOAH would not have been able to accept this donation. God's timing is perfect. Good eats to all you NOAH volunteers. (By the way, the photo above was the last of three truck loads just like this)

New Orleans: 2 Year Report

The Greater New Orleans Community Data Center has released its report on the status of New Orleans and the surrounding area in time for the second anniversary of Katrina. The report outlines progress and shortcomings in the recovery effort. Click the link below to read the report.

http://www.gnocdc.org/NOLAIndex/ESNOLAIndexAug07.pdf

A Much Needed Laptop

I would like to offer my sincere thanks to my Florida Baptist brothers and sisters for providing me with a band new laptop to assist in my day to day activities. Up to this point, I've not had a functioning computer to work with so the arrival of the laptop was an answer to prayer. My work takes me throughout a six parish area and the laptop was just what I needed as I try to stay on top of what God is doing in our churches. I've only had it for a little over a week and it has already been a tremendous blessing. Thanks also to David and Wanda Maxwell (David heads up Operation NOAH Rebuild) for thinking of me when approached by Florida Baptist about resources they could provide for the work in New Orleans and for receiving it at the mission celebration where it was presented.

The Hottest Camp I've Ever Been To

No really, the heat index was above 110 degrees and the camp's main building didn't have air conditioning. Despite the heat, youth from several of our Hispanic churches enjoyed a four day retreat before returning to school. The youth got to participate in swimming, soccer, low ropes challenge, and the camp's 300 ft. water slide. The camp was led by area pastors and featured the praise band from Good Shepherd Baptist Church. A big hand to David Rodriguez, pastor of Horeb Spanish Mission, for a great camp. I'm already looking forward to next year.

Lives Changed at Chinese Baptist Church VBS

One of the last Vacation Bible Schools of the summer was held at the New Orleans Chinese Baptist Church. About 35 volunteers from South Carolina came down to assist pastor Hong Fu in the church's VBS activities. On average, about 65 children attended each day and enjoyed Bible stories, crafts, games and refreshments. An inflatable water slide cooled the kids off on Wednesday much to their delight. However, the most important thing was the lives that were forever changed because of Jesus Christ. I had the privilege of speaking to the children about missions and even sharing the plan of salvation with a few. Pray for the ministry of the Chinese Baptist Church as they reach out to first and second generation Chinese living throughout the New Orleans area.

Dogs Rock The House...Earl Shives!

Last Tuesday night, July 24, New Orleans was privileged to be a concert stop for some of the most influential artist in Christian rock. The Lost Dogs, along with local talent Mike Indest and Eddie Parrino, took to the stage at The Neutral Ground coffee house in Uptown. A small crowd, mainly of locals, came out to enjoy the coffee, music, and interaction with the bands. Mike and Eddie's sets were really good and I encourage you to show'em some love and check them out. It's worth it. The Dogs put on a great set with fan favorites like 'Bullet Train,' 'No Room For Us,' and 'Imagine That' as well as a few songs from their latest album, "The Lost Cabin and The Mystery Trees." Everyone hung out after the show to visit with the band, buy merchandise, get autographs, and ask those burning questions like, "When is The Choir getting back in the studio" and "What's next for the 77's." Bottom line, it was a really fun evening of music and I think we all went home hoping for a return visit next year.

Ala. WMU Show Support for New Orleans

Jaime and I had the privilege of leading some sessions during the Alabama WMU State Leadership Conference during the weekend of July 21-23. We were able to share stories, give testimony, and give details about the work God is doing in the Greater New Orleans area. After the evening worship on Saturday night, we took part in a New Orleans themed fellowship complete with shrimp etoufee, beignets, and coffee. Sunday, we launched the prayer initiative for the zone within the city that Alabama Baptist have adopted. It was a wonderful weekend and Jaime and I were delighted to be invited to participate. We look forward to our partnership with Alabama Baptist, especially the WMU.

Lost Dogs Live At The Neutral Ground

Some News From Down The Road

Highway 23 leads to the end of the world, at least as far as this Louisianian is concerned. Down at the end of Plaquemine Parish is the town of Port Sulphur and Port Sulphur Baptist Church where Lynn Rodrigue is pastor. Lynn has the honor (at least we'll call it that) of pastoring the southern most church in our association. Look on a map and you'll see why. Lynn also has the honor of being the most isolated pastor in our association but it hasn't slowed him down. On a recent visit to the area, Lynn was able to show me some of the progress being made in and around Port Sulphur. Lynn estimates that they may be able to get into their new building within one to two months. You should see the grin on Lynn's face every time he mentions that building. Understand that Port Sulphur is only a few miles away from where Katrina made landfall and that nothing was left in its wake for nearly 45 miles. I also got to see the storage buildings (the photo above) the church is constructing for residence of FEMA trailers. This is a tremendous ministry to the 3000 + residence still crammed into these small trailers with all of their belongings. Continue to pray for Lynn, his family, and Port Sulphur Baptist Church as they minister to their community.

One of My Favorite Things

I love R.A. Camp! For those of you who don't know, R.A.s (Royal Ambassadors) is a Southern Baptist program for grade school boys with an emphasis on godly virtues and missions. I've developed a relationship with Eugene and Debi Morris, managers of Judson Baptist Retreat Center, and have the opportunity to be the featured missionary each summer at a different camp they host. This summer it was R.A. camp and I had a blast. I grew up in R.A.s and currently lead the R.A. chapter at our church. God blessed me in a special way this year when a boy named Larry accepted Christ during one of my mission sessions. That was a first. Larry lived in the lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans until Katrina but now he and his family are in Pineville (central Louisiana). It's amazing how God brings people together to accomplish His will. Here I was 100 miles away from New Orleans and I have the opportunity to lead a displaced New Orleans resident to Christ. Amazing.

