PCA Congregations and Ministries Affected by Hurricane Katrina

9 May 2006 - PCA Church Affected By Hurricane Katrina in Need of a Truck :
Lagniappe Presbyterian Church in Bay St. Louis, Miss., is still in rebuilding mode from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. The church is in need of a truck with crew-cab for the man serving as contractor and consultant for the many aspects of rebuilding projects, church and homes. The man, who is a vital part of the ministry, has been working at his own expense since January 2006. His personal truck broke down and this has made his task more difficult. The church is seeking the donation of a crew-cab truck or funds to purchase one. To read more about Lagniappe PCA and its needs for rebuilding, go to http://www.lagniappechurch.com/ (you can also get contact information here if you or your church desires to send a work team) To donate to the truck fund, send gifts to Lagniappe Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 4382, Bay St. Louis, MS 39521.

If your PCA pastor delivered a sermon in the wake of the hurricane, reflecting on why tragedies happen, or some similar theme, please let us know. The PCA Historical Center would be interested in obtaining copies of these sermons.

*Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX has set up a web page for hurricane relief and is also offering
Adopt-A-Family training for those in the Dallas area who would like to help in that way.

Those who view these maps and information will note that the liklihood of being able to contact these churches, via the information given, is remote. Due to widespread powerloss, many of churchs are not able to be contacted by telephone or e-mail at this time. The maps are included to give the viewer the general vicinity of the churches location and are not entirely accurate (more thorough maps can be found at www.mapquest.com). The red star denotes the approximate location of the church.

Our hope is that this list will provide the names of people and places that we as a body of believers can keep in our thoughts and prayers. Our secondary hope is that in the coming months, as these chuches attempt to rebuild as well as serve those in it's community, this list may provide those who are interested with the appropriate information to donate one's time or financial gifts.

MNA to Oversee Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief --
PCA members will be able to provide assistance for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Mission to North America will oversee disaster relief through Ron and Judy Haynes, who will coordinate PCA volunteer efforts. Many types of skills and time commitments will be needed once the assessment of needs is completed. To register, fill out the online Volunteer Registration Form.

You can also e-mail Ron and Judy at [email protected]. Financial donations are also needed. It is anticipated that there will be needs for months to come for direct assistance to PCA families and for relief operations expenses. Donations can be sent by check to MNA designated for Hurricane Relief to 1700 N. Brown Rd., #101, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, or by credit card at http://www.pca-mna.org/. Donations of food, clothes, etc., for now, should be made to other organizations that are making appeals for immediate needs. Nashville Presbytery is coordinating disaster relief efforts (http://www.nashvillepca.org/news.html). Other PCA Presbyteries will likely soon follow their example.

For more general coverage of the catastrophe, the web site of WLBT in Jackson, MS offers some of the better coverage available, including videos of helicopter flyovers of damaged areas and a town by town assessment.

Satellite images of the damaged areas have been posted online by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Click here

Saturday, 3 September 2005--
9-03 - Pastor John Thomas Sheilds of the Collins, MS, Presbyterian Church reports that the church's property suffered only light damage from the hurricane, but that most members of the church have been without power and water for several days now. Outside communications are virtually nonexistent. There is also a shortage of fuel to run generators and the community's only full-service grocery store was destroyed. A few members' homes were severely damaged and almost all had at least some damage. We have had no report as yet from anyone at the McDonald Presbyterian Church, but must presume that their account would be similar.

The Churches of the OPC Presbytery of the Southwest are ready with many homes to receive families. Details to follow. The OPC also has a camp with cabins just northwest of Longview, TX (Camp Gilmont) with 80 beds available beginning this Wednesday, 7 September through 14 October. This range of dates may be extended. Cabins have bathrooms and can each comfortably house two families. Additional offers of housing one or two families are also becoming available. Please contact Phil at 903-238-6830 for more information.

