Hurricane reports – Alabama through Louisiana
September 14, 2005
(Updated 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24.)
NATIONAL
Churchzip, a Web site for locating churches of Christ, has posted a list of churches in the areas affected by the storm. “We have identified 58 churches having a combined membership of 5,233 who are likely severely impacted by Katrina,” said administrator Earle West. See the list at www.churchzip.com/katrina.htm.
ALABAMA
ANDALUSIA — Members of the Cedar Grove Church of Christ have been in contact with members of Orange Grove church, Gulfport, Miss. Cedar Grove members have rented a truck, filled it with supplies and are taking it to help congregations in the Gulfport area. For more information, see www.alaweb.com/~cdrgrove.
COLUMBIANA — The Columbiana Church of Christ, in the greater Birmingham area, has, with the help of a member who works for Ryder, secured a truck with driver and fuel furnished. The congregation hopes to use the truck to take supplies through an established distribution channel beginning next week (Sept. 11).
HAMILTON — About 150 Christians from New Orleans will find refuge at Maywood Christian Camp in Marion County through the efforts of the Burleson Church of Christ. Supplies including non-perishable food, bedding and toiletries may be sent to the Burleson church, along with financial donations. For more information, contact Jeff Goff, Maywood Camp administrator, at (205) 921-4174.
HUNTSVILLE — The Mayfair Church of Christ is sending money, supplies and volunteers to churches on the Mississippi coast. Joe Essner, minister of involvement, said, “We have made a long-term commitment to help, and through these efforts we give God all the glory.” On Wednesday, Sept. 7, volunteers will install a steel roof for the Ocean Springs, Miss., church, and on Friday will deliver 50 folding chairs to the Orange Grove Church of Christ, Gulfport, Miss., whose pews were destroyed. Volunteer couriers are bringing much-needed cash donations to affected churches. The church also is assisting local evacuees, providing gift cards for children to buy clothes and school supplies and giving financial assistance to those staying in hotels. Members are providing temporary housing. Mayfair is hosting a community-wide blood drive Sunday, Sept. 11 to benefit Gulf Coast hospitals that face severe shortages. To volunteer or send donations, contact [email protected] or call 256-881-4651.
PRATTVILLE — The Hunter Hills Church of Christ is collecting relief and setting up an existing Bible camp for use as a staging area for Christian volunteers going into the affected area, said Mac Adkins, the church’s webmaster. “Up to 150 volunteers from other churches will be able to stay at the camp,” Adkins said. For more information, see www.hunterhills.org.
ARIZONA
ANTHEM — The Canyon Church of Christ plans to use its regular offering Sept. 11 for hurricane relief. The church will send the aid to the Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort in Nashville, Tenn.
SURPRISE — The West Bell Road Church of Christ is gathering funds for victims, coordinating efforts with Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort, Nashville, Tenn., said minister John Waddey. Church members launched a media campaign to raise awareness about the effort. “Already funds are being received from citizens fo the community,” Waddey said Saturday.
ARKANSAS
ASH FLAT — As part of Katrina Assistance Relief Effort (KARE), Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has designated the Ash Flat church of Christ as the refugee site in North Central Ark, church members said.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Elders of the Levy congregation are accepting funds to aid those in the affected area. Once they make contact with the churches in Mississippi or Louisiana church members will disperse funds to be used as needed. For more information, see www.levychurch.com or call (501) 753-4860.
CALIFORNIA
EL SEGUNDO — The Hilltop Community Church of Christ has several members from the New Orleans area, said office manager August James. The church has set up a Web site for people wishing to contribute or donate items, www.hilltoprescue.org.
FLORIDA
DESTIN — The Destin Church of Christ is housing 25 evacuees per night and plans to increase that number to 75. The church provides breakfast every day. Two other local churches offer lunch and dinner. The congregation also has set up a fund for contributions to the relief effort. (Updated) Minister Stan Newton said the church and partnering local congregations put $5,000 cash into 39 affected church families’ hands – a total of $195,000. But Newton said the need is far greater than the church’s funds. To help, contact the church office at (850) 837-8050 or [email protected]. The church’s Web site is destincofc.faithsite.com/.
