Bishop Bill

Four weeks ago today, Louisiana and the Gulf Coast was changed...in time we will be able to describe to others in what ways and how...for now we are focused on standing up...we are helping each other and growing.

Tomorrow will offer me and our team the first "look-see" at the affected churches in New Orleans. We hope to be able to see as much as officials will allow. Tomorrow night's email will contain more details and descritions.

Operation Compassion continues to supply food, supplies and help to those in the affected areas. I'm told that 2% of New Orleans has power and 20% of the north shore. NBC news was in Bogalusa this weekend and if you saw the report you know this community, though unnoticed by many, has suffered great loss. We have been sending supplies up to Bogalusa from the Covington Distribution Center. Remember this area in your prayers. Dr. Ted Long and his church team have done a great job in working with Operation Compassion in Baton Rouge for the needs of many. Pastor Nick Hager has coordinated a number of projects, including temporary housing for New Orleans pastors, to help us as well. Pastor Lance Baker in Shreveport and the people there have blessed many. Yet, is not possible to mention all the things being done in the many local communities of Louisiana. I marvel to consider that every community in our state has felt some effect of the storm. Pastor Robert Sharpton and Pam have been housing those who were displaced from New Day Christian Center. Pastor Wallace White and Linda have been blessed by 120 friends, members and others from Faith Temple and on and on it goes! There is true synergy within our ranks for the challenges ahead. It's why I know we will make it!

Relief teams from Missouri, Texas, North Georgia, Tennessee, Indiana and West Virginia have been or will be in the state this week doing clean-up and helping local residents with storm damage. We are grateful for the partnerships which this challenging time has afforded us. What we are discovering is what we all truly knew in our hearts--THE CHURCH OF GOD IS A TRULY CONNECTED FAMILY!

Our ministers and spouses will gather in Baton Rouge (Maranatha) on Saturday (1 p.m.) for what promises to be an emotional gathering (our first since the storm) and time to forge a "together" direction for the future. Bishop Orville Hagan is planning to be with us and as our Executive Committee liaison, you must know he has been working so hard to help us in many different ways! What a friend he has been to Louisiana during this season. The document attached will give you some idea of where we believe the future points for us.

Finally, our state office team is working hard and on those occasions when you try to reach us by phone and don't...please understand we are likely talking to others. Your patience is so appreciated. Emails are another good way to reach any of us as we try to return all emails daily as well as phone calls.

Be blessed today!

Bishop Bill

Bishop Bill

Four weeks ago today, Louisiana and the Gulf Coast was changed...in time we will be able to describe to others in what ways and how...for now we are focused on standing up...we are helping each other and growing.

Tomorrow will offer me and our team the first "look-see" at the affected churches in New Orleans. We hope to be able to see as much as officials will allow. Tomorrow night's email will contain more details and descritions.

Operation Compassion continues to supply food, supplies and help to those in the affected areas. I'm told that 2% of New Orleans has power and 20% of the north shore. NBC news was in Bogalusa this weekend and if you saw the report you know this community, though unnoticed by many, has suffered great loss. We have been sending supplies up to Bogalusa from the Covington Distribution Center. Remember this area in your prayers. Dr. Ted Long and his church team have done a great job in working with Operation Compassion in Baton Rouge for the needs of many. Pastor Nick Hager has coordinated a number of projects, including temporary housing for New Orleans pastors, to help us as well. Pastor Lance Baker in Shreveport and the people there have blessed many. Yet, is not possible to mention all the things being done in the many local communities of Louisiana. I marvel to consider that every community in our state has felt some effect of the storm. Pastor Robert Sharpton and Pam have been housing those who were displaced from New Day Christian Center. Pastor Wallace White and Linda have been blessed by 120 friends, members and others from Faith Temple and on and on it goes! There is true synergy within our ranks for the challenges ahead. It's why I know we will make it!

Relief teams from Missouri, Texas, North Georgia, Tennessee, Indiana and West Virginia have been or will be in the state this week doing clean-up and helping local residents with storm damage. We are grateful for the partnerships which this challenging time has afforded us. What we are discovering is what we all truly knew in our hearts--THE CHURCH OF GOD IS A TRULY CONNECTED FAMILY!

Our ministers and spouses will gather in Baton Rouge (Maranatha) on Saturday (1 p.m.) for what promises to be an emotional gathering (our first since the storm) and time to forge a "together" direction for the future. Bishop Orville Hagan is planning to be with us and as our Executive Committee liaison, you must know he has been working so hard to help us in many different ways! What a friend he has been to Louisiana during this season. The document attached will give you some idea of where we believe the future points for us.

