15 years ago this weekend our region experienced the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. So many of our people had their homes and/or businesses decimated by the winds and waters of Katrina, and some people lost loved ones. At Celebration, both of the Campuses we had at that time were greatly damaged, and 60% of our members at that time were permanently displaced to other cities and states.
But the Lord brought us back after Katrina, and also after Hurricane Isaac in 2012, and one of the reasons we were able to bounce back as a Church and as a region was because of the compassion and generosity of Christians around our nation and world. So, this year we want to be able to extend that same kind of compassion and generosity to those who are the victims of Hurricane Laura.
To begin with, we’re asking people to bring relief supplies to our Campuses this weekend that we will in turn take to people in the Lake Charles area at the beginning of next week. Relief supplies would be water, non-perishable foods, cleaning products, clean up tools and utensils, baby wipes and diapers, etc. Please don’t bring any clothes. You can bring those disaster relief supplies with you when you come to our In-person services, or you can drop them off at our Campuses on Sunday morning if you are going to be joining us Online for Worship this weekend.
Also, we’re asking people to give generously above their regular Church offering to help hurting people in the Lake Charles region. Now, we need you to continue to give your regular Church offerings to Celebration so we can support missionaries and ministries. But we want people to give to our Disaster Relief effort as well. People can give through other relief organizations, but a great percentage of those monies goes to administrative costs and not directly to the people with needs. But when you give through your Church almost all of the money goes directly to meet the needs of those who have lost so much as a result of the disaster. You can give to support our Hurricane Laura Disaster Relief effort at www.celebrationchurch.org/give and select “Disaster Relief.”
Third, we are forming Disaster Relief Teams to help in the Lake Charles area in the coming days and weeks. We need people with chainsaws who can help people get back into their homes. We need people who are willing to serve in preparing and distributing food and other relief supplies. We need people who are willing to clean out homes. And we need people to help by just praying for and encouraging others. We will send some teams on a one day trip (leaving early on a morning and returning late at night). And we may send some teams on 2-3 day trips. If you’re willing to serve on one of our Disaster Relief Teams, let us know of your interest in assisting in this way by completing the volunteer form. Or you can contact your Campus Pastor and let them know of your interest in serving the Lord and helping people in this way.
Thanks for always being a Church family that demonstrates love and compassion for others. We look forward to seeing this weekend at Celebration as we conclude our REAL CHRISTIANITY IN A CHALLENGING WORLD sermon series, and as we participate in Communion together. If you’re planning on joining us for one of our in-person services, be sure to go to www.celebrationchurch.org/welcomehome and reserve seats for you and your family members and/or friends.
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