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Update: Lincoln Baptists rebuilding Katrina church

May 10, 2007|ASHLEY HOOKER

NEW ORLEANS - Sawdust flew and the banging of hammers broke the silence of the early morning as the LCBA construction team labored under the blazing sun here Tuesday, helping Hurricane Katrina victims rebuild their lives.

The group of eight is repairing a local church, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Once a thriving place of worship, the church now lacks both a roof and a congregation. Signs still hang from the rafters of Faithful Community, proclaiming the church "the place where you meet God," but its members are no longer present to read the message. According to local residents, most of the people who attended services there fled New Orleans during Katrina and have yet to return.

The LCBA (Lincoln County Baptist Association) is rebuilding the structure in hopes that it will serve as a new Baptist church and bring the shattered community back together. The construction team spent a long day replacing rafters and putting new shingles on the church's roof.

Although busy with plumbing, carpentry, and electrical jobs, the group members took time to get to know the residents of the city they are helping to rebuild. The electrical team went to dinner with the family in whose home they installed wiring on Tuesday. Darlene Spillman shared the story of the husband, wife, and three children during devotion hour back at the Volunteer Village. She said that even though the family lost nearly all of their possessions, they received just enough insurance money to pay off their house. "They were overjoyed because now they own their home, even though there isn't much left of it," she said. "These were people who, even though they lost everything, were rejoicing at the fact that they made it through," she said.

Jerry Bailey expressed his admiration for the survivors of Katrina he has met during the mission trip. He recounted the experience of a man who went for three days without food or water, working on the levee system after the disaster. "I am amazed at the positive attitude everyone has," he said. "They're just going on with life as normal." The man and his family are currently living in a FEMA trailer, and purchased their own supplies for the Operation NOAH volunteers to use in the repairs. "If I was in that situation, I don't know if I would be able to keep such a positive attitude," Bailey said.

Sheila Reed, a member of the evangelical team, has spent her time in New Orleans working for a local church and talking with community members. To her, the devastation was overwhelming, but she soon discovered the same faith in the future and hopeful demeanor among the residents she spoke with. "It's every house," she said of the damage, "and the ones who came back have no neighbors or friends to help. But life goes on here - it's amazing."

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