Locusts and Wild Honey

Church Sunday 11:00

Monday, September 12th, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina | 21 Comments

Lakeshore Baptist Church gathered for worship yesterday. Most of our congregation still have not been able to return to the area since all their houses lay demolished. We have no electricity, water, or shelter. None the less, about thirty-five did make it to the church property. God blessed us with hope and encouragement as we sang, prayed, cried, and heard the Word of God preached.

I said we would meet on the church slab, but to be accurate the building did not have a slab. It sat on concrete blocks and a few years ago we pumped concrete underneath to solve an erosion problem. We met on that rough piece of cement with the rubble of our buildings all around us. We found the pulpit across the road in the woods. We drug it out and set it up on blocks and plywood left from the building for a makeshift platform. We rummaged through the debris and found a dozen or so metal folding chairs and a couple of broken pews. We set the pews on concrete blocks and cleaned them off as much as we could. My brother built a cross from the broken beams that used to support the church building and set it up behind the pulpit. The cross of Christ will continue to support us as we rebuild and move forward as a community of faith to the glory of God.

We sang Amazing Grace and I preached from Habakkuk 3:17-19 and John 14:1-6. Habakkuk walked in our shoes as he saw no fruit on the trees, no oil in the press, no flocks or heard in the stalls, but still trusted that God reigns in the heavens. We do not root our strength in the muddy soft ground of cars, and buildings, and land, but in the solid firmness of God’s hand of providence.

As we looked around our church property we saw nothing where it used to be. I pointed to where the piano used to be. It now lays shattered across the road. I pointed to where the steeple used to stand. Katrina tossed it into the woods on the back corner of our property. From where I stood preaching, the baptistery used to be right behind me, but it now sits all the way across the road. The pine paneling that used to embrace us in that room from every wall now sticks out from under the ruins of neighboring buildings, lays buried under mud, and splintered across the entire area. The storm deposited two trucks on the church property. We still have not discovered whose they are or where they came from. Our congregation’s houses either floated from where they belonged, or had their contents all sucked out into fields, ditches, and marsh. Beds, couches, tubs, washing machines, refrigerators, children’s toys all litter the landscape like monster confetti. Clothes once tucked neatly into dresser drawers now hang flapping from tree tops. All their things aren’t where they used to be, but God is still where He has always been - on his throne, ruling, reigning, and governing all things for His glory. He will establish our feet on the solid ground of His provision and we believe He will use this catastrophe to amplify the truth of His word and call many to anchor their hope in Him.

Many Thanks

Friday, September 9th, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina | 7 Comments

I need to take a breath today and thank everyone for the overwhelming outpouring of support we have received over the last two weeks. If you have been following my blog you know that Katrina hit Lakeshore Baptist Church hard. She took our church buildings, all our church member’s homes, and just about everything else in our community.

My Dad and brother traveled with me on my first trip down to Lakeshore to assess the damage. As we left Baton Rouge Healing Place Church loaded my Dad’s SUV with food, water, and relief supplies to distribute in Lakeshore. They also deployed a full trailer of food to the area. My sister Kristin and her husband, Ron Reynolds, work with the Healing Place’s eXcursion ministry.

Sometimes our pianist JoEll teases me about the doctrinal debates I engage in on the internet. We had to laugh this time because not only do those discussions serve the immediate purpose of standing for “the faith once delivered to the saints,” this time it served to hook us up with much needed gasoline, food, and supplies. I met Nathan White through my critique of Johnny Hunt’s SBC Pastor’s Conference sermon. Nathan brought our need before his pastor, Dave Stephenson. Greg London and Beau (sorry I didn’t catch your last name Beau) came down from Grace Bible Church near Atlanta with a F-250 loaded down with a 55 gallon drum of gas and a full load of miscellaneous supplies, including an ice chest full of lunch meat. After a week of green beans and fruit cocktail I brought them from Healing Place, a mayonnaise and turkey sandwich tasted like heaven.

Sawgrass Fellowship from Sunrise FL, sent 2 church vans and a whole Uhaul truck full of supplies, including 7 generators. Their worship leader, Steve Mullins, found us through this blog. I can’t thank God enough for these energetic folks who hit the ground running with vigor and encouragement. Pastor Jan Deans has promised a long term commitment and partnership with us and plans to return to our area in November.

As I type this, David Shormann of Houston is on rout to drop off lights, fans, dog food, and other supplies. He plans to drop these supplies off at one of the only buildings left standing in our community. One of our church members, John Richard, road out the storm in his house. Miraculously God spared the structural integrity of the house with John and his brother Cooper in it. I’ll save John’s full story for another post.

Gil Shivers, also from the Houston area in conjunction with a church in Weatherford, Texas, sent supplies to our area. Last I heard, they were heading toward Gulfview Elementary School. What a blessing.

I would be amiss if I did not mention the help I’ve received from my friend, Evangelist Tim Lee. He as already sent us $5,500 and has initiated a fund to help us rebuild our church facilities. God has used Bro. Tim in the past to richly encourage us and he does so once again in this time of need.

We have also received several financial gifts via paypal and checks through my parents address in Baton Rouge. Please forgive me for not listing them all this morning. The overwhelming outpouring of support has been such a blessing. We will continue to face steep financial needs as our church family seeks to minister to each other and our community. Gifts to the following address will be used to sup lament our church income as our entire congregation lost their homes. It will be a while before our church tithes and offerings provide self-sufficient income for our exploding ministry needs.