Thursday, 8 September 2005 -- Latest updates provided through PCANews.com :
Short Video of Hurricane Damage in Gulfport
Watch a short video on Hurricane Katrina's damage in Gulfport, Miss. (it even shows the alligator shot in First Presbyterian's fellowship hall). Go to www.onionringsstudios.com/Videos/Katrina.wmv 

 An Educational Option for Families Displaced by the Hurricane
The Veritas School in Jackson, Miss., is offering an opportunity for families displaced by Hurricane Katrina to enroll their Junior/Senior High School children in the school.  Since many schools on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in parts of Louisiana will be closed for some time and since families will be seeking to make temporary or permanent moves into the Jackson area, the Veritas School would like to open our hearts and doors to those seeking a Christ centered education for their children grades 7-12. The Veritas School is a training ground in the Jackson community for a generation of young people that is equipping them with the tools for a lifetime of learning.  We are committed to serving our parents by teaching students to seek God's truth in all disciplines through the utilization of historically proven classical methods of instruction.  If you are interested in enrolling your children or know someone for whom the Veritas School would provide a temporary place for their children, contact headmaster Dan Guthery at 601-713-1555.  

New MNA Hurricane Relief Web Site
Mission to North America has a new Hurricane Relief, Recovery and Resettlement web site up and running. Go to http://www.pcarelief.org to indicate availability to help with hurricane relief and recovery. You can also register here if you have housing available for hurricane evacuees (click on "Offer Help"), or if you are in need of temporary housing (click on "Request Help").  To reach the housing office, you can e-mail: [email protected], or call 864-517-9058. This clearinghouse will handle requests from around the PCA and coordinate houses with people in need.  

A Hymn in Response to Hurricane Katrina's Impact
Here is a hymn offered in response to Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing disasters in the Gulf Coast states, August 29, 2005. Written by Stephen D. Lawton, Director of Music and Worship at Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church in Greenville, S.C. (PCA). 

God of Nature, at Whose Voice 
God of nature, at whose voice the waves and winds must now obey,
Give your people words of comfort, acts of grace to share today.
Yours the pow’r of devastation, yours to gather, help and heal;
We know not your ways of wisdom; let your light our paths reveal. 

Shelter Lord, the homeless, helpless, young and old with pity see,
Give their daily food, supply their needs with perfect equity.
Grant protection, strength and patience to their rescuers, we pray;
Fill with hope the laboring workers, grace to serve both night and day. 

Bring your people ever closer, sharing pain of grief and loss,
Motivate us, loving Savior, with the love shown by your cross.
We, your Body, long to serve you, serving others in your name,
And when sorrow washes o’er us, Gracious Spirit, heal the pain. 

Call our nation to repentance; gather us that we may see
You’re the God of love and mercy; rescue us and set us free.
Let our deeds announce redemption, saving grace for all our days.
Let your song go forth to cheer us, lifting heart and hands to praise.

Amen. 

Beach Spring, 87.87.D (Come All Christians Be Committed) 
© 2005 Stephen D Lawton, all rights reserved
Permission is hereby granted for credited use, unaltered, only in public worship.  

Friday, 2 September 2005-
General news information, provided by Dominic Aquila of PCANews late Friday--

Editor's note: As we prepare these reports, please realize that communication out of and into the hardest hit areas has been difficult. Sometime we have received conflicting reports about PCA ministers, members and churches. We make attempts to check reports before posting them; we will make corrections as quickly as possible in future updates.
 
MTW Minuteman Appeal for Hurricane Katrina Relief
Because of the magnitude of the disaster on the Gulf Coast, Mission to the World is joining with Mission to North America in order to assist them in the overwhelming task ahead. MTW has issued a Minuteman appeal for funds, and both organizations are recruiting short-term teams. To read the appeal and contribute to this appeal, go to http://www.mtw.org/home/site/templates/mtw_splash.asp?_resolutionfile=templatespath|mtw_splash.asp&area_2=public/
Partners/Financial/Minutemen%20for%20Missions/minutmen 

Housing Available for Displaced Hurricane Evacuees
A number of offers have to us offering housing for PCA hurricane evacuees. There are some members in the PCA attempting to set up a system to put available housing and evacuees together. Until a workable system is in place contact me at [email protected]. There are places in Destin, Fla., Hampton, Va., and Shreveport, La. At this point this offer is for PCA members. 

