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Believers Attend Sunday Services Despite Katrina Devastation | September 06, 2005

09-05-2005

By Rhoda Tse
The Christian Post

Part of the religious response to disaster.

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On the first Sunday since Hurricane Katrina cut its deadly path through several states, leaving a flooded landscape and broken lives, churches held services and gave hope to homeless evacuees.

In Houston, Texas, ministers from Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, and Protestant faiths, traveled from shelter to shelter preaching their message at sites including the Astrodome, a nearby arena, and a convention center - the three of which house 25,000.

Forty-year-old Ronnie Keelen said the service he attended was inspiring. "Right now I'm just rejoicing," he told Knight Ridder.

Others were moved to tears at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Baton Rouge, La., where several hundred local parishioners and storm survivors gathered for the services.

"I wish we could take your broken hearts and give you ours," said Rev. Donald Blanchard.

In the heavily-Catholic state of Louisiana, a special Mass honored the dead at Baton Rouge's oldest church, St. Joseph Cathedral, according to Reuters. Led in service by Archbishop Alfred Hughes, it gave a godly respite to government officials, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, among others.

Sen. Landrieu said it is the first time she's been able to rest, be with her family, and "get strength from God," according to the Associated Press.

Meanwhile, the Rev. Gerard Young embraced Gov. Blanco and said to her, "You have been so relentless. We are grateful."

The governor called for a Day of Prayer last Wednesday.

In San Antonio, Texas, many churches came to a former Kelly Air Force Base shelter to pick up evacuees for services. Some, who didn't want to go to a church, joined hands with church members on the sidewalk for prayer instead.

Adam Wallace, a member of the Baton Rouge church is sympathetic to those who might not be so full of praise, but he believes God is good.

"We understand a lot of people have lost faith and hope," said Wallace to Knight Ridder. "We want to help them turn their eyes to God. God spared so many people."

According to Reuters, others like Tim Washington, 42, took a different view. "God made all this happen for a reason," he said. This city has been going to hell in a hand basket spiritually."

Others were adverse to religion being there at all. "We're getting reports of how some religion-based 'aid' groups are trying to fly evangelists into the stricken areas and how U.S. Army chaplains are carrying bibles – not food or water – to 'comfort' people," Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheist, said in a statement.

"People need material aid, medical care and economic support – not prayers and preaching," she said.

At a Salvation Army service near the Houston Astrodome, Major John Jones, the group's area commander, said during the service of 30 people, "Natural disaster is caused by the sin in the world. The acts of God are what happens afterwards ... all the good that happens."

As evacuees seek refuge at unaffected churches and shelters in neighboring states, church leaders are thinking of the evacuees' long-term needs.

"We are here for you for the long haul,'' said the Rev. William Lawson, pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. "This is not where you want to be.''

The Rev. Mose A. Jones uplifted the crowd, according to NOAA. He said, "Just like God was with you in New Orleans, God is with you in Houston, Texas," amid cheers and applause at the Houston George R. Brown Conventions Center.

"My brothers and sister, this is not the end of the story. If you hold on to God's unchanging hand, you will get twice as much as you had before the day began."

Posted by admin at September 6, 2005 05:29 PM


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