Dear North Shore Family,
Words cannot express the
thoughts and concerns on the hearts of
each one of us during the aftermath of
this catastrophic event that has been
recorded as the greatest natural disaster
in the history of the United States.
Many of our friends and
family have been devastated and some still
remain homeless. Jobs have been lost and
worlds have been turned upside down. We
have had loved ones cry in our arms and
friends move to other areas of the country.
No one in this area has remained unaffected
by this devastating hurricane.
The whirlwind of these past
months has been almost unbearable except
for the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus
Christ who promised to give us the “peace
that passes all understanding.”
Liz and I have been serving
where we could in the homes of those who
are in need. From cutting down trees and
moving debris to ripping out sheetrock
and providing room and board for those
with no place to stay.
I know that you all have
been working tirelessly to repair your
homes and lives. Many of you have responded
selflessly to the needs of others while
setting aside your own needs of reparation.
It is in such times as these
that our faith is tested more than ever.
But God is faithful. Even in the face
of such great material and financial loss
we know that the most important things
are our health, family, friends and faith.
Those are enough to rebuild our lives
upon.
As I look around Slidell,
Lacombe, Pearl River and even North to
Picayune I can see a lot of work to be
done. Our community has experienced upheaval
such as it has never seen before. Our
population has nearly doubled with evacuees
from New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf
Coast.
What is to become of the
North Shore in the coming months and years?
What will be defined as “normal?”
Surely we have been thrust through a portal
of history from which there is no turning
back. Things will never fully be the same
as they were before Hurricane Katrina.
We are promised in Romans
8:28, “And we know that God causes
all things to work together for good to
those who love God, to those who are called
according to His purpose.”
That’s right! Somehow
our God is mighty enough to turn this
disaster into GOOD for the kingdom of
God. We may not be able to understand
it but that is His promise nonetheless.
I am sure that we will be able to see
the good in this situation become more
evident as time go by.
Many questions still have
to be answered, such as:
How will we rebuild our homes?
Will the insurance companies be fair?
Will the government help us out?
Where will all these new people live?
What will become of the job market?
Will it happen again?
While I share these concerns
with you my heart is pulled in the direction
of the Christian community. What will
happen to many Christians who have been
displaced from other areas? Will the churches
that experienced devastation be able to
rebuild their facilities and congregations?
What will happen to our community if the
Christian element is not repaired quickly?
I believe that now is a
time of urgency within the family of God.
We must recognize the vast opportunity
for ministry that lies before us and all
around us. We have seen churches of all
denominations come together to assist
in relief efforts for hurricane victims.
Truly the time is now for all Christians
to be serious about their faith and sharing
the love of Christ with a community in
need.
Liz and I are committed
to building a great church to minister
to this entire North Shore region. The
future of the next generation hangs in
the balance of our actions and decisions.
Please join us in building the family
of God and reaching out to a community
in need.
Reaching the World Together,
Pastor John
