This is the thirty-third update for the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief fund for the Lake Pontchartrain North Shore. This includes the Covington, Abita Springs, Mandeville, and Slidell, Louisiana area.

Pastor Michael Sprague of Trinity Evangelical Free Church of Covington, LA, has sent an E-Mail update discussing the Church with a new name.

“The Church of the Stained Carpet

A perplexing phenomenon is happening over and over with our work teams at Trinity that has me absolutely dumfounded, not knowing quite what to think. As the groups leave, many profusely thank me for the opportunity they have had to serve, and for the impact Trinity has had in blessing their lives. This seems so backwards. After all, we are the ones limping, crushed, hurting, desperate, and the recipients of their help. It seems to me that we should be thanking the teams one hundred fold for all that they are sacrificing for us. Yet, despite my best attempts at expressing gratitude and appreciation, groups thank me. Here is the pattern that emerged this week:

1. One woman, a church staff member of one of these churches, said, “The people of Trinity are my heroes.” She explained that most churches, including hers, wouldn’t turn their buildings into a Kingdom Mobilization Center with a free store in the worship center and people sleeping all over the building.

2. Another leader nicknamed Trinity, “The church of the stained carpet.” He found delight that the church was manifesting an Acts 2 ministry and wished he didn’t have to leave.

3. Another group leader exclaimed for the first time in his life that he was seeing a church “all used up.” He thought, that is the way church ought to be done.

At Trinity, we are finding a new “normal” for doing church. Our building is not tidy, sanitized, or formal anymore; in fact, at times it may appear trashed from so much use. There is a constant buzz, and decisions flow out of kingdom availability as opposed to creating a “church look.” The building is in constant use from the constant flow of people into the free-store, work teams, and the reengagement of our church ministries. Our calling is to “die daily.” As we surrender to Jesus, He energizes the ministry and makes a way. It may not all be pretty, but it is beautiful to behold. Lives are being transformed and that makes everything worthwhile. This is harvest time and so we choose not to shine-up the tractor, plant the flowers in the garden, or paint the barn now. There may be a time for that later, we hope, but for now we choose to bring in the harvest.

Sharing time during the Sunday service was as electrifying as in past weeks. The stories of God’s new mercies are exceedingly good and we choose to recount these “burning bush” experiences publically.

1. One man, named Gene from Wyoming, told of his team’s experience this week helping a senior woman by clearing a long driveway that had so many trees down upon it you couldn’t even tell where the road was. With great labor, a bobcat, and chainsaws they labored over 2 days clearing a path. The woman was clearly overwhelmed but encouraged that someone would come to her rescue. The last day she had a doctor’s appointment and upon her return they asked her to experience the pleasure of once again driving down the driveway to her home. What she didn’t know was that while she was at her appointment the team lined her driveway with balloons and her porch contained a big sign that read, “Love, Trinity Evangelical Free Church.” Tears of sorrow the day before turned into tears of joy. Isn’t the Kingdom of Jesus worth celebrating? There is nothing like it!

2. We had college groups of 110, 36, 30, and 101 in this week from Trinity Seminary, Moody Bible Institute, Washington Bible College/Capital Bible Seminary, and University of Tennessee. These were among the finest young adults you could find anywhere. They were hardworking, Christ-honoring and servant-hearted. Their enthusiasm was contagious and we would delight in having them return. Many testified to God’s work in their lives. One group got diverted from their work assignment because someone landed on a bee’s nest. Yet, the hospital became their divine appointment. In the waiting room they got to share Christ with several in the hospital. Nothing can stop the work of Christ, not even a hornet’s nest. Yea God!

3. I read the letter in our service from a woman from Michigan who sent us a $5.00 gift certificate though she only makes $130.00 a week with no hope for career advancement. She wanted to help the people in Louisiana who have far less than she has. This modern day woman with “2 mites” blew us all away with her extreme generosity and desire to send more when she can save another $5.00. After the service, someone left me with an envelope to send to this dear saint of Christ. It contained $100.00. You cannot out give God. He is moving among His people so that people are seeing the “manna” of God. I thank God that He is redeeming people’s lives and pocketbooks. Yea God!

I preached from Revelation 3 on the church at Philadelphia. This was the church of the “open door.” We are that church as God has opened a door for us. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. The fish are biting and conversations of eternal consequence are occurring constantly. This is a great work of the Spirit of God. Pray for darkness to be pushed back and lives to be changed forever. There is no endeavor that has higher stakes than the work of investing in people’s lives, souls, and forever’s. Pray for our leaders who are at the helm of the most important ship in the ocean. Pray for our people who yearn to give their best despite brokenness at every level of life. Pray for those despairing from a magnitude of loss that is almost indescribable. Pray for the church to have her finest hour, as Jesus Christ is lifted up and people are driven to him. Pray that God sustains our unity, minds, bodies, hands, feet, so we do not dishonor Him.

Still Betting the Farm on God,

Pastor Michael Sprague (10:53 AM CDT 10/19/05)”

There is still much work to do, and many ministries to fulfill. The winds of revival are still blowing, and there are yet many lives to be changed. Pray for God’s leading and guidance as to how He would have you to help in this ministry.

If you haven’t yet contributed to the combined efforts of this blog and Grace Community Chapel of St. Peters, MO, in raising money for Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Covington, LA, to be distributed locally to the Lake Pontchartrain North Shore area, you will find detailed donation information by clicking here.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 19th, 2005 at 1:13 pm and is filed under Katrina North Shore Relief. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

Tags: Hurricane Katrina, Katrina, New Orleans, North Shore, St. Tammany Parrish