New Doors Are Opening

Thanks to the work of my friend Don Snipes, Operation NOAH Area Manager from the Southern Baptist Convention of Texas, a new work has been discovered. Don was able to build a relationship with a lady named Doris who was in need of home repairs due to Katrina. Through that relationship, Doris, her daughter, and granddaughter were led to faith in Christ. Now, Doris and her daughter are anxious to grow in the Lord. Just so you know, I usually have to ask about starting a Bible study at a particular location. In Doris' case, she offered her home as if it were the next logical step. Not only that, but she asked me how we could "get this (the Gospel) to the children and youth in this neighborhood." This is a missionary's dream. This past week, with the help of a volunteer team, we were able to spend a week ministering at and from Doris' still unfinished home. We prayer walked every street in her neighborhood, held a community cookout, and conducted a two day Kid's Club. This is only the beginning. Through these activities, we found several people in the area that were interested in attending the home Bible study once it begins. Don't you want a Doris or two in your church?

A Week in El Salvador

Jaime and I just returned from a mission trip to El Salvador. We, along with three others from our church, spent seven days in the city of San Salvador and the surrounding area working with Vida Neuva Baptist Church. We had the opportunity to share Christ with many people through one-on-one witnessing, Christian movies, kid's clubs, and speaking in public schools. It was a very productive week both in terms of the Gospel being shared and in personal and spiritual growth. Thank you for your prayers while we were away.

Virtual Prayer Walk Comming Soon

Thanks to the efforts of Media Ministry department of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, our WMU/BAGNO prayer walks will soon be featured online. Those wanting to lift the New Orleans area up in prayer will be able to log on to the Internet from anywhere in the world and take a virtual prayer walk of the many places we are focusing on during 2007. Check back for an update with the web address where you can access this information.

Prayer Warriors on the Move

April 21 saw the second of six WMU/BAGNO sponsored prayer walks. The Lord increased our numbers from the previous prayer walk as 58 men, women, and children took to the streets of New Orleans to lift up three churches and their neighborhoods in prayer. Each group that went out experienced unique pockets of New Orleans culture and saw the Spirit move in people's lives. The team was able to pray for the needs of several individuals and families and one person made a profession of faith in Christ. These prayer walks have not only blessed the churches and neighborhoods where they take place but they have also paved the way spiritually for the Gospel to be shared more effectively. How will God have you pray for the New Orleans area?

Taking Prayer To The Streets

On February 21, we held our first BAGNO/WMU sponsored prayer walk in the neighborhoods of three of our churches. This was the first of six to be held throughout the year. The churches involved were Grace Baptist Church in Bywater, Evangelistic Baptist Church in the Seventh Ward, and Good News Baptist Church currently serving in Destrahan. Twenty-two from around the state participated in the walks and it was clear that God is moving in the hearts and lives of people in the New Orleans area.

An Undate...Finally

I admit I got myself into a mess trying to write longer blog entries. I usually don't have the time to write at length and I should not have started. So I've removed the first two parts of a three part stroy that I now realize I won't finish and have gone back to short and simple. Sorry.

Change Is Still A Good Thing

Sometimes when God speaks we hear but do not listen. Been there, done that. In fact, my latest attempt not to listen to God was very recent. Since Katrina, I have been praying and looking and praying and searching and praying and seeking council and praying and praying and praying for God's clear direction regarding service in New Orleans. Yes, even missionaries struggle with knowing where and how they are to serve Christ. For the past three months, I have be setting up the volunteer village (I previously referred to it as a base camp) for Operation NOAH Rebuild. This volunteer village gig provided my Katrina weary mind, body and spirit with an easy street assignment for the next two years. However, my selfish desire to take it easy did not match up with God's call for greater action. I found myself at odds with God. This is never a good place to be. I had to surrender to the task for which God called me to fulfill. Therefore, I am currently in transition into an evangelism and church planting role in the New Orleans area. I could not be more excited. This has long been my heartbeat and through God's perfect timing, I now have the opportunity to serve Christ the way I'm wired. So once again, change enters my life and its not just a good thing, its a God thing.

One Family At A Time

With each passing day, Operation NOAH Rebuild becomes more of a presence in the neighborhoods of New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish. A few thousand volunteers have already been on the ground working on devastated homes this summer and through them, Christ is having a positive impact on our city. Many see the vast extent of the damage and ask me if the work that is being done is really worth it in the end. Will these neighborhoods come back? Will New Orleans ever recover? Is this all for nothing? Seeing the devastation each and every day, I understand these concerns and questions. I think the key is to look beyond the physical structures of the houses and see the families in need. I've wrote before that Operation NOAH Rebuild is as much a Kingdom building project as it is a project to rebuild houses. Housing is one of our most basic needs and Operation NOAH Rebuild has the opportunity to meet that need in a big way and give Christ the honor and glory for it all. As we lift Jesus up He will draw all men to Himself. If we are faithful to plant seeds while we toil with the hammer, the Holy Spirit will be faithful to reap in the harvest. As houses are rebuilt, the Kingdom will advance until New Orleans is like a city shining on a hill. Don't think it could happen? Through the power of Christ it can be accomplished one family at a time.