ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE TIMES PICAYUNE NEWSPAPER ON NEW YEAR’S DAY THERE WAS AN ARTICLE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT ONCE AGAIN NEW ORLEANS IS THE MURDER CAPITAL OF OUR NATION. Although there were a number of larger cities in the U.S. that had more murders than the 199 that occurred in New Orleans in 2011, percentage wise New Orleans is far and away at the top of the list in this very frightening category. In spite of all of the efforts of our New Orleans Police force, there is still a “culture of death” in our city that affects us all in a negative way.

There have been many positive changes that have occurred in our city and region in the years following Hurricane Katrina. The economy of our region has been better than the vast majority of other regions in our nation. Corruption has been exposed and rooted out time after time. We appear to have competent leadership in New Orleans and the surrounding parishes. Our regional educational systems, especially in Orleans Parish, have improved in significant ways. There appears to be less racism and classism in our region. And there is definitely a greatly solidarity among the pastors and churches of our region.

Yet, with all of the good that has happened in our region in the past six years, there is still a great need for the help and intervention of God so that we can become a godlier, safer and even more prosperous city and region. And we secure the Lord’s help through prayer and fasting. There are several ways that you can participate in helping to bring an increase in the Lord’s help and intervention to our city and region in 2012.

WE CAN SECURE MORE OF GOD’S HELP FOR OUR CITY AND REGION BY BECOMING STRONGER CHRISTIANS. What would help our region more than anything else would be for all professing Christians to rise up and become the mighty men and women of God (Difference-makers) that the Lord has called us to be.

In order to help you get a great start and become a stronger Christian in 2012, our Pastoral Staff has put together an E-book for the month of January titled MAKING A DIFFERENCE. This E-book, which can be accessed by visiting our church website (www.celebrationchurch.org), provides Scripture readings, devotional thoughts, and suggested prayers for every day in January. We are confident that if you utilize the MAKING A DIFFERENCE Devotional and Journal every day in January, you will be a stronger believer than when the new year started.

WE CAN SECURE MORE OF GOD’S HELP FOR OUR CITY AND REGION BY PRAYING WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS. We have a special opportunity to do just that on Saturday, January 7, as hundreds of Christians from Churches across our region gather together at our Celebration Airline Drive Campus (beginning at 9 am) for a “Sacred Assembly.” This “Sacred Assembly” will focus God’s people on worshiping the Lord, reading Scripture, and praying for our city, region, state and nation. I encourage you to join Christians from other Churches in this collaborative effort to intercede on behalf of our region, state and nation.

WE CAN ALSO SECURE MORE OF GOD’S HELP FOR OURSELVES AND OUR LOVED ONES BY PARTICIPATING IN OUR CHURCH’S UPCOMING FASTING AND PRAYER EFFORT. Beginning on Monday, January 9, our Church family will spend 12 days really focusing on praying to the Lord and seeking to experience His purposes, plans, power, provision and protection in fresh new ways in our lives, families, church and region. Information about different ways to “fast” as well as pray can be found in the MAKING A DIFFERENCE E-book. Be sure to dedicate those 12 days (January 9-20) to pursuing the Lord and His will in an intense way, and not only will you be changed, but circumstances and relationships will also be changed.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN BRINGING HELP, HOPE AND HEALING TO THE PEOPLE AND CULTURE OF OUR CITY AND REGION. Participate in the above mentioned activities, and become a “Difference-maker” for God and in the lives of others in 2012.