Dear Friends of Camp Katrina(now CLC):
Greetings from the Gulf Coast of Alabama. It has been many months since I have written you. All of you have made such an powerful impact on Waveland and Bay St. Louis, that I wanted to give you an update as well as a challenge.
UPDATE:
As most of you know, when Art Baruffi left last February to return to New Jersey, his replacement, George Williams continued the ministry. George did a wonderful job in many areas of the work and several families found Christ. While the church plant was starting, the relief work began to struggle. It became increasingly more difficult to get volunteers, especially so long after the storm. Camp Katrina was able to help over 600 families get back into their homes and the stories continue to be told. We are so grateful to God for the opportunity to impact lives on a daily basis. President Bush said on National TV," without the Faith Based groups, the Gulf Coast would not have survived!" So thanks for all you have done.
That's the good news...the bad news is...the job isn't done. We have over 200 homes that have requested help, but we lack the funds and the volunteers to complete the task. George and his family have returned to Florida to begin the new school year, and Genesis Church has returned to Waveland to finish the job. You remember that we said during those first weeks after the storm, "We are here for the long haul!" Well, we are. We have returned and we are not leaving until the job is done. We must finish and finish well. The people in Waveland Bay St. Louis are waiting to see if we will stay the course. If we can weather this financial and resource storm. We can and we will! God, called us to this task and he supplied miracle after miracle for two years...He doesn't plan on stopping because we have hit a few road blocks.
Here is the new strategy: We have entered a three way partnership with the Southern District, Genesis Church and CAMA Services. CAMA Services through its many contacts gave over a million dollars to the relief and recovery effort all along the Gulf Coast. Community Development Centers were started in New Orleans, Baton Rouge,Waveland and Gulf Port. Tremendous results have come through the two centers in Louisiana, Waveland is about to bust wide open as well. CAMA has released a Missionary Candidate couple, Mark and Mel Young, yes Mark is my son, to head up the community development side of the relief effort. They begin September one. It is for a two year assignment and will allow continuity in the development of a project that will bring aide and stability to a much needed area still is ravished by Katrina.
The Southern District will also send a church planting couple in to work with Mark in the planting of a Church. All of that sounds good. Now the challenge!
THE CHALLENGE:
We have 200 homes that need repair, 200 families that need help, hundreds more that are waiting...we don't have any VOLUNTEERS! We can accommodate 50 volunteers a day, we have 7 volunteers signed up for the entire month of September! We have 30 coming in November and NONE in December. What does that spell...........DISASTER! It speaks loudly to the people in Waveland and Bay St Louis. It says, we can't finish the job.
I know you are like me...you will not stand for that to happen. You have invested too many dollars, hours, sweat, tears, prayers, miles, tools, supplies, to stop now. Wen I heard of the volunteer crisis, I immediately went to my Board and sad, "We were there when the storm hit, we must go back and finish the job. We cannot leave these people thinking they are forgotten We will finish, and we will finish well!"
So, my battle worn solders, can I count on you again for one more shot at this effort? Can I count on you to respond one more time with volunteers of all kinds. Skilled labor, as well as grunt work, is still needed. Painting, Sheetrock, building, repairing, electrical,plumbing, all are needed and all will be used during these next 12 months.
Here is my prayer..."Lord we need 100 volunteers a month, a minimum of 25 a week for the next 3 months and then again after Christmas for the next 8 months. We need 1000 volunteers over the next 12 months to finish well Lord you know where they are, please send them!"
I was blown away by the generosity of CMA people around the USA and Canada during the first 15 months of the Katrina Relief effort. Let's trust God to re-ignite in us a passion to finish well. A passion to show the people of Waveland Mississippi, the love and message of Jesus Christ. Many will come to Christ during these days. They have seen such compassion and hard work and sacrifice from the over 6000 volunteers that have already come our way. Now it is time to gather in the fruit of our laborers. Now is the time to finish the job and build the church.
The people in Waveland and Bay St. Louis Mississippi need you. We at Genesis Church, 3 hours away in Foley Alabama, need you, but more than that...You need to do this for the Glory of God and your good! God wants to again shower you with extraordinary power to do His work here on the Coast. I can't wait to see Him continue to work in the lives of the many hundreds that still wait for our help.
Call today, respond now, time is short and the work so heavy. BE BLESSED and thanks for your partnership in this recovery effort. I am calling it "Operation Finish Well!" Join me, will you!
Pastor Don Young,
Genesis Church
Foley Alabama
Phone 251-747-7643
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