Offer from Geneva College to Displaced Students
Geneva College will accept up to 10 students who are/were enrolled in a college or university that has suspended operations due to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Tuition, fees, room and board will be discounted by 50% for the Fall, 2005 semester. 
Further discounts will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  The College commits to working with these students who will have special needs resulting from the displacement. Students (or their representatives) should contact Dr. Ken Carson, Vice President of Academic Affairs, at 724/847-6605 or [email protected], no later than Wednesday, September 7, to initiate the accelerated admissions process.  Our semester has begun and we do not want to admit students so late that they cannot catch up with their studies. Geneva College is a Christian liberal arts college located in Beaver Falls, Penn., 45 miles north of Pittsburgh.  More information about the school can be found at www.geneva.edu 

Hurricane Relief – Meeting Immediate Needs in Louisiana
We are presently working with other churches in town to provide relief for refugees from Katrina.  If you want to help, we need pillows, towels, sheets, books, non-perishable foods, bottled water, clothes, diapers, toiletries.  You can ship these goods to our church. If you want to make a monetary contribution, make checks payable to "Acadiana Presbyterian Church" with the memo "Katrina".  Mail the check to Acadiana Presbyterian Church, 1515 W. University Ave., Lafayette, LA 70506. From Rev. Stan Pace, pastor of Acadiana Presbyterian Church, PCA, in Lafayette, La. 

MNA to Oversee Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief PCA members will be able to provide assistance for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Mission to North America will oversee disaster relief through Ron and Judy Haynes, who will coordinate PCA volunteer efforts. Many types of skills and time commitments will be needed once the assessment of needs is completed.  To register to volunteer, go to
http://www.pca-mna.org/disaster%20ministries/Volunteer%20Registration/MNAVolunteerRegistrationForm.htm.  
You can also e-mail Ron and Judy at [email protected], or call them at 636-299-1424. 
Financial donations are also needed. It is anticipated that there will be needs for months to come for direct assistance to
PCA families and for relief operations expenses.  Donations can be sent by check to MNA designated for Hurricane Relief to 1700 N. Brown Rd., #101, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, or by credit card at http://www.pca-mna.org/.

[This page has been compiled by PCA Historical Center Intern Otis W. Pickett and by Wayne Sparkman, director of the PCA Historical Center]

Grace Presbyterian Church, Metairie, Lousiana
Grace Presbyterian Church 1317 Butternut Avenue Metairie, LA 70001 Phone : 504-454-8905    Email : [email protected] Pastor : Richard H. Davies Congregation organized in 1977 Part of Southeast Louisiana Presbytery Presbytery Stated Clerk : Ed Hackenburg Email : [email protected]	Click the map above to view a street-level map
Click here to view a satellite image of the area around Grace Presbyterian Church, then click the satellite image for a closer view

Desire Street Fellowship Mission and Desire Street Academy
Desire Street Fellowship Mission Meeting : 3600 Desire Parkway PO Box 26966 New Orleans, LA 71201-5257 Phone : 504-945-5548 Fax : 504-894-1252 Pastor : Morgan C. Leverett Part of Southeast Louisiana Presbytery Presbytery Stated Clerk : Ed Hackenburg Email : [email protected]	Click the map above to view a street level map
Click here to view a satellite photo of the area around the Desire Street Mission location, then click the satellite image for a closer view.
News updates : 1. Mo Leverett, pastor of the Desire Street Fellowship in New Orleans has evacuated safely with his family and has set up a temporary office in Atlanta. He and his family have lost everything—their home, the ministry facility, and all of their worldly positions. The staff is scattered and in need of financial relief.  The administration is reorganizing and is planning on partnering up with other relief organizations to respond to the needs of New Orleans as well as looking for an alternate location for Desire Street Academy. For more information, the Desire Street web site is back online, with news on their situation at http://www.desirestreet.org/hurricane.php#story1 2. The staff of Desire Street ministries were relocated to First PCA Jackson's Twin Lakes camp, south of Jackson.

Redeemer Presbyterian Mission, New Orleans, LA
Redeemer Presbyterian Mission Meeting : 6200 St. Charles Avenue Christ Church Building PO Box 750538 New Orleans, LA 70175 Phone : 504-894-1204 Email : [email protected] Fax : 504-894-1252 Pastor : Ray Cannata Part of Southeast Louisiana Presbytery Presbytery Stated Clerk : Ed Hackenburg Email : [email protected]	Click the map above to view a street level map
Click here for a satellite image of the area around Redeemer Presbyterian Mission, then click the satellite image for a closer view
News update for Redeemer : 01/01/06 - Redeemer's new writes that "We need outside support now more than ever, as the church was shut down for 5 months due to Katrina and lost half its membership to relocations.  We welcome short-term mission trip to help us rebuild the city." [Note: Pastor Cannata deserves our prayers AND respect, for accepting the call to pastor this church post-Katrina. He seems to be a man who thrives on challenge!] 9-01 - Jeffrey Lancaster, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New Orleans, reports that he and his family have lost everything they own. He states: "Pray for us, these are very bizarre times. Our lives have wildly changed, but our God has not - I'm thankful for our Rock."