NICEVILLE — The Niceville Church of Christ will transport a trailer of supplies to Biloxi, Miss., later this week. The church filled half of the trailer with bottled water. Now church and community members need to fill the rest of the FEMA-approved trailer with other supplies. The trailer will return to Niceville to be re-supplied as many times as necessary, church members said. Contact the church office at (850) 678-2911 or [email protected]. The church’s Web site is nicevillechurchofchrist.org/Katrina.htm.
PENSACOLA — The Gateway Church of Christ is involved in recovery efforts on the Mississippi coast. Members have offered their homes and donated money. The church is collecting funds for multiple congregations in southern Mississippi. For more information, see www.gatewaycoc.org.
GEORGIA
ALBANY — The Red Cross has transformed the fellowship hall at the Beattie Road Church of Christ into a shelter for hurricane evacuees, according to television station WALB “The center’s been very good to me,” Ivory Williams of New Orleans told WALB. “The Red Cross, they’re feeding us, we’re able to shower, we’re able to have somewhere to rest our head, we’re very thankful we’re here.”
ATLANTA — Nate Jones, minister for the Bywater congregation in New Orleans, and several of the church’s members reported that they are staying in Atlanta and are OK, church members said Sept. 6. The congregation is a ministry of the Elysian Fields church, New Orleans.
INDIANA
INDIANAPOLIS — The North Central Church of Christ has established a disaster relief fund for hurricane victims, said minister David Mangum, who was born and raised in the New Orleans area. Mangum has family in Louisiana and Waveland, Miss., and plans to work with his contacts in the area to send aid. For more information, see the church’s Web site, www.nccoc.org.
KANSAS
MANHATTAN — The Manhattan Church of Christ and Kansas State Cats for Christ sent $5,000 from a Sept. 4 special contribution to the South Baton Rouge, La., church, as donations continue, said church member Brian Cobb. “A large amount of clothing that was being prepared for a local outreach has been redirected to relief efforts and should be delivered to Baton Rouge by Sept. 9,” he said. The church is furnishing and equipping a three-bedroom apartment in Manhattan, anticipating the Sept. 10 arrival of a family from the Baton Rouge relief center at the LSU Christian Student Center. The city of Manhattan expects to shelter 500 to 1,000 evacuees. Contact the church at www.manhattankschurch.org.
WICHITA — The Westlink Church of Christ collected $6,000 for hurricane relief Sept. 4 and plans to collect more next Sunday, said church member Juanita Davis. “Kansas has already sent 24 semi trucks to the Gulf area with food and water and several more are being loaded right now,” Davis said. Contact the church at www.westlinkchurch.org.
LOUISIANA
BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana State University Christian Student Center, a ministry of the South Baton Rouge Church of Christ, has opened its doors to house and serve refugees. A list of needs is updated daily on the ministry’s Web site. For more information, contact Brian Cobb at [email protected] or see www.sbrcc.org.
BOSSIER CITY — The Airline Drive Church of Christ is serving as a referral center for potential disaster volunteers. Church members are supplying clothing, blankets, food and water and are preparing meals for more than 1,000 evacuees in a local shelter, said Senior Minister Ben Brewster. The church building is next to a nursing home that is receiving evacuees from New Orleans. “We have agreed to house the employees and their families coming with the residents,” Brewster said. “We expect an initial group of 20 to 30, with more likely to follow.”
FERRIDAY — The town of Ferriday in central Louisiana, with a population of less than 4,000, is housing nearly 3,000 evacuees, said minister Don Tate. Many are staying in overcrowded homes with relatives. The 70-member Ferriday church ministered to the evacuees. On Sept. 14 the church’s minister told the Chronicle that everyone in the area appeared to be taken care of and that his church was sending its relief contributions on to other congregations in need.
