Editor's Desk
By Carl Vonnoh, Jr.

THE NORTHERN GULF COAST NEEDS YOU!

Romans 1:8 reads, “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all....”  As you know Hurricanes Katrina and Rita brought much devastation to the northern Gulf Coast.  Many churches and individuals have responded with monies and manpower. To date $91,000 has been received through the hurricane relief fund at BIMI.  Most of this has been disbursed or committed to churches in Mississippi and Louisiana. “I thank my God... for you all....” Your financial help and labor of love has been such an encouragement to our brethren in the northern Gulf Coast.

Since the storms struck the Gulf Coast region many individuals have been saved.  Pastor Lee Ostten of the Lockhart Road Baptist Church in Denham Springs, Louisiana, has seen twelve people come to Christ.  He also shared that Calvary Baptist Church in Waveland, Mississippi, has seen around 150 people make professions of faith.  In speaking of the help provided by many different Christians to those in the Gulf Coast region, Brother Lee stated, “Thank God for Christian brothers and sisters who came to help the household of faith in time of need.”

SPECIAL THANKS

A big “THANK YOU” is in order for the many individuals that have sacrificed to help in the Gulf Coast.  Several teams have gone down and more teams are planned for the beginning of 2006.  Our first CLAIM team to the northern Gulf Coast was led by Mr. Lance Berryhill from the First Baptist Church of Atoka, Tennessee.  Pastor Mike Whitt from North Carolina led a team that included members from Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Dr. Paul Weeks led a roofing crew to help a retired policeman who did not have flood insurance. Mr. Dan Dodds from the Freedom Baptist Church in Keystone Heights, Florida, took our first team over into Louisiana to help a Baptist church in a Cajun community.  Praise the Lord for all of these people who have stood in the gap for all of our brothers and sisters in the Northern Gulf Coast region! As I have said there is plenty more to do.  More money and more workers are needed (see list for details on how you can help).  We thank you in advance for your prayerful concern and help with the many needs of this area. God bless you and give you a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year as we honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I am glad that we can say Christmas. Without His coming what would we have to celebrate?

 

OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP IN THE GULF COAST REGION

The following is a list of churches that need additional financial help and construction workers. Contributions may be sent to the BIMI Hurricane Relief Fund. If you wish to contribute to a specific project designate the church and project (for example: Hurricane Relief Fund – Lighthouse Baptist Church/roof repair). Contact CLAIM if interested in helping in any manner.

Lighthouse Baptist Church
Pastor Denny Winborne
Slidell, Louisiana
Money needed:  $5,000 to $10,000 for a used mobile home for a church member who had no insurance and lost his mobile home.
Projects needed:
1. Flat roof repair
2. Minor paneling repair
3. Minor awning and gutter repair

Candlestick Baptist Church
This church had no flood insurance.
Pastor Larry Gandy (legally blind)
Sulphur, Louisiana
Money needed:  $24,000 is needed to build a slab and a metal shell building (40’ x 60’) for nursery, activities facilities and two bath rooms.
Projects needed:  Concrete crew, plumbing crew, metal building erectors

Faith Baptist Church
This church had no flood insurance.
Pastor John Yanez
Abbeville, Louisiana
Money needed: $20,500
Projects needed:
1. Rebuilding of mobile home for Pastor Yanez. Cabinets, carpet, vinyl, trim work plumbing fixtures and light fixtures are needed.
2. The church needs carpet, chairs, windows, doors and ceiling fans. Workers to install these materials are needed. A 4x8 porch also needs to be built.

Biloxi River Baptist Church
Pastor Allen Smith
Gulfport, Mississippi
Money needed: $40,000
Project needed: The home of a family of this church was flooded after Hurricane Katrina. The family lost everything except for a few hanging clothes. This family did not have flood insurance and the insurance they had only paid $7,000. Repairs for the home will cost approximately $40,000. They will need money and laborers for the following: electrical, sheetrock, installing of hardwood floor and ceramic tile, and some painting.

Calvary Independent Baptist Church
This church has no pastor at this writing.
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi 
Money needed:  $ 9,000 to finish rebuilding the church (no flood insurance)
$ 25,000 -$ 50,000 each for eight church members homes (no flood insurance)
$ 100,000 each for two church members’ homes (no flood insurance)
Maybe several churches would like to go in together to sponsor one of these projects.
Projects needed:
1. Desperate need now for both men and women as relief tent workers
This church has seen about 150 people saved primarily through this relief ministry since the storms. They minister to between 500 -1,000 people per day.  They are overwhelmed! 
2. Pallets of toilet paper, paper towels and non-perishable food products are needed (Beside one other small relief effort, this is the only major relief work. The government and other groups have left this area from what I have been told.)
3. Roofers, electricians, and sheetrock hangers and finishers are needed.

Lighthouse Baptist Church
This church had no flood insurance.
Pastor Jerry Reed
Pascagoula, Mississippi
Money needed:  $100,000
Projects needed:
1. Roofs on houses for widows, widowers and handicap families without flood insurance
2. Kitchen cabinets for the church educational building
3. Kitchen cabinets for Pastor Reed’s home
4. Rubberized gym floor (92’ x 60”)
5. Electricians are needed.
6. Desperate need for sheetrock hangers and finishers