DownloadJune 16, 2008 issue
Initiative rebuilds churches, leadership in New Orleans
By Celeste Kennel-Shank Mennonite Weekly ReviewIf the churches in New Orleans rebuild, people will come back. That’s a main idea behind Churches Supporting Churches, an ecumenical effort supporting African-American churches in New Orleans through congregational partnerships, resourcing pastors and fundraising for needs the communities identify.
Sylvia Shirk Charles, left, pastor of Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship, visits with Denise Parker and Pastor Leonard Parker of New Orleans Bible Fellowship. The two congregations are partnered through Churches Supporting Churches. — Photo by Melani Susanti
Steven Brown of Hampton, Va., vice president of the CSC board and social justice coordinator for the African-American Mennonite Association, appreciates what Mennonites have done to aid people in the Gulf, but believes congregations can do more. Brown has traveled monthly to New Orleans for the past three years. He believes it is the duty of Mennonites to be involved, noting that many of the 100,000 families in New Orleans made homeless after Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005 have not returned.
“The Mennonites have a long history of mutual aid, of being a peace church, and a long history of living out what Jesus said,” Brown said. “It is incumbent upon the Mennonite church to be as aggressive to see New Orleans come together as a community as they are on the position on war, the position on peace and overseas missions.”
CSC formed three years ago with the urging and leadership of C.T. Vivian, a civil rights activist and contemporary of Martin Luther King Jr. CSC recognized that rebuilding black churches would be integral to rebuilding communities in New Orleans, Brown said. Pastor Dwight Webster of Christian Unity Baptist Church in New Orleans, president and CEO of CSC, said Katrina, Rita and Wilma destroyed entire areas where pastors and their members lived and worshiped.
“Even after three years, there are still parts of the city that look like a war zone,” he said.
Many churches have only seen 30 to 40 percent of their members return, even when church doors are open, he said.
“We yet have pastors who have lost all income,” Webster said. “Ministers have died, people have died because they simply did not have access to health care.”
Another of CSC’s main goals is supporting the pastors. It does so in part through monthly pastors’ institutes, which have for the past three years provided training in leadership, advocacy and community development.
“We are able to have fellowship and share with one other,” Webster said. “We can share joy and pains.” Because so many pastors suffered trauma after the hurricane, CSC held a healing retreat in June 2006 for pastors and their spouses.
Phil Jones, director of Brethren Witness/Washington Office of the Church of the Brethren, which is involved in CSC, said many pastors need support to be able to return to New Orleans.
Comments
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My sincere Greetings to you in the sweet name of Jesus Christ.
I am very happy to see you in my prayer however we do not know to each other and living in a far away countries.
my name is George Velpula and living at Andra Pradesh in India. Would you please allow me to share some more words with you?
Once upon a time, I was a Cruel, Thief and misused the Christians and Chain smoker and great sinner but I came to the saving knowledge of God by his grace!
One day a Christian friend forced me to attend a small Christian meeting but I attended unwillingly. There I heard a great message from the Bible (Mark 7:20-23and 2nd. Corin.5:17). I so trembled there by hearing the message and felt that God spoke to me. Then I so became interested to know more about God so I bought a small New Testament and read a many times carefully and realized that I was a great sinner and need to be saved. I found the savior in the words and confessed all my sins and accepted Jesus Christ into my life then I was baptized by immersion according to the Bible ( Acts 2:38, 41, 8:38-39 and Mark 16:16). And I got great joy which I never had been.
Now God gave me a noble job of preaching the word of God, and winning souls for his kingdom. I am preaching and teaching the word of God to the Tribals , Muslims , Hindus and Other back-word communities in the Un-reached areas which do not have Electricity and proper roads. I have no any Travel facilities and I walk several miles every day to preach the word of God.
It is my humble request to you if possible, please do help me to have a small two wheeler (a bicycle or small two wheeler to reach and preach the Good News in more villages every week. it is a only request not command. if you are able kindly do so(Gal.6:9).Have mercy on us You may kindly send your kind hearted gift by Western Union money transfer outlet and when you send please inform us its secret number. And we are going to bed without food many a times. We trust in God that he will provide for us. Please pray for my poor family and Ministry.
Looking forward to hear from you if possible soon,
Yours sincerely in his wondrous Mission,
George.Velpula
Evangelist.
My Address : George.velpula, Evangelist, Nandigama, Krishna District, A.P. 521185,INDIA. E mail :gvelpula@gmail.com,http:/godwillprovide4Us.blogspot.com
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