GONZALES — The Gonzales Church of Christ is attempting to set up a relief staging center in a nearby building and welcomes donations of clothing, diapers and other supplies. “Money is nice, but there isn’t anything here to buy,” according to the church’s Web site. “We need it shipped in.” For more information, see www.gonzalescofc.com, call (225) 644-5824 or call Mike Krieger at (225) 354-5651.
JENA — The Jena Church of Christ, in a small town of about 3,000 that was out of the storm’s path, plans to minister to local refugees with clothes and other supplies, church member Paul Wilcoxson said.
LAFAYETTE — The Riverside Church of Christ offers shelter, food and aid to hurricane victims. For more information, see www.riversidecoc.org or call (337) 984-2035.
LAKE CHARLES — Local churches and nonprofits have formed Moss Bluff Disaster Relief to serve more than 1,500 evacuees in their community. “The school-aged children have been enrolled into our schools,” said Chris Trahan, webmaster for the newly created www.mbdr.org. A list of disaster relief coordinator is available online at www.mbdr.org/contacts/htm.
NEW ORLEANS — A revised letter from the elders of the Hickory Knoll Church of Christ includes additional information about area churches and plans for relief. The elders ask that members of New Orleans churches contact them. Read the text of the letter here.
NEW ORLEANS — Members of the Carollton Avenue Church of Christ are setting up a fund to help evacuated members. Since most of the church’s members have evacuated, their point of contact is the Northlake Church of Christ, Tucker, Ga. Find contact information for the church online at www.northlake.org.
PINEVILLE — The Storefront Church of Christ is working with the Central Louisiana Red Cross to provide laundry services by renting out local washaterias. The church also is planning long-term and week- or weekend-long relief teams to work at area camps, at least through Dec. 10. Those who can provide services for the Red Cross — serving food, preparing bags, clean-up, crisis counseling — or any volunteer work in the upcoming months and would like to be housed through the Storefront church can contact Drew Battistelli at [email protected] or call (318) 664-0229.
SHREVEPORT — The Church of Christ/North is coordinating a relief effort for New Orleans and other affected areas. “We will be working with several churches, both in and out of the city. This will allow the maximum amount of coverage to the storm torn people,” according to the church’s Web site. For more information, see www.cocn.org or call (318) 226-1305.
SLIDELL — Rumors that the Slidell Church of Christ’s facility was destroyed in the hurricane are not true, elder Courtney A. Cheri said Wednesday, Sept. 7. “The building has some minor roof and gutter problems, no major structural damage, no flooding, some minor water damage in the church offices and some debris on the property,” Cheri said. “All in all, the Lord blessed us and spared us to do his work in Slidell.” Most of the church’s members have evacuated, and the church building has no electricity. “Several of our members have totally lost their homes or suffered severe damage,” Cheri said. The church has established a fund for hurricane relief and anticipates assistance from Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort, Nashville, Tenn., which also assisted the church during a 1995 flood in Slidell. Donations may be sent to: Slidell Church of Christ Disaster Relief, Chase Bank, 350 Gause Blvd., Slidell, LA 70458. Or you may contact one of the following: Jim Perry, benevolence coordinator (985)641-2529; Dan Schillinger, minister (501)593-0693; Courtney Cheri, elder (405)706-2053.
WEST MONROE — White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ leaders have met with ministers, elders and members from churches in the Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Gulfport, Miss. areas. “Though still in a state of shock, their faith in our Lord remains strong, and they look to us to ‘hold up their arms’ in this time of the battle to regain their lives,” said Don Yelton, director of the church’s relief ministries. Evacuees in need of help should submit a request form at www.wfrchurch.org/hurricane/refugees.htm. To volunteer or make a financial donation, e-mail [email protected] or see www.wfrchurch.org/Hurricane/hurricane_relief_POC.htm.
