Hello from Charlotte's Douglas International Airport. They apparently offer free wireless internet service here and to my surprise I have figured out how to access that service! I am not totally computer illiterate, but generally I need a 10 year old (or some other computer expert) to help me learn how to do certain new tasks. I will confess that I was talking to my son, Jay, on the cell phone when I discovered the free service. Jay is NOT a 10 year old, but he does know his stuff on computersw and he helped me navigate through a couple of spots that were foreign, (and scary) to me. As Paul the Apostle wrote in Romans chapter 6, "Oh wretched man that I am!" That's how I feel about half the time regarding my lack of electronic savvy. You know what they say about old dogs and new tricks...
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My Trustee meeting was over on Wednesday night so I stayed in the Seminary's Providence Guest House that night and Jay came over and picked me up on Thursday morning. I was able to spend the day with him and helped (slightly) as the delivery men brought the new baby grand piano for delivery to their church. It was a gift from a former member who wanted to do something nice for the church after the post Katrina remodling project has been mostly completed. Boy does that thing look beautiful up there on the platform in the bright newly refurbished sanctuary! It's been a long road back for the last two years for First Baptist Church of Westwego, but by the Grace of God and with the help of friends from all around the USA, the church is back up and running. More beautiful and with a more dynamic vision than ever before. Isn't it something how God can take the most tragic situations and turn them into something good? FBC Westwego is literally a different church than it was when Jay arrived five years ago this month. The facilities are much improved and the congregation is very different. The median age has gone way down. There are a number of young families and singles who have poured into the fellowship - including a number of folks who were saved as a result of the Baptist witness after the disaster of Hurricane Katrina. If you would like to see more about FBC Westwego, click on the link to their new website (http://www.firstwego.org). The site is still under construction but you'll get an idea of the excitement that is going on there. To God be the Glory!
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Speaking of the great number of people who came to the aid of FBC Westwego and the New Orleans area in general, one of the really great groups who helped Jay's church was the Disaster Relief Group from the Arizona State Convention. FBC Westwego's educational building wich was only moderately damaged by Katrina (roof) has played host to literally hundreds of Baptist Disaster Relief Volunteers who poured into the area to help in many ways. They have housed feeding (kitchen crews) and other types of workers - sometimes as many as 40 at a time! The toughest part about it for the workers who stayed there was the lack of shower facilities. That is where the Arizona group was such a blessing. They brought in a trailer equipped with 8 showers (four for the men - four for the ladies) and a washer and dryer bay. What a blessing! Take it from one who worked there for the first week of October 2005 - after picking through the muck of flooded homes, chain sawing fallen trees, moving refrigerators and freezers out of houses, and carrying off other assorted debris, that evening shower sure felt good!
The folks from Arizona left the shower unit there several months, thereby blessing hundreds who gave their time and talents to help others. Eventually, when it became obvious that FBC Westwego was going to become a long term base to house recovery workers, some permanent showers were built on in an addition to the building that now houses the church's offices. Jay was invited to come to Arizona to speak in one of their association meetings and a couple of local churches a year ago, and he is leaving tomorrow, at their invitation, to come speak out there again. That guy is getting around!
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Katrina relief workers have given Jay opportunity to make many friends in a number of states. He has preached in Georgia, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Arizona, West Virginia, Alabama, and Mississippi in response from invitations of folks who have stayed at their church during mission trips to New Orleans. He has so far, had to decline invitations from Oregon and Oklahoma simply because there just hasn't been time or opportunity. Another lesson they have learned from Katrina is a reminder of the tie that binds together the hearts of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. It's called love.
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We had a nice meeting last evening of five who plan to make a mission trip to the Philippines in May of 2008. A few others who plan to go could not make the meeting last night, but it has the potential of being one of the largest teams that Beacon Ministries has sponsored to date. It is made up of several members of Jay's church and some Master's and Doctoral students at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The group had planned on going with us in January, but school scheduling will not allow that to happen. So, they are leaving the day after finals in May. That trip will involve some extra dimensions that previous mission endeavors have not offered. A number of the readers of this blog have already given to the January mission trip and a fund that will also help accomplish the goals of the May trip. I am so thankful for those who financially support this wonderful ministry. Perhaps there are other readers who have not given but would like to be a part of these ministry activities. If so, your tax deductible contribution would be welcome. Gifts of any size may be made payable and mailed to:
Beacon Ministries, Inc.
317 - 49th Street
Ashland, KY 41101
If you have any questions about this two part 2008 Philippine mission, they may be directed to me at pastoradkins@verizon.net.
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My little "puddle jumper" plane for Huntington is just about to board. Hope to see all of our WBC folks in church Sunday and I look forward to getting in on a part of the "Pound the Pavement" outdoor concert tonight on the parking lot of Westmoreland Baptist.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Come back often.
God bless.
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