A heartfelt thanks to the ministers and members of the churches of the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge and the Atchafalaya Baptist associations.

During the month of September the world changed in dramatic ways for the greater Baton Rouge area and beyond. Towns, villages, and communities across southeast Louisiana were shattered. The storm events separated families. Adults and children faced events beyond comprehension. Their losses are immeasurable. But from the events of hurricane Katrina, our Baptist churches stepped forward to serve unselfishly to those in need.

As evacuees swamped the official sites and more arrived every day, you did not wait for permission from anyone. When the enormity of the situation surpassed anything the government officials had foreseen, you stepped in. You did not wait for things to be done, nor did you seek permission to serve. You saw what was needed and you took action. You welcomed evacuees into your churches and homes. As some evacuees found family and friends and left your facilities, you provided cash, clothing, transportation, and anything else they needed.

You counseled those in shock, and wept with them as they told their stories of survival and loss. You provided food, hot meals, and showers. You sorted clothes, bought diapers, unloaded trucks. You donated phone cards and gift certificates. So many people experienced the most desperate time in their lives, but you paid no attention to the clock, to your own fatigue, and you stayed as  long as was needed. You called for help to your sister churches, only to discover that they also were serving and were experiencing the same fatigue and exhaustion. You became true servants who helped evacuees find hope through you selfless example of Christian character.

Space does not allow for me to name every church, and I am sure that if I were to try, I would leave someone out. To each church, to every serving member - no matter what your role - you pitched in to serve in whatever way you were needed. Yet, “serve” is really not quite the word to describe the caring and compassion that radiated from each one of you. You exhibited the living presence of our Lord Jesus Christ – “As you have done it to one of the least of these, you have done it to me” Matthew 25:40.

For all you have done and continue to do, I am proud to be associated with such a wonderful group of Baptist churches.

Rodrick E. Conerly, D.Min., Ph.D.
Executive Director
The Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge

BAKER FIRST
Collecting items to give to shelters around the area.

BATON ROUGE FIRST
Offering shelter to women with newborn babies and chaplains.

BROADMOOR
Collecting new underwear, t-shirts, socks, toiletry items, bottled water, baby formula, baby food, diapers, coloring books, crayons, markers; housing a family of 10; helping retirement center. Working with Red Cross to make sandwiches for evacuees.

BROOKSTOWN
Able to partner with a local church to prepare food.

BROWNFIELDS
Sheltered evacuees.

CEDARCREST
Planning for long-term shelter evacuees and workers.

CENTRAL, FB
Accepted water and non-perishable food for the Washington Parish/Frankllinton area. Any other donations can be used for this area or passed to local shelters. Partnering with local church.

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Sheltered 5 evacuees and providing food and transportation. Medical and shelter for Filipinos.

CIRCLE
Joined with another church to provide Sunday morning worship service at the shelter at the municipal building. Transportation to Dallas, Atlanta and Houston. Could use mission team / volunteers to help.

COMITE
Partnering with local church and will be working with church in Washington parish area. Received donations of bottled water, baby wipes, diapers and toilet paper.

CROSSPOINT
Collected juice boxes for the shelters.

DAYSPRING
Helping a church from Venice-35 evacuees; collecting clothes, food and money. Supply volunteers to other churches. Furniture, food and baby supplies.

DONALDSONVILLE
Sheltered 60 evacuees.  Funds needed for gas and electricity.

DUTCHTOWN
Cooking, chain saw crews, drop off point for food/water to stage for cooking, food for local shelters, can house a feeding unit (only one shower available), can house volunteers, police or medical staff - can feed up to 400.  Trailer available to house a work team.

FAITH, BAKER
Sheltered 200 people.

FELLOWSHIP, CENTRAL
Sheltered - 50 evacuees and 20 relief workers (nurses). Volunteers, transportation needs and donations for long-term housing.

FELLOWSHIP, PRAIRIEVILLE
Feeding teams left 9/12; Disaster Relief Distribution Center in Gonzales; trying to help displaced pastors and churches prepare to move back into new Orleans; New Resident Ministry.

FELLOWSHIP, PRAIRIEVILLE; GRACE WORKS; DUTCHTOWN, FBC;
Can set up tents on property; helping Lamar Dixon - Disaster relief and chainsaw teams staying at Fellowship. Needed help with volunteer fire department in Prairieville. Detergent, brooms, cleaning supplies, large and x-large men's clothes, baby food and formula, diapers, wipes, ice chests , toiletries, pallet jacks.