NATIONAL
Churchzip, a Web site for locating churches of Christ, has posted a list of churches in the areas affected by the storm. “We have identified 58 churches having a combined membership of 5,233 who are likely severely impacted by Katrina,” said administrator Earle West. See the list at www.churchzip.com/katrina.htm.
ALABAMA
ANDALUSIA — Members of the Cedar Grove Church of Christ have been in contact with members of Orange Grove church, Gulfport, Miss. Cedar Grove members have rented a truck, filled it with supplies and are taking it to help congregations in the Gulfport area. For more information, see www.alaweb.com/~cdrgrove.
COLUMBIANA — The Columbiana Church of Christ, in the greater Birmingham area, has, with the help of a member who works for Ryder, secured a truck with driver and fuel furnished. The congregation hopes to use the truck to take supplies through an established distribution channel beginning next week (Sept. 11).
HAMILTON — About 150 Christians from New Orleans will find refuge at Maywood Christian Camp in Marion County through the efforts of the Burleson Church of Christ. Supplies including non-perishable food, bedding and toiletries may be sent to the Burleson church, along with financial donations. For more information, contact Jeff Goff, Maywood Camp administrator, at (205) 921-4174.
HUNTSVILLE — The Mayfair Church of Christ is sending money, supplies and volunteers to churches on the Mississippi coast. Joe Essner, minister of involvement, said, “We have made a long-term commitment to help, and through these efforts we give God all the glory.” On Wednesday, Sept. 7, volunteers will install a steel roof for the Ocean Springs, Miss., church, and on Friday will deliver 50 folding chairs to the Orange Grove Church of Christ, Gulfport, Miss., whose pews were destroyed. Volunteer couriers are bringing much-needed cash donations to affected churches. The church also is assisting local evacuees, providing gift cards for children to buy clothes and school supplies and giving financial assistance to those staying in hotels. Members are providing temporary housing. Mayfair is hosting a community-wide blood drive Sunday, Sept. 11 to benefit Gulf Coast hospitals that face severe shortages. To volunteer or send donations, contact [email protected] or call 256-881-4651.
PRATTVILLE — The Hunter Hills Church of Christ is collecting relief and setting up an existing Bible camp for use as a staging area for Christian volunteers going into the affected area, said Mac Adkins, the church’s webmaster. “Up to 150 volunteers from other churches will be able to stay at the camp,” Adkins said. For more information, see www.hunterhills.org.
ARIZONA
ANTHEM — The Canyon Church of Christ plans to use its regular offering Sept. 11 for hurricane relief. The church will send the aid to the Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort in Nashville, Tenn.
SURPRISE — The West Bell Road Church of Christ is gathering funds for victims, coordinating efforts with Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort, Nashville, Tenn., said minister John Waddey. Church members launched a media campaign to raise awareness about the effort. “Already funds are being received from citizens fo the community,” Waddey said Saturday.
ARKANSAS
ASH FLAT — As part of Katrina Assistance Relief Effort (KARE), Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has designated the Ash Flat church of Christ as the refugee site in North Central Ark, church members said.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Elders of the Levy congregation are accepting funds to aid those in the affected area. Once they make contact with the churches in Mississippi or Louisiana church members will disperse funds to be used as needed. For more information, see www.levychurch.com or call (501) 753-4860.
CALIFORNIA
EL SEGUNDO — The Hilltop Community Church of Christ has several members from the New Orleans area, said office manager August James. The church has set up a Web site for people wishing to contribute or donate items, www.hilltoprescue.org.
FLORIDA
DESTIN — The Destin Church of Christ is housing 25 evacuees per night and plans to increase that number to 75. The church provides breakfast every day. Two other local churches offer lunch and dinner. The congregation also has set up a fund for contributions to the relief effort. (Updated) Minister Stan Newton said the church and partnering local congregations put $5,000 cash into 39 affected church families’ hands – a total of $195,000. But Newton said the need is far greater than the church’s funds. To help, contact the church office at (850) 837-8050 or [email protected]. The church’s Web site is destincofc.faithsite.com/.
