Relief Efforts in Baton Rouge, LA

Brock and I received this e-mail from someone that we know and trust:

Below is a letter from an old friend of mine Clay Holcomb. He is a solid man of God who God is using mightely in Baton Rouge. Today, I called him and he told me of the horror that has resulted since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. Thousands upon thousands of New Orlean citizens have moved into the Baton Rouge area looking for shelter and relief. The churches are being overwhelmed. After reading Clay's e-mail, I would ask for you to pray about sending money to:
Istrouma Baptist Church
10500 Sam Rushing Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70816
You can put "Katrina" in the memo line and it will be put directly toward the relief effort.


This is Clay's e-mail:

No doubt all of you by now are aware of the devastation that has been unleashed upon the Gulf Coast region from Mobile to New Orleans. Our country has never seen a disaster of this magnitude in its history. As you watch the national news coverage it is impossible to grasp the scope of what is really going on down here. Let me just say in brief, that the devastation and anguish is impossible to conceive; however, so is the enormous outpouting of love from God's people and indeed all the people of this region. Please pray for this region and our people, but also be encouraged by the effort that is taking place.

Anytime you unleash a city the size of New Orleans with the highest murder rate in the coutry per capita, and more than 150,000 people who live below poverty level not to mention the people who lived even south of New Orleans, you are going to have some significant challenges to say the least. The homes and buildings in the entire region is at serious stress. The health care industry, police force, prison system, fuel supply, traffic and road infrastructure, school systems, churches, and local food supply are at critical mass. We are making it happen by God's grace but without an outpouring from God's people, we will not be able to sustain this. And to answer your question, yes, the federal and state governments are doing all they can but it is impossible for them to have been able to predict the magnitude of this desaster and to respond as expediently as needed.

Please, we are calling on you to respond with gifts of love to this ministry opportunity. Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge is a shelter housing over 700 evacuees from New Orleans, but ministering to the entire region.

The enemy has had a foothold in the city of New Orleans for many years. No dount New Orleans is a charming city with wonderful culture worthy of being rebuilt. But I am praying more than ever that God would use this tragedy to bring his people back to Himself and to remind us that we are not out of His reach, in any circumstance. Let's reclaim the Crescent City for the sake of the gospel and for the first time in American history be a part of the rebith of one of the most influential cities in the world.