REACHNOLA NOW VISION!
In the summer of 2012, the Student Challenge 2012 Conference ( called C12) will be hosted in New Orleans and we are anticipating there will be a convergence of ministry opportunities that will impact the region with the gospel. Our district team is calling this initiative ReachNOLA NOW. Check out www.reachnolanow.com for more information.
For two decades the EFCA has had a presence through two churches located in the area and then 5 years ago TouchGlobal’s came because of Katrina. TouchGlobal is the compassion crisis response ministry of the Evangelical Free Church of America. These ministries are staying; they continue to rebuild and are planning for the next crisis. Many churches have been down in the past years contributing to the manpower of rebuilding and we are grateful for has been done. But Katrina still has 80% of the damage remaining. Neighborhoods in blight, destruction and many of the spiritual needs never met. Most other ministries and groups have left but the EFCA ministries have not and will not! In light of all of this we see a unique situation like no other and an opportunity to minister in Jesus’ Name!
In NOLA everyone knows another crisis will come, been like that for decades and beyond. In the wake of Katrina we saw thousands of individuals respond to the crisis with a spiritual response but little could be done to meet those needs with only two churches. The EFCA Southeast District has concluded that the Lord is asking our churches to launch a number of new ministries expanding the spiritual base so when next time happens "we are better together" in meeting the needs of the people suffering.
Next summer with the C12 Conference coming, we envision thousands of high schoolers and leaders impacting the metro community. So our district ministries are inviting churches across the United States who have an interest in making a gospel investment by assisting in expanding the number of new churches and help strengthen the ministries in the New Orleans metro area. We see a time of convergence coming to meet growing spiritual needs before and after the next crisis!
Our team on ground, in partnership with EFCA National and International Ministries are coming together with three objectives.
- To launch five new churches by 2012; then another five churches by 2013,
- Strengthen the current ministries already there.
- Continue the rebuilding of a city devastated by so much.
To accomplish these objectives we are asking churches across America to bring teams to NOLA to work alongside of the ministries already in NOLA and partner with the church planters. We envision churches committing to multiple visits in the next two years.
Right now there are three new church planting couples getting settled, gathering people and beginning to plant a new EFCA church. We are in process of talking to Hispanic leaders on placing two families to begin Spanish-speaking churches. We are praying for more workers for the harvest field and it has been exciting to see the hand of God move. The gospel opportunities are great!
Here are some things you can do...
1. Contact: Luther Eatman 913-314-2850 our Gulf Rim Director; Bruce Redmond our District Church Planting Director 719-331-2729, or Glen Schrieber our district superintendent 904-465-2388 or email our district office at info@sed-efca.org.
2. Go to www.efcastartsoutheast.org under the resource tab and download a brochure on how your church, small group, women’s group, Sunday School class, or neighborhood families for the contact information to see how they can help. Room and board can be worked out, bring your tools, your friends, families and invest yourself for the gospel. Our churches will work alongside of you on this project but teams need to be scheduled quickly. This brochure will be available at the EFCA National Leadership Conference.
3. Commit to come, pray and invest. Pray for workers, raise up a team and come to help expand the gospel witness by helping new churches gather people, prayer walking, working with families, children, distributing information and strengthen the existing ministries!
4. Ask the question, Lord, what would you have us do?
5. Check out www.sed-efca.org, www.efcastartsoutheast.org and www.efca.org web sites for more information. This is convergence, for "such a time as this".