Finally, our state office team is working hard and on those occasions when you try to reach us by phone and don't...please understand we are likely talking to others. Your patience is so appreciated. Emails are another good way to reach any of us as we try to return all emails daily as well as phone calls.

Be blessed today!

Bishop Bill

Today is Saturday...in Louisiana!

Whew! We left early to drive to Houma with some brothers from NGA who came to inspect the damage with us at Friendswood, Chauvin and Grand Caillou. Here is what we found...

Friendswood has much more damage that originally thought. Large sections of the roof have been damaged and will require significant repair. There has been significant water damage to the pews, the carpet (which required removal), the sound system, the choir rooms and the gym. The walls of the sanctuary will require removal and replacement of the wet sheetrock. Insurance will help some but there will be the need to help this church recover. Pastor Earl was encouraged to receive support from the church in Conyers, GA. Please remember this church.

Grand Caillou has some minimal damage to the exterior. Thankfully, no flooding in the area.

Chauvin church has experienced a major damage to its roof. Pastor Naquin and Pastor Brenda's husband are working to get the roof covered with tarps until we can make some decisions on replacement of this roof. Unfortunately, the church has no insurance to cover the damages. We left the first month's income replacement from the Texas congregation who is sponsoring her. Electricity has recently been restored and we are trusting God for improvements soon.

From there we drove to the outskirts of New Orleans...how I wanted to go in...but roadblocks discouraged our courageous thoughts. The city is on my heart and in my head as we consider the unique opportunity God has provided us to rebuild the presence of our churches and the COG in New Orleans. Would you help me pray about rebuilding New Orleans? Strategic partnerships are necessary and available. God's heart for the city is obvious. Can God use you and me to be part of the INCREDIBLE vision for the city?

We returned to Covington to meet up with General Overseer, Dennis McGuire who was able to visit there today but we missed him. The ministry of Lonnie Stewart--Meals on Wheels is set up there and providing hot meals to the people of the parish. At present, only 20% of St. Tammany Parish has power restored, so the meals are greatly appreciated! A medical clinic was set up today with a doctor and LPN to meet patients and help with needs. There has been great response to that. People continue to come in droves. An estimated 400 cars per day are lined up from 3-6 in front of the old state campground.

We did not visit Slidell today, although we did yesterday. Our relief teams are going into Slidell next week to help in some neighborhoods with storm debris. The mayor of Slidell estimates that 10,000 homes have been destroyed in this area. Operation Compassion served 3500 hot meals at the community outreach site which is being staffed by many of the faith-based organizations in front of Wal Mart (exit 83).

Today was a good day for our people...and our neighbors.

I pray tomorrow will be a day of spiritual enrichment for you and your church. Keep praying..

Anticipate!

Bishop Bill

Today is Friday...in Louisiana!

Bill George from the COG Evangel is in town to see the need, interview people and share his heart. We have traveled today to Covington, Slidell, Amite and Franklinton. Franklinton, LA was hit in a major way. I traveled down LA 10 to LA 25 South and as we got closer to town, the devastation was major. In some of these communities, we will not have power for many weeks.

A team of pastors and their wives took food and supplies from Covington to the town of Bogalusa, LA today. This is their second trip up there. Yesterday, six people gave their hearts to the Lord! Apparently, not much Red Cross activity has been done there.

We finally got to talk with Earl Naquin last night and found that Friendswood has significant damage to the roof and will require 121 squares of shingles. There was a good amount of water in the sanctuary that required the removal of the carpet in some places. Insurance adjusters are determining the replacements costs and we will join with this church to repair the building soon.

Chauvin is now also accessible by phone and Sister Thibodeaux reports significant roof damage that will require immediate action. A relief team will be in the area there tomorrow to determine what needs to be done and plans to return this next week to make the repairs.

A hot meals cooking team from Texas arrived in the state today and served over 3,000 meals in the greater Covington area, according to Operation Compassion. They are also serving meals at Slidell where we visited today.

Tomorrow, things will be better than today!

Keep hope alive!

Bishop Bill

update

First of all, I apologize that we have not made more information available to you. Many of you have been calling and are having trouble getting through. We simply ask for your patience to understand the volume of calls (averaging 50-100 per day) from all across the country and even from the mission field. I'm trying daily to return calls and answer the loads of emails each night when I return from that day's travels and site visits. Not complaining, just providing some explanation for the delay in getting back to you.