First Korean Presbyterian Mission
First Korean Presbyterian Mission Meeting : 1340 Beach Boulevard 12427 Airport Road Biloxi, MS 39532 Phone 228-432-8573 Fax : 952-566-6678 Pastor : Won Joo Kim Congregation organized in 1993 Part of Korean Southeastern Presbytery Presbytery Stated Clerk : TE Eugene Shin Email : [email protected]	Click on the map above to view a street-level map of this area
Click here for a satellite image of the region around the church building, then click the satellite image for a closer view

First Presbyterian Church, Biloxi, MS
First Presbyterian Church 1340 Beach Boulevard Biloxi, MS 39530 Phone : 228-374-6880 Email : [email protected] Pastor : John L. Ford AstP Congregation organized in 1891 Part of Grace Presbytery Presbytery Stated Clerk: TE Eugene C. Case Email : [email protected]	Click the map above for a street level map
Click here for a satellite image of the region around the church building, then click the satellite image for a closer view
First/Biloxi news update : 9-08 - Pastor Skinner continues to update his blog with new pictures and information on the relief effort underway in Biloxi. See http://simuljustusetpeccator.blogspot.com/ for more information. 9-01 - Pastor David Skinner says that the church building, though located right on the beach in Biloxi, received relatively minimal damage, with perhaps 3 foot of water in the Sanctuary area at the heighth of the storm surge. "But the Bible and the hymnal remain on the pulpit" where he left them on Sunday. The rest of the building received little damage, while the Episcopalian church building down the street is gone. Pastor Skinner has some pictures online : http://simuljustusetpeccator.blogspot.com/.

First Presbyterian Church, Gulfport, MS
First Presbyterian Church 1214 24th Avenue Gulfport, MS 39501-2059 Phone : 228-863-2664 Fax : 228-214-0251 Email : [email protected] Pastor : Guy Richard [was to have been installed this Sunday, 4 September 2005.] Congregation organized in 1899 Part of Grace Presbytery Presbytery Stated Clerk: TE Eugene C. Case Email : [email protected]	[Initial reports are that the church building was destroyed appear to be in error. Click the map above to view a street-level map and compare with the satellite image, viewed here.
Click here for a satellite image of the area around First Presbyterian Church in Gulfport, MS, then click the satellite image for a closer view.
First PCA/Gulfport news updates : 1. 9-06 - PCA pastor Rick Phillips (FPC Coral Springs/Margate) states "I have been keeping close contact with Pastor Guy Richard of First Presbyterian Church of Gulfport, MS. He has told me that things are worse than we have heard. People are dazed. Either today or tomorrow he was to minister to the police and fire departments, who are tramautized by the great number of corpses they have handled and by the devastation. Remember -- this is Guy's 2nd day as a pastor. Day 1 began yesterday with a funeral. Guy and his elders and deacons are mainly devoting themselves to accounting for people and assessing needs. We (FPC Coral Springs/Margate) are grateful to the Lord for our opportunity to minister to these brothers and sisters in need. Thursday morning one of our members, Bob Demick, will pilot a plane with two tons of food, clothing, hygeine products, and Bibles. We all look forward to this face-to-face contact and for the ability to hand deliver much needed materials. Please pray for Guy and his church, and for Bob and those who will fly with him." 2. A fund has been set up to assist Pastor Guy Richard, who was to have been installed as the new pastor of First Presbyterian this Sunday, 4 September, 2005. For information on donating to this support fund, please call 954/752-3030. Obviously the congregation cannot now support their pastor, and your help will allow Pastor Richard to remain in the area to minister to the people of Gulfport. 3. We have received a reliable report  that the National Guard shot and killed a 6-foot alligator in the fellowship hall of First Presbyterian Church, Gulfport, Miss. The interior of the fellowship hall was gutted by the tidal surge and all that is standing are the exterior walls. We hope someone took a picture.

Moss Point Presbyterian Church, Moss Point, MS
Moss Point Presbyterian Church Meets at 3707 Dantzler Street Mail : P.O. Box 8744 Moss Point, MS 39562-8744 228-475-2146 Fax : 228-475-2186 Email : [email protected] Pastor : Randy Kimbrough Congregation organized in 1874 Part of Grace Presbytery Presbytery Stated Clerk: TE Eugene C. Case Email : [email protected]	Click the map above for a street level map
News update for Moss Point : 9-02 - TE Randy Kimbrough reports that he and wife are safe & in good shape after riding out the storm in Moss Point. The Church building and manse which are situated on high ground sustained only minimal roof damage. However, at least five church families did lose their homes.