FLORIDA BLVD.
Feeding unit coordinated through LBC and Red Cross - Collection station only for linens and clothing only - housing Entergy teams - on-site health unit.

FOSTER ROAD
Housing 16 people

GLEN OAKS
Chainsaw crew for Glen Oaks church members.

GONZALES
Gathering information, wants to be an information hub.  Mike Hamilton is coordinator of volunteers at Lamar Dixon. Calling homes to get bedding space for National Guardsmen, collecting supplies, volunteering  buses to transport evacuees. 1,500 people in motels in Gonzales.

GRACE FELLOWSHIP
Providing  food for 200 people.

GREENWELL SPRINGS
Providing places to stay evenings, meals and food--some eat and go; on list with Red Cross and FEMA, food from Florida Blvd, feed down lines crews, temporary showers installed, pod - collecting with fire dept (food clothing, shoes, socks, blankets, pillows).

IMMANUEL, BR
Coordinating with LA State Police to house 20 policemen and provide meals and assess to showers

IMMANUEL, GONZALES
Sheltered for evacuees; helping with student needs at the elementary and Jr. High levels through two schools. Providing Bibles through the Gideons.

INDIAN MOUND
Sending people to help where needed.

ISTROUMA
Sheltered - 400, Red Cross is handling, will collect items in the future. Receiveing donations; clothing; toiletries; NO food donations (take to Belmont Hotel on Airline); baby items; blankets and pillows.

JEFFERSON
Red Cross feeding unit, receiving donations, opened clothes closet, ad on radio for items, evacuees can pick up items there.

LAKE MARTIN
Donation center; caring for one family.

LANIER
Sheltered volunteer chaplains / rescue workers.

MT. BETHEL
Sheltered evacuees (49); clothing; mission team (7) to assist. Additional transportation and showers.

NEW LIFE OF BR
Sheltered evacuees, available for EBR parish, police and fire departments; to provide coffee, sandwiches if needed.

NEW RIVER
Collecting food for existing food pantry - may be able to provide educational space for long-term needs; distribution point; colleting non-perishable foods. Gym can be used to house volunteers.

PARK FOREST
Interested in counseling, food preparation, private homes for workers and Bible studies.

PARKSIDE
May open shelter.

PARKVIEW
Sheltered for relief workers; collecting clothes, household goods, furniture, appliances, towels, baby items, toys, etc.; preparing  up to 12, 000 sandwiches per day; walking canes;

PLAQUEMINE, FBC
Working with evacuees housed at community center. 9.5.05 - shelter closed will continue to help with community needs.

PORT ALLEN
Shelters on West Bank, supplying what they need - collecting items to give to refugees - working with Red Cross.

RESERVE,  FBC
Soon as A/C is on, they can house volunteers - showers and classrooms for sleeping; new, large parking lot available.

RIVERDALE
Serving as a donation center for all types of donations. Can house staff of churches, if needed.

SHARON
Working with Community Center in the area. Taking care of the needs of 330 people. Providing clothing, and food. PROVIDED HOMES  (SEMI PERMANENT) FOR 5 FAMILIES  - Some of our men are helping with rescue.

SOUTHSIDE
Talking to hotels, people sleeping in parking lots and cars, trying to coordinate to feed 100 people tonight for the next two weeks, working w/ FBC Bluebonnet, working w/ Entergy workers working in New Orleans.

STEVENDALE
Shelter / housing - parsonage.

THE PEOPLE’S CHURCH
Housing work crews /  volunteers.

TRINITY
Sheltered evacuees; collecting Bibles for distribution; would like to team up with a larger church in the rebuilding process.

UNIVERSITY
Collecting food and clothing for shelters - collect/sort/send items to shelters as they are requested. Bedding ,toiletries/hygiene. We are focusing on requested needs of a PMAC/LSU Field House and Southern University shelter. Housing for health care workers / medical personnel.

VIETNAMESE HOPE
Housing 100 people -providing a place to stay, food, and assisting in getting food stamps, unemployment, travel, and insurance claims. We do have help from Red Cross and Salvation Army for food. Long-term housing. Long-term placement such as, school enrollment, medical or unemployment (social services).

WOODLAWN and RIVERDALE
Served as shelter for evacuees, collecting clothing, nonperishable food items. Putting spiritual teams together to offer counseling at the Red Cross shelters. Clothing and toiletry donations.

ZOAR
Housing for law enforcement and their families.