NICEVILLE — The Niceville Church of Christ will transport a trailer of supplies to Biloxi, Miss., later this week. The church filled half of the trailer with bottled water. Now church and community members need to fill the rest of the FEMA-approved trailer with other supplies. The trailer will return to Niceville to be re-supplied as many times as necessary, church members said. Contact the church office at (850) 678-2911 or [email protected]. The church’s Web site is nicevillechurchofchrist.org/Katrina.htm.
PENSACOLA — The Gateway Church of Christ is involved in recovery efforts on the Mississippi coast. Members have offered their homes and donated money. The church is collecting funds for multiple congregations in southern Mississippi. For more information, see www.gatewaycoc.org.
GEORGIA
ALBANY — The Red Cross has transformed the fellowship hall at the Beattie Road Church of Christ into a shelter for hurricane evacuees, according to television station WALB “The center’s been very good to me,” Ivory Williams of New Orleans told WALB. “The Red Cross, they’re feeding us, we’re able to shower, we’re able to have somewhere to rest our head, we’re very thankful we’re here.”
ATLANTA — Nate Jones, minister for the Bywater congregation in New Orleans, and several of the church’s members reported that they are staying in Atlanta and are OK, church members said Sept. 6. The congregation is a ministry of the Elysian Fields church, New Orleans.
INDIANA
INDIANAPOLIS — The North Central Church of Christ has established a disaster relief fund for hurricane victims, said minister David Mangum, who was born and raised in the New Orleans area. Mangum has family in Louisiana and Waveland, Miss., and plans to work with his contacts in the area to send aid. For more information, see the church’s Web site, www.nccoc.org.
KANSAS
MANHATTAN — The Manhattan Church of Christ and Kansas State Cats for Christ sent $5,000 from a Sept. 4 special contribution to the South Baton Rouge, La., church, as donations continue, said church member Brian Cobb. “A large amount of clothing that was being prepared for a local outreach has been redirected to relief efforts and should be delivered to Baton Rouge by Sept. 9,” he said. The church is furnishing and equipping a three-bedroom apartment in Manhattan, anticipating the Sept. 10 arrival of a family from the Baton Rouge relief center at the LSU Christian Student Center. The city of Manhattan expects to shelter 500 to 1,000 evacuees. Contact the church at www.manhattankschurch.org.
WICHITA — The Westlink Church of Christ collected $6,000 for hurricane relief Sept. 4 and plans to collect more next Sunday, said church member Juanita Davis. “Kansas has already sent 24 semi trucks to the Gulf area with food and water and several more are being loaded right now,” Davis said. Contact the church at www.westlinkchurch.org.
LOUISIANA
BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana State University Christian Student Center, a ministry of the South Baton Rouge Church of Christ, has opened its doors to house and serve refugees. A list of needs is updated daily on the ministry’s Web site. For more information, contact Brian Cobb at [email protected] or see www.sbrcc.org.
BOSSIER CITY — The Airline Drive Church of Christ is serving as a referral center for potential disaster volunteers. Church members are supplying clothing, blankets, food and water and are preparing meals for more than 1,000 evacuees in a local shelter, said Senior Minister Ben Brewster. The church building is next to a nursing home that is receiving evacuees from New Orleans. “We have agreed to house the employees and their families coming with the residents,” Brewster said. “We expect an initial group of 20 to 30, with more likely to follow.”
FERRIDAY — The town of Ferriday in central Louisiana, with a population of less than 4,000, is housing nearly 3,000 evacuees, said minister Don Tate. Many are staying in overcrowded homes with relatives. The 70-member Ferriday church ministered to the evacuees. On Sept. 14 the church’s minister told the Chronicle that everyone in the area appeared to be taken care of and that his church was sending its relief contributions on to other congregations in need.
