“Picking Up The Broken Pieces in New Orleans”

By Virtré Sterling

            Ten months ago we saw pictures of a city submerged under water, bodies floating through the streets, and the Superdome surrounded by thousands of people waiting for rescue and aid. Where are those people and their families and how are they dealing with their losses?

For seven days, a group of fifteen from Kettering Baptist Church (KBC) in Upper Marlboro, Maryland served the Lord while remembering the devastation that came to New Orleans, encouraging those who suffered from Hurricane Katrina, and fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19, which says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (NIV).

            The group teamed up with Adventures in Missions (AIM), a Christian organization that focuses on missions and following God’s instructions by leading others to His Son. Since March 2006, AIM, mainly college aged students, has been in New Orleans helping rebuild the city and making disciples.

            The majority of the Kettering Baptist Church group experienced their first mission’s trip and grew tremendously- both emotionally and spiritually.

            “My first experience in missions was completely contrary to my expectations, but was the most rewarding time in my life,” stated sixteen year old Margaret Davenport.

 “Not only did I further my knowledge in His Word, but I learned the power of prayer, united with fellow believers, changed my selfish, sheltered perspective on life, and strengthened my walk in Christianity,” continued Davenport.

            The leaders also saw growth in the youth who ranged from age 13 to 17. “I saw a lot of growth and leadership, I wouldn’t have seen back at the church. They really stepped it up,” reflected Youth Minister Colin Pugh.

            The KBC group was housed at Firehouse Family Ministries under the leadership of Pastor Sherman Shelton, a native of New Orleans. After Hurricane Katrina hit, the church was four feet under water with ten feet of mold and ceiling damage. The church has since been remodeled and now houses volunteer groups.

            Pastor Shelton excitedly replied, “God has been faithful; He has sent many volunteers to help us get this building back together.” 

            While only twenty percent of the population has returned after the storm, the city is still in need of financial assistance, prayers, and physical labor to help rebuild. There has been a change in the way churches operate as a result of Katrina.

            Pastor Shelton shared, “Churches are now networking. Before [Hurricane Katrina], the Black Baptist stayed with the blacks and White Baptist stayed with the whites and Asians stayed where they were. It was an unwritten rule [that] you hung out with your own kind, but no matter if you are Baptist, Methodist, Muslim or don’t believe in God, we all work together.”

            Throughout the week, the group from Upper Marlboro gutted houses, moved furniture and belongings left in houses and office buildings, cleaned up yards and neighborhoods, and developed relationships with people who live in New Orleans.

            During the week, the group visited the lower Ninth Ward which was submerged under 18 feet of water on one side and 22 feet of water on the other, following the passing of Katrina and Rita. The water has subsided, butthe community is still in shambles.

            “This is just the physical sign of what New Orleans was spiritually,” stated Sarah, an AIM group leader as she walked through the community.

“Spiritually the city was already devastated,” continued Sarah.

Adequate deal of prayer time was invested in the group and much more is needed. Prayer walking which appeared to be easy and perhaps even futile while it was being done, proved to make a difference as the KBC group began to experience its power through persons coming to know Christ and relationship with Him being strengthened.

            “Prayer was integral to all that was done on the trip as it prepared our minds and hearts for the work the Lord was going to do through us and after we left New Orleans,” stated Heather Chapman, a chaperone for the group.

            Although the rest of the nation has moved forward, New Orleans is desperately in need. There is a cry from the heavily populated African American community for other African Americans to assist in the rebuilding process. Pastor Lucas was excited to see the KBC group from Maryland who assisted him in moving furniture out of an office building his church purchased after the storm.

            “I was wondering where my people were,” stated Pastor Lucas upon seeing the African American youth group. After hearing that statement, KBC has been further provoked to get other African-American churches to participate in missions, not only in New Orleans, but throughout the world.

“In some cases, the labor is what is needed and not the money,” Chapman stated.

 Some physical labor includes but is not limited to gutting homes. The process takes about 3 days depending on the stage of the house and how much mold damage there is. The KBC group gutted homes about 4 of the 5 days while in New Orleans.

            As Paul Bryant looked around the room he and his team completed gutting, he said, “I guess it is now time to pick up the broken pieces.”

            And that is just what New Orleans is in the process of doing. They are picking up that which was destroyed and starting anew, and as they do that, they see that it is not Congress, the Mayor or the government who is there to assist them ten months later, but it is the Church.