None of us were prepared for the impact Katrina had, nor was there an understanding of how huge this relief effort would be. From the start, the State Council and I determined we would have three initial priorties...

1. Assist in the relief of victims of the storm in both the North Shore affected areas and New Orleans.
2. Provide financial support to pastoral families who in many cases would be without income for many weeks do the operation of their church being impacted.
3. Provide support to local churches in the affected areas to assess damage, develop plans for recovery and rebuilding.

In response to the needs for relief, we entered into a relationship with Operation Compassion and set up emergency relief centers in Covington, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Shreveport. Trucks have been sporadic and in some cases have not materialized as expected. However, the good news is we have ministered to literally thousands of families who have sought food and necessary supplies during the days following the storm's impact. The many volunteers and pastors deserve our heartfelt thanks. We have tried to be the LIVING, VISIBLE PRESENCE OF GOD in a hurting community.

In response to our concerns for pastor families, Kathy and I have worked with churches, pastors and corporate entities to provide what amounts at this point to more than $125,000 in replacement income to pastors in the 21 affected churches. Pastors are receiving these funds in partnership with their sponsors and not thorugh the state office. We commited to our pastors that we would not allow pastors to suffer financial loss as a result of the storm.

In response to the need to help local churches, we continue to talk and assess with each pastor the needs which are before us. In the north shore communities, the power is begining to return and as it does life is returning to a sense of normalcy although there is still many needs in these areas. We plan to keep the relief centers open for the weeks ahead. As Operation Compassion provides the trucks, they will be sent to the sites.

The paradigm will slowly turn from recovery to relief to rebuilding. This will be the challenge of New Orleans. As we shared with you last time, of the seven churches in the city, several are severly damaged and many have at least water damage. Faith Temple for example has lost its roof and there is extensive water damage to all parts of the building and annex. We still don't know what the outcome is for Cornerstone, Lighthouse and Amazing Grace.

I was able to pray with Pastor Jose' Ramirez today and believe with him for the repair of his church at Manantial De Vida. We have water throughout the building and black mold in the church.

Today, Pastor Mike McDermott and his wife Becky were in Baton Rouge and traveled with me to meet the couple they are supporting. They pastor in Baltimore, MD and are committed to our needs and will be a strategic partner for New Orleans.

The editor of the COG Evangel is in our state this week to meet with affected pastors and churches and to help to share the story of what God is doing among us. He will visit Alexandria, Covington, Slidell and other possible locations.

A relief team from Texas is housed at Pastor Ted Long's church, Maranatha, as they work in the Amite areas to relieve the many trees which are down. Another team from North Georgia will enter the state this coming week to work in Slidell and Covington. Still another relief team from Tennessee will arrive on Sunday, the 18th to work in Covington. You have to know that there is much to do and God is sending many to help.

Finally, (and I do mean this is the end) I want to tell you that none of us wanted this storm nor have we enjoyed its impact, devastation or pain. However, there is a bright hope for tomorrow. We will rebuild. We will return to our places of ministry and do significant things for God. This is not a time for discouragement but courage. Last night, before retiring to bed, I penned these 10 things we need for the days ahead and as we consider our journey to rebuild New Orleans. They are only a framework to consider and pray about. You may want to add to the list. I welcome that and would encourage you to respond. I would like to hear from you.
1. We will need large amounts of financial resources to go along with insurance settlements to rebuild and repair our properties.
2. We will need numbers of volunteer relief teams to help with the massive clean-up from flooding, looting and damage.
3. We will need significant prayer support from our partners to battle moments of discouragement and despair.
4. We will need courage to hear God’s voice and act upon His commands to inhabit the city.
5. We will need to refocus our priorities and watch for the temptation to focus our energies on our needs and not the needs of the lost.
6. We will need to prepare for battles with legal, civil and spiritual forces who want to limit the influence of the church in the city.
7. We will need the compassion to "weep with those who weep" and "mourn with those who mourn."
8. We will need to be the LIVING, VISIBLE PRESENCE OF A MIGHTY GOD in the midst of hurting and needful people.
9. We will need patience to endure what promises to be a long journey to recovery.
10. We will need each other...TOGETHER...in UNITY to accomplish this goal.
Just know this...Kathy and I care. We believe in our future and we are committed to the vision God has given us.

Good evening!

Bishop Bill