Would your church be interested sending a team to N.O?

Brother Ben---your information will be well heeded, I'm sure---but I wanted to add a little advise for churches who ARE considering sending a team!

Don't just "ZOOM!" on down there! Know what I mean??

1. Have a plan of action your church wants to do---construction---despensing food---water---providing shelter

2. Get linked up with someone or some organization that is "OFFICIAL"----like Habitat you mentioned or the Louisiana Baptist Convention or the Southern Baptist Convention

3. Whatever plan you have---carry all the necessary tools and materials you will need---there is NOTHING down there in the city to work with---you won't be able to "Zoom" off to Wal-Mart or Home Depot to "get it" once you're down there!!

4. And I hate to say this for all you gun haters---but you may consider arming yourselves---the "Boys" from Fort Bragg are down there as well as the Louisiana National Guard as well as the New Orleans Police---but even with their combined "firepower"----you can't expect New Orleans citizens LEFT there to give you a nice, warm "Sunday School" welcome!!!!! Some may think otherwise---but now is not a wise time to go there----you may be greeted with a "friendly" reception of hot lead from some stupid gang members!!!!

5. Do your logistical homework before you go!! If you don't---you'll get all the way down to Baton Rouge or Hammond or Slidell and discover the State Troopers won't let you across the Causeway bridges INTO New Orleans!!! Then you'll be saying, "MAAAAAAN!!! We came all the way down from Detroit for NOTHIN'!!!!!"

6. Check with New Orleans Police Department on this one----the authorities have asked all residents of New Orleans and surrounded "'burbs" to leave and not return for the next 3 weeks---and if you check the latest news--there is FORCED evacuations taking place---this is in order to begin clean up process and restablishment of power and utilities and the resupply of common supplies to local establishments.

I love New Olreans---believe me---but right now is just not a wise time for someone to go down there and play "hero".

The city is vacant of its NORMAL(bear down on this word) citizens---the ones left there are along the lines of what comes out of the Bible's "Land of the Gadarenes!!!"

So---personally---I wouldn't go down there RIGHT NOW----until it was clear from the Governor of Louisiana to go---then I'd have a plan before I left---then I'd hook up with some official organization and abide by their rules---then I'd go and work like a Chipmunk gatherin' acorns for a long winter!!!!

Brother David

 

I believe a lot of people are forgetting that NO wasn't the only area hit, many homes in many ares were destroyed. I saw a toen on tv in Mis where everything in sight was destroyed.

 

I've heard on the news that rescue workers and disaster team people are overwhelmed by "volunteers" who suddenly show up with food or clothes. They have no place to put the stuff and have to take time out from what they are doing to figure something out and to show "volunteers" what to do.

Disaster relief involves special training and they keep saying over and over not to send stuff, not to go down there (for now) but to send money.
Things are still very much in turmoil. NO is a mess and is dangerous health-wise.

In MS, maybe there are easier ways to help but I think you should investigate first and go with a known organization that knows what's it is doing and won't get in the way.

 

I don't think I would like to do anything with an organization connected to Jimmy Carter if I could do it otherwise. I say work with the SBC and do it better. Just my opinion.

Joseph Botwinick

 

The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention is sending volunteers to the affected areas. In order to be a SBTC Disaster Relief Volunteer, you must have a recommendation from your church and attend a training session.

About 30 people from my church have signed up to attend the training. I'm not sure where they will be going, although I know one girl said she had signed up to go to Baton Rouge.

 

We are going to try and put together a team of volunteers to go next month. We will have disaster relief training next week. We'll be going through KBC/SBC. Our town is having a heritage festival next weekend and I am arraning for our church to be drop off point for supplies. The supply list I am using comes from the Red Cross. It will be distributed through the SBC. We don't yet know where we're going, La or Mis. And in all likely hood will be feed the rescue workers.

 

Scarlett is right, guys!!! And again---as in my post above---let me say---You cannot---cannot---cannot---just "zoom" on down there----it would be beyond stupidity---I know that Jesus tells us to "take care of folks"----I know that---but He also tells us to be "as wise as serpents"---and right now---I believe that even the dumbiest of all Rattlesnakes would not want to prawl around down there!!! Get it????