Trinity Presbyterian Church, Slidell, LA
Trinity Presbyterian Church 710 South Military Road Slidell, LA 70461 Phone : 985-643-7572 Email : [email protected] Pastor : Keith Garehan Congregation organized in 1974 Part of Southeast Louisiana Presbytery Presbytery Stated Clerk : Ed Hackenburg Email : [email protected]	Click the map above for a street level map

Three Rivers Presbyterian Church, Mandeville, LA
Three Rivers Presbyterian Church 625 Lotus Drive North Mandeville, LA 70471 Phone : 985-624-3303 Email : [email protected] Pastor : Congregation organized in 1998 Part of Southeast Louisiana Presbytery Presbytery Stated Clerk : Ed Hackenburg Email : [email protected]	Click the map above for a street level map

Last-minute entry, late Saturday, 3 September 2005 --
Dear Brethren,
     Westminster Presbyterian Church in Vicksburg, Mississippi, is without damage, however a home which the church owns has trees on it and will have to be assessed.  Westminster is currently without power and the city of Vicksburg is under a 'boil water' directive.  Power to essential services is gradually returning with many of those in our congregation currently remaining without power and telephone service.  Many of our older members have relocated to family/friends who do have electrical power.  To my knowledge thus far only two families had minor tree falling damage to their homes.  A number had to cut their way out their driveways with chainsaws in order to exist their driveways. 
     You can tell which gas stations have gasoline because of the long lines!  The same goes for fast food restaurants!  Stores which had electricity for cash registers opened first on a cash and check only basis.  The local Walmart would sell no perishable products (meat, eggs, milk, cheese, anything refrigerated) no doubt in accord with health department standards due to power outages.
     On a more personal note:  My wife was very concerned about her family living south of Ellisville between Laurel and Hattiesburg.  Since all roads south of I-20 were reportedly closed for emergency vehicles including HWY 49, we followed highways not officially closed: 27, 28, 29, on Wednesday.   All cell service is gone by south of Vicksburg before reaching Utica.  A slight bit of cell service is to be had around Crystal Springs.  After that only a satellite phone is of any use.  The Strong River bottom required winding through trees, downed power lines and poles, but was clear for the return trip late that afternoon.  Magee, Mississippi appeared to have one gas station with gas and power with long lines in both directions approaching the station.  Mize and Taylorsville appeared to be completely without power.  Ellisville itself looks like an WWII South Pacific theater island.  Trees, power lines, and poles are down all over town.  The Ellisville Presbyterian Church has lost siding from the steeple, sustained some (what appears by driving by to be minor) roof damage due to falling trees and flying debris.  Roads in Ellisville were being cleared with large earth moving equipment to move large oaks.  South of Ellisville required driving under low power poles and lines.  My wife's folks, brother-wife (pregnant) and two girls, and aunt/uncle were without water, power, or phone service.  They all returned to Vicksburg with us and we found a nursing home here in town in which we enabled the aunt and uncle to enter.  This same nursing home received 20 to 30 emergency residents from a nursing home which was damaged in Pascagoula.  Was given a great opportunity to minister the word of God to this group and their families.  That same evening we found that the family of my wife's brother's wife (her two sisters-families, mother) were totally unprepared without food, water, power, etc. and so we found them a house for temporary usage here in Vicksburg and they have arrived this evening.
     Since cable has been restored--to see the pictures of swept clean slabs from the coast makes us feel tremendously blessed even for those who are yet without power.  Today I visited one of our elders in the south part of the county (walking in past the recently fallen power pole!).  He is well prepared for this emergency (country boys not only will survive, but are not waiting for someone else to rescue them) and was offered good Southern hospitality--a glass if iced tea.  I don't think I will ever look at a glass of iced tea the same way again.  Thank the Lord that lives have been spared.

In the service of Christ the King,

Scott Reiber  

Please do notify us of other churches which we may have overlooked in our haste to post this information.
[This page has been compiled by PCA Historical Center Intern Otis W. Pickett and by Wayne Sparkman, director of the PCA Historical Center. Please direct all corrections and any new information to Mr. Sparkman at [email protected]]