A couple of days ago, I added Rebuilding Lakeshoreto my blogroll. It is the website/blog dedicated to rebuilding Lakeshore Baptist Church which was complete destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Their pastor, Don Elbourne, was one of the first bloggers I read in the SBC blogosophere (especially his Cathcart bios), and since Katrina, he has been using his blog to update people on the needs, coordinate mission trips, and give updates on the status of Lakeshore and their surrounding communities.
I first met Don at the Band of Bloggers fellowship I hosted in conjunction with the Together for the Gospel Conference. I was incredibly encouraged by this brother’s devotion to the Lord and convicted by his love for God’s Church and indefatigable ministry during unprecedented crisis. They are not only focused on rebuilding the church, but they are also rebuilding the lives of people who were devastated by the destruction from Katrina. Over the past couple years, Lakeshore has welcomed dozens of mission teams to assist in disaster relief, construction, and ministry.
If you are a pastor or member of a local church and looking for a short-term mission trip, I ask that you consider joining others in Rebuilding Lakeshore. This opportunity would be especially attractive to youth groups and college ministries. Though I did not know this, Southern Seminary is taking a team for a Spring Mission Trip during Spring Break (April 7-13). If you are fellow SBTSer and have not made plans over the break, let me ask that you consider signing up for this trip. To make plans for the April 7-13 trip, contact Jacob Preston in the Great Commission Center, Norton 108, (502) 897-4594 by March 9th to reserve your spot.
If you would like to plan a trip to Lakeshore, go here for more contact information or call the church at (228) 469-0110 (they noted: “since we run a bare bones operation we may be out in the field working on projects when you call. Please leave a voice message and we will return your call asap”). If you are not able to help Rebuild Lakeshore through a mission trip, then maybe you would like to financially contribute to the pressing needs there. You can make a check payable to “Lakeshore Baptist Church” to:
Lakeshore Baptist Church
PO BOX 293
Lakeshore MS 39558
Thank you for considering this opportunity. I firmly believe that, should you assist in Rebuilding Lakeshore, you will find yourself most refreshed by the encouragement and fellowship of our dear brothers and sisters who are impacting their world with the love and message of Jesus Christ.
<< Edit >>
John Elam, DOM for Northwestern Baptist Association (OK), directed me in the comments section to a recent video of their trip to Lakeshore which I have added it below (awesome testimony). Also, John provides some helpful documents for anyone planning, preparing, or promoting a trip to Lakeshore. Thanks John for making all this available!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj9r1utYEJM&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Enorthwesternbaptist%2Ecom%2F]
Timmy,
I have two weeks of trips planned from our Association here in Oklahoma,(www.northwesternbaptist.com) at that site you can see a video relating the story of Mrs. Redford and those who helped her rebuild with a new home. I was there in early January prepping our trip and the work is amazing. Don and his team are doing a fantastic job and the good news of Christ is being seen both in word and deed.
Feel free to link to the video if you care to.
Thanks John!