My sister's church in Baton Rouge is houseing over 100 police and firemen from literally all over the United States---They(the police and Firemen) board busses and are taken into New Orleans on various "duties" and "shifts"---and then once their shifts are over---they are then taken to a special area for sanitation---they are hosed down with chemicals that kills diseases and bacteria they had been exposed to---

by the way---the FIREMEN as well as the Police are armed

We---here in Central Mississippi---have busied ourselves with providing housing and meals for many, many New Orleans area refugees----the civil authorities have finally allowed certain residents to return to their homes----ONLY---repeat----ONLY---to retreave what they can take back out in their vehicles----in order to return to their homes---they must have an offical "pass"---and then they are given a certain time period to "get in and get out"---

Nows not the time for us "Pew Huggers" to be invading New Orleans and all of us tryin' to be heroes----no such thing as a dead hero----if you want to help right now---go to the Mississippi Gulf Coast---but go knowing you MUST go "self contained"---there are no motels there that will lodge you---no resteraunts there south of Hwy 90 that can feed you---no gas stations south of the interstate that can "top" your tank off for your trip home---even if you plan on going to Mississippi----get your training from someone who knows what they're talking about---and get connected with some official SBC group---for a church to go there "on their own"---even down to Biloxi/Gulfport---is just plain stupidity!!!

Bro. David

 

Sorry for going a little off-topic. But i only read sbc. Any of you knows of any IFB plan for help N.O.?

 

Scarlett and Blackbird,

I don't think anyone posting on this thread so far has indicated they are just going to go there "on their own". I understand and appreciate what you are saying but you seem to be discouraging even groups such as SBC to send teams to help?

I understand the situation in N.O., however there are many other areas that probably could use assistance (or at least the people and churches who are currently working there could use assistance).

I would think if SBC or SBOTC is putting disaster relief teams together, they would know what and where the needs are.

But maybe I am misunderstanding what you guys are trying to say?

 

What we are trying to say is---Marshall Law has been declared in New Orleans---complete with the presence of the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg and the area is not opened to unauthorized civilians

If you need to get on the phone over at SBOTC and call Bro. Jim Richards personally I believe he can tell you just about what Scarlett and I have said---if the authorites are allowing the SBC and the SBOTC in to New Orleans at this moment

#1 I will personally applogize for being wrong

#2 I will be glad

and at the same time

#3 I will be shocked

I'm not saying DON'T GO to New Orleans

I'm not saying DON'T get training

I've already stated that they DO allow relief workers to the Mississippi Gulf Coast---I know that for a fact---but as for New Orleans---well---if it were me---I wouldn't want to go until I could see the Taillites of Fort Bragg vehicles in my rearview mirror headed north while I'm headed south!! Am I afraid to go to New Orleans??? You betcha---right now---but give the city a year---and I'll take the best of the BB on a French Quarter tour at night!!! Right now---its just unsafe for civilians to be there in DAYLIGHT---much less when the sun sets on the horizon!!

Bro. David

 

Blackbird, I've not said they ARE going to N.O. What I said was, "I'm not sure where they will be going..." I'm sure the large organizations who are training volunteers for disaster relief know the situation in N.O. and know not to send people there.

Katrina hit a huge part of the Gulf Coast and I would guess there are lots of other places that need help. As DonnA said, "I believe a lot of people are forgetting that NO wasn't the only area hit, many homes in many ares were destroyed."

I'm sure a lot of people think only N.O. when they think of the devastation. But on this particular thread, I don't think N.O. has been the main thrust except by you and Scarlett. And personally, I appreciate knowing about the situation there from someone closer to the area than the mainstream media!

 

So true, CJ!! The media seems to be concentrating on New Orleans---and giving a "nod" every now and then to the Mississippi Gulf Coast----and leaving Mobile behind all together.

Biloxi Mayor "shined!" under pressure!!

New Orleans Mayor "choked" under pressure!!

Any military analyst can tell you----if a company of soldiers panic---but the Captain remained "cool" and "level headed"---the company will not be lost!!! But if the Captain panics---he'll loose his company!!!

Mississippi's Gulf Coast WILL rebound!!
New Orleans WILL rebound!

I'm sorry, CJ---if I have offended!

 

Well, this is a Baptist DEBATE Forum, so I was just following the rules!

No offense taken at all! Have a GREAT day worshipping and praising our Lord!

 

OOPS! Sorry, Scarlett (and Blackbird)! I honestly didn't refer back to the name of the thread to see exactly what we were talking about! I am SOOO sorry! I'll try to watch more carefully in the future.

 

I recommend your churches look into "World Changers." This is a Christian group that is very much like Habitat, only they do the work as a witness for Christ.

I don't know if it is a Baptist Group or not, but I do know that the majority of participants are Baptist Deacons and Baptist Youth Groups.

 

Be careful with that name -- Creflo Dollar uses World Changers International as the name of his ministry.

I think Texas Sky is talking about the NAMB organization, World Changers. This is their link:
http://worldchangers.studentz.com/site/c.ejINI6PNKoG/b.362911/k.D4C1/History.htm

It look like it just uses students. Is this the right organization, Texas Sky?

 

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