GONZALES — The Gonzales Church of Christ is attempting to set up a relief staging center in a nearby building and welcomes donations of clothing, diapers and other supplies. “Money is nice, but there isn’t anything here to buy,” according to the church’s Web site. “We need it shipped in.” For more information, see www.gonzalescofc.com, call (225) 644-5824 or call Mike Krieger at (225) 354-5651.
JENA — The Jena Church of Christ, in a small town of about 3,000 that was out of the storm’s path, plans to minister to local refugees with clothes and other supplies, church member Paul Wilcoxson said.
LAFAYETTE — The Riverside Church of Christ offers shelter, food and aid to hurricane victims. For more information, see www.riversidecoc.org or call (337) 984-2035.
LAKE CHARLES — Local churches and nonprofits have formed Moss Bluff Disaster Relief to serve more than 1,500 evacuees in their community. “The school-aged children have been enrolled into our schools,” said Chris Trahan, webmaster for the newly created www.mbdr.org. A list of disaster relief coordinator is available online at www.mbdr.org/contacts/htm.
NEW ORLEANS — A revised letter from the elders of the Hickory Knoll Church of Christ includes additional information about area churches and plans for relief. The elders ask that members of New Orleans churches contact them. Read the text of the letter here.
NEW ORLEANS — Members of the Carollton Avenue Church of Christ are setting up a fund to help evacuated members. Since most of the church’s members have evacuated, their point of contact is the Northlake Church of Christ, Tucker, Ga. Find contact information for the church online at www.northlake.org.
PINEVILLE — The Storefront Church of Christ is working with the Central Louisiana Red Cross to provide laundry services by renting out local washaterias. The church also is planning long-term and week- or weekend-long relief teams to work at area camps, at least through Dec. 10. Those who can provide services for the Red Cross — serving food, preparing bags, clean-up, crisis counseling — or any volunteer work in the upcoming months and would like to be housed through the Storefront church can contact Drew Battistelli at [email protected] or call (318) 664-0229.
SHREVEPORT — The Church of Christ/North is coordinating a relief effort for New Orleans and other affected areas. “We will be working with several churches, both in and out of the city. This will allow the maximum amount of coverage to the storm torn people,” according to the church’s Web site. For more information, see www.cocn.org or call (318) 226-1305.
SLIDELL — Rumors that the Slidell Church of Christ’s facility was destroyed in the hurricane are not true, elder Courtney A. Cheri said Wednesday, Sept. 7. “The building has some minor roof and gutter problems, no major structural damage, no flooding, some minor water damage in the church offices and some debris on the property,” Cheri said. “All in all, the Lord blessed us and spared us to do his work in Slidell.” Most of the church’s members have evacuated, and the church building has no electricity. “Several of our members have totally lost their homes or suffered severe damage,” Cheri said. The church has established a fund for hurricane relief and anticipates assistance from Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort, Nashville, Tenn., which also assisted the church during a 1995 flood in Slidell. Donations may be sent to: Slidell Church of Christ Disaster Relief, Chase Bank, 350 Gause Blvd., Slidell, LA 70458. Or you may contact one of the following: Jim Perry, benevolence coordinator (985)641-2529; Dan Schillinger, minister (501)593-0693; Courtney Cheri, elder (405)706-2053.
WEST MONROE — White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ leaders have met with ministers, elders and members from churches in the Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Gulfport, Miss. areas. “Though still in a state of shock, their faith in our Lord remains strong, and they look to us to ‘hold up their arms’ in this time of the battle to regain their lives,” said Don Yelton, director of the church’s relief ministries. Evacuees in need of help should submit a request form at www.wfrchurch.org/hurricane/refugees.htm. To volunteer or make a financial donation, e-mail [email protected] or see www.wfrchurch.org/Hurricane/hurricane_relief_POC.htm.
View Comments
