Written by Brian Blackwell baptist message staff writer
NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Two teams recently lined up inside Walmart for an unusual Kingdom-inspired shopping challenge. baptist message Have learned.
With the help of a $1,000 grant from the Louisiana World Hunger Fund, student teams from Minor Baptist Church in Sikeston, Missouri, split their money to shop and each filled 25 boxes, then in January It was distributed to poor families in New Orleans. Four.
Jacob Crawford, executive director of City Life NOLA and pastor of City Life Church in New Orleans, said the initiative meets recipients’ basic physical needs and is a way for churches to build relationships. He said it provided an opportunity to pray and share the gospel with others. . Each box contained food, blankets, and hygiene products.
“This not only increased excitement among the team, but also gave us an opportunity to further develop relationships with people who were previously homeless and had recently moved into rental units,” Crawford said. baptist message. “These boxes provide access to meet people you wouldn’t normally meet.”
Adult leader Pam Rowe was amazed at the gratitude expressed by each award recipient.
“One woman we served a meal with said she just called her caseworker because she didn’t have food and was so hungry,” Rowe said. “She told us that God had sent us to her. The next day we met a man who had been blessed with one of the bags from a neighbor that we had left some with. He said it came at just the right time. It’s God.”
Team member Samuel Tyler said he was humbled during the missionary work.
“When I gave them food, I saw the smiles on their faces,” he said. “We take so many things for granted, but they were so grateful. As believers in Christ, we are reminded that we need to continue to give to others in the name of Christ. I did.”
This was MBC’s ninth visit to work with City of Life NOLA. David Mercer, former youth pastor at MBC and current youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Folsom, Louisiana, first connected Missouri youth groups with City of Life NOLA in 2021. He expressed enthusiasm for the missionary work being done in New Orleans. Over the last few years.
“I was thrilled to be on the ground floor when this ministry started, and I loved watching it unfold and grow into what it is today,” Mercer said. Told. “We are delighted that our previous youth are still involved and look forward to connecting with new youth groups.”
In 2023 alone, 367 short-term missionaries in 29 teams helped fulfill City of Life NOLA’s mission. Its mission is to join God in transforming the New Orleans community through disciple-making. This is accomplished through mercy ministry efforts such as food distribution and the establishment of Discovery Bible Studies and a network of microchurches in the central business districts of Central City, the Seventh Ward, New Orleans, Chalmette, and Hammond.
Last year, the ministry celebrated numerous salvations, seven baptisms, 12 discovery Bible studies and the establishment of two micro-churches.
“We are so grateful for the generosity of Louisiana Baptists,” Crawford said. “It would be extremely difficult to do what we do without the support of Georgia Burnett State Missionary Services and World Hunger Relief. Together, we can help change New Orleans through the gospel of Jesus.” You can see it.”
