Ongoing Projects

Ongoing Projects

Operation NOAH Rebuild

A joint decision by Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans, Louisiana Baptist Convention, and NAMB has been made to extend Operation Noah to August 2009.

The Volunteer Village has been relocated to Hopeview Baptist Church in St. Bernard Parrish. Beginning March 1, 2008, Operation NOAH Rebuild will open a second volunteer village at Household of Faith Church, located on the I-10 service road in east New Orleans.

Feeding Teams Needed

DR feeding teams (8-12 volunteers) are also needed to assist in the feeding operation at the volunteer village at Household of Faith beginning March 1, 2008. Household of Faith Volunteer Village will house 450 volunteers.
DR feeding teams continue to be needed to assist with the feeding operation at the volunteer village at Hopeview. Teams (4-8 volunteers) are currently signed up through August 2008. Hopeview Volunteer Village will house 150 volunteers.
Teams do not have to be DR-trained.

     Responsibilities:

·        Breakfast and cleanup

·        Assemble lunch items so teams can pack their lunches

·        Dinner and cleanup

·        Receive shipments of food

Terms of service:

·        Arrive on Saturday

·        Depart the second Sunday (e.g., one team arrives on the 15th and departs on the

23rd; the next team arrives on the 22nd to take over from previous team.

Housing Managers Needed

· NOAH also needs assistance with managing both volunteer villages. Campers on Mission or other volunteers are requested who are willing to serve in this role.

· RV sites with hookups are provided. Housing in the volunteer villages is available for volunteers who do not have RVs.

· Volunteers are asked to stay for one to two months and work with the NOAH staff to provide supervision for the villages. Time off will be provided.

Please contact the Adult Volunteer Mobilization Team to schedule teams at 1 800 462-8657 ext. 6507 or jberry@namb.net.

Katrina Volunteers Needed in Gulf Coast

If you have folks who want to help with Katrina rebuilding in Gulfport, Mississippi, we have a great set up at the old Gulfport armory where we can house and feed up to 300 volunteers at a time. We have great jobs lined up with good coordinators and all needed building materials. The suggested donation of $10 per person per day covers lodging, meals and supplemental insurance. See the website below for more information and to register.

http://www.ncmissions.org/Index.aspx?pg=Projects/Project Details&id=1070

Thank you,

Richard Brunson

Director, NC Baptist Men

www.ncmissions.org

Adopt a Church-Through the North American Mission Board

As most of you know, 2005 was one of the most traumatic periods in our nation's history with the devastating impact of Hurricane's Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. While the devastation took place in hours . . . the recovery will take years.

This tragedy provides an amazing opportunity for Southern Baptist churches to show what Christ-followers do when the bottom falls out—we stand up and step forward to do what it takes.

Many churches that were in the path of these storms are severely damaged or destroyed. Pastors and staff members are wondering if they will ever have a ministry again. Members are agonizing over whether they will ever have a restored church to worship in again. Communities are in need of restored centers of ministry and the changed lives they bring.

YOU and your church can be the answer!

ADOPT-A-CHURCH is a ministry in which the North American Mission Board is striving to help churches, associations, and state conventions in the affected area link with churches across the continent in "restoring" partnerships.

Churches are needed to "adopt" congregations whose facilities were badly damaged or destroyed. We are asking for the adopted period to be between 12-24 months, whichever the church needs to get back on its feet. Many churches will have not one "adopting" church partner, but numerous "adopters." This will allow more churches to participate and help spread the opportunity/responsibility, as well as the joy.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU:

Your name, position, church name, address, e-mail, and phone number.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN?

As we work with state conventions in the affected areas and discover the churches needing such help, we will contact the churches that have volunteered, with a suggested congregation in need.

Then the churches will work out between themselves the best ways they can work together for a bright future and for the advance of the Lord's kingdom.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS ADOPTING CHURCHES CAN DO?

Here are a few suggestions:

Send mission teams when the affected church is in a position to need them. These teams can provide all types of needed ministry which is determined between the churches.
Send care packages to the affected church containing materials and items the church needs.
Send teams with construction skills that can help affected churches do repairs as needed.
Help the pastor and church staff (and their spouses) experience an enjoyable and special retreat opportunity that will help them "decompress" from the stress of living through such trauma. Make it special and memorable!
Help with a special offering as an extension of grace and help to the church . . . over and above the normal missions and CP giving.
Send a care package to the children of the affected church. When you minister to the children of adults, you hit the heart of the parents.
Send training teams to help ministry leaders in the affected church as an encouragement to them as well as helping strengthen their leadership skills.
Help the staff get set up with computers and communications equipment they may have lost in the storm. Being out of touch is devastating in ministry.
If the pastor lost his library, or if parts were badly damaged, help him replace it.

Plan now to help the affected church find ways to discover ways to celebrate upcoming holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. These can be hard times and emotional times for those affected, and your church's help could make all the difference with some creative planning.

Your church will come up with even better ideas . . .

BUT REMEMBER, this will not be a short-term commitment; but it could change a sister church for a lifetime.

Questions? E-mail us at AdoptaChurch@NAMB.net .

Samuel's Challenge (Through the North American Mission Board)

Discover a wonderful way to encourage kids to participate in helping hurricane victims as a missions project. Check out Samuel's Challenge.

Where can we send in-kind goods?

NEW Mississippi Baptists currently have no room for donations of goods. Until additional warehouses are located, please do not send any more goods. Monetary gifts and gift cards that can be distributed (such as Wal-Mart, Lowe's, or Home Depot) are gladly received. Please send to the Mississippi Baptist Convention, 515 Mississippi St., PO Box 530, Jackson, MS 39205-0530.

Women's Missionary Union

Praying in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
A prayer guide covering those affected by Hurricane Katrina in some way, including law enforcement officials, chaplains, government leaders, etc.

WMU HEART Fund (100 percent of donations marked “Katrina Relief” will go to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina.)