Dear friends and family of Journey,

 

Thank you for your ongoing prayers, financial support, and work teams who are willing to roll up their sleeves and help countless families begin the recovery process in New Orleans.

 

So far over $2.3 million has been raised for this relief effort with over $800,000 of materials and supplies donated to meet the needs of Katrina victims.  We have approximately 400 churches scheduled to send work teams to help with gutting houses, clean-up, debris removal, etc. 

 

We are grateful that God continues to raise up leaders who are involved in this entire process.  One couple, John and Phoebe Byers, moved here from Brownsburg, IN to oversee our Warehouse Operations.  A couple from Christ's Church of the Valley in Phoenix, AZ, Matt and Andrea Woodward, is moving here to oversee our work team coordination in parternship with Crossroads Missions out of Louisville, KY.  One young woman from Wichita, KS, Contessa Carr, is moving here to help with the thousands of benevolence requests we are receiving.

 

I can't help but think of the passage Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, "I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now..." (Philippians 1:5).

 

As many of you know by now Building Better Communinities, a separate, non-profit organization started by Journey, is the oversight ministry for our relief and rebuilding work.  I am currently serving as the Executive Director, but I would not be able to do this and serve as the pastor of Journey if it were not for our Assistant Director, Karen Akers.  Karen and her husband, Dennis, are a part of Journey, and she approached me with one simple request, "Let me help."  Little did she know that within a few weeks of that request, she would be coordinating all of the day-to-day operations of BBC!

 

I am also very grateful for Rob Minten and Crossroads Missions.  They specialize in short-term missions trips--planning and overseeing them for church groups--and building new houses for people in need.  Well, guess what?  We had hundreds of churches calling us, wanting to send teams, and we have an incredible need for new houses!  So Rob met with me and offered their help.  They have stepped in and our now coordinating work teams at our "new" hub in New Orleans East.  We have partnered with a church called "Faith Church" that had about six feet of water.  We have gutted their gymnasium and other buildings and put up new sheetrock, etc.  In return, they are allowing us to use their gym as our warehouse and other buildings to house groups.  If you are interested in sending a team, you will need to contact Sydna Peterson at 1-800-957-3563.  She is our "Church Hostess" and will walk you through the process.

 

Building Better Communities staff consists of:

 

Tim Martin, Executive Director
Hope Encalade, Director of Dress for Success
Kristen Seeley, Office Manager
Penny Williams, Director of eXcite After-School Tutoring
John Peterson, Project Manager
Sydna Peterson, Director of Matt's Place
Kenny Martin, Construction
Angela Murray, Benevolence Counselor
Bobbie Brown, Benevolence Counselor
Kyle Hoover, Information Tech. Services
 

We are also grateful for the numerous volunteers locally and from around the country that bring their talents, gifts, and hard work to this ministry! 

 

Our Board of Directors consists of:

 

Our Advisory Board consists of:

 

Mark Perraut, Southland Christian Church, Chair
Tom Jones, Stadia East, Johnson City, TN
Chip Kerth, Faith Church, New Orleans
Larry Wren, Westlink Christian Church, Wichita, KS
Ron Hargett, Builder, Lexington, KY

I appreciate each of these leaders and what they bring to the table for this long-term venture in reshaping an entire city for the cause of Jesus Christ!  And thank you, the thousands of churches and individuals, who are uniting together to see hope restored!

 

Rick Grover

Lead Pastor, Journey Christian Church

 

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