Lakeshore Baptist Church
1451 Great Oak Drive
Baton Rouge,LA 70810

BTW, I apologize to those who have emailed or called me and I have not had time to get back to you. If you have offered to help in a particular way, I am in the process of coordinating our efforts so we can best use the generous and welcome offers we have received.

Most of all we appreciate your continued prayers. We know that our sovereign God still governs and controls all things, from the killer winds and 25-30 foot tidal surge that swept our community into the gulf, to the flood of generous loving support from our brothers and sisters in Christ from across the country. We now know first hand what William Cowper meant when he penned the words,

God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

Before and After

Tuesday, September 6th, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina | 19 Comments

Lakeshore Baptist Church before and after Hurricane Katrina.

Camper Needed

Tuesday, September 6th, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina | No Comments

Pictured left to right: my brother David Elbourne, Mrs. Bea, me, and James. James drives a truck for a living. Even with Katrina in the gulf, Mrs. Bea did not want to evacuate. James drove in from Texas just in time to take her to higher ground.

Mrs Bea heads up the children’s church at Lakeshore Baptist. Her daughter, JoEll is our pianist. JoEll, her husband Geb and two of their kids lived in a house on the same property. Mrs. Bea’s sister, Vergie, and her two grown daughters, Lisa and Tammy also had a house there. All three homes were destroyed by the storm.

We have always said that when you look up the word “hospitality” in the dictionary, it ought to have Mrs. Bea’s picture beside the definition. After the storm, my Dad, brother, and I made our way from Baton Rouge down to Lakeshore to check on things. When we drove up to their property Mrs. Bea and James were sitting in two salvaged kitchen chairs underneath the only bit of small shade they could find. The first thing Mrs. Bea did was give me a big hug and offer us all something to drink.

In the pictures below, you can see steps leading up to where Vergie’s house used to be. You can see what’s left of the blue house in the distance. James, Mrs. Bea, Vergie, Tammy, and Lisa have set up camp there and we have been bringing them food, water, ice, and miscellaneous essentials. I have a generator for them coming tomorrow. I would really like to get a better roof over their heads than just a tent as they make plans to bring in more permanent trailers onto the property. If anyone would like to donate a camper for this need please contact me at elbourne@lakeshorebaptist.net.

Church in Exile.

Monday, September 5th, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina | 1 Comment

Lakeshore Baptist Church exists in exile. They are scattered from Texas to Florida, even up to New Jersey and I’m not sure where all else. Let me share one email I received from Jeni.

We love you and miss all of you so much.

All family is accounted for and all is safe. Still tracking down friends, co-workers, and anyone we know. We were at Stennis for shelter along with the Lizana family. Lakeshore is mostly gone, whats left standing I don’t think is salvagable. All of my family has left the shelter and is living with relatives for a while. You or anyone else can reach me at 609-266-8336 or the physical address is 705 W Shore Drive, Brigantine, NJ 08203.

Mart, Tyler and I are staying with my sister. We are just off the coast of Atlantic City. We will be here until the property is cleaned and we have electricity. We see alot of good in all this and we are so thankful to God for everyone we have, and for keeping us safe throughout this entire ordeal. Even traveling the 21 hours it took to get here was dangerous. My youngest brother and his finace’ is here, along with my Dad. My mother is flying in tonight, her husband stayed to clean up for now.

Annette (Trina’s sister) was caught in the storm, but managed to survive. Mrs. Arlene was going to Trina’s aunt’s house in the Kiln last I saw her. If you could please post everyone’s where about for us. I’m keeping in touch with Mrs. Arlene’s sister-in-law, so I’ll let you know when I hear more infromation. For now you can reach us at this email address or you may call collect at any time. You may post my info for all the rest. If you could, please post name, number, location, and if there is anything needed. This is the information I am gathering trying to keep up with family members. There were 42 family members in the shelter with us. Randy and Judy Ladner (Chere’s parents) were with us along with here brother, his wife and their children. Ray and Karen Ladner (Mrs. Arlene’s brother) along with his wife and their son.

Mart’s cousin, Eric Moran one of the constable’s for Hancock and a few others went out right after the storm. They took some boats and started making rescue’s. This went on all through the night. Stennis the shelter we were in would not let us bring in any refugee’s. It was so hard on us knowing that they were suffering and there was nothing that we could do. We had went to Denham Springs to get gas and supplies when the rioting started there. By the time we got back to the shelter, rumor had it that people were starting to steal gas out of our cars. We left out immediately.

I heard today that Lakeshore was receiving relief. Army barracks are set up at the Wal-Mart in Waveland and Gulfview School is a distirbution center.

My sister has a benefit scheduled for the 18th, she is running ads, selling tickets, holding an auction and gathering as much stuff as she can. I’ll try to email you often to stay in touch.

Love to all,
Mart, Jeni & Tyler Ward

Robbed

Monday, September 5th, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina | 11 Comments

The nightmare continues. My wife woke up this morning to go for a bike ride. She is an avid cyclist and has not been able to spin her legs much since the disaster hit. I got a call from the police that they found her car on Old River Road in Baton Rouge with the window busted out. My Dad and I rushed out to find her. We found her. She is safe. The thief took her purse out of the trunk. Now she has no driver’s license, we have to cancel our credit cards, and go through all the hassles that in tales, all while not having a house to return to ourselves and ministering to our church family who themselves have all lost all their property. We now have no credit cards to buy gas and supplies as we travel back and forth between Baton Rouge and Lakeshore. On the way back to my parent’s house, through alligator tears my wife said, “I just want to go home.” Ya’ll pray for us. This is tough and overwhelming, but God will see us through.