Gulf Coast Work Project
Our member Sissy Gibbs with Rev. Hadley Edwards of Bethany UMC
Our 7th New Orleans Work Team Went in October 2008
Hello Patricia,
Yes, we are home! We landed on Sunday at 8 p.m. safe and sound from mission work with people of Mount Zion. The mission was wonderful success. The team accomplished more than they ever thought they would from our first look at things last Sunday. Our Team was 3 in their 70's, 3 in their 60's and two in their 40's, and I must say that everyone pulled his or her weight and then some!! The team mostly gutted the sanctuary and surrounding rooms. Lot's of water damaged plaster board, books, papers, old furnaces, sheet rock, rotten wood, we filled a 40 yard dumpster!! Moved furniture and savable items to a storage facility. Re-built a fence that had been damaged by Ike and Gustaf. We worshiped at Bethany UMC on our first Sunday and gave them $ 1,500.00 toward their Health Ministry which Pastor Edwards, which he was not expecting, it was a wonderful service as they were honoring the youth ministry's. Rev. Edwards is a wonderful man and truly loves the fact that we have not forgotten about the people of Bethany United Methodist Church or for that matter the people of New Orleans.
Pastor Connie Thomas was also delighted with work that the team had accomplished. She said that " we were the light that got their re-building fire lit." They signed the contract with the Building Contractor yesterday and she felt such a lift in the congregation's spirits - it was indescribable. A lot of the congregation was there for this moment I think. Larry and I presented the Building Committee with a check for $17,500.00 toward the refurbishment of their alter, the new roof, and the re-building of their chancel area.
Yes it was a wonderful mission and our next adult mission will be the week after Easter and then again in October for another week. There is work still to be done all over the city. It was a wonderful trip for me personally because I was able to lead the team to places that they never would have gone and for the leadership on the work site for which they would have been at a loss. There are so many things that go in to a mission project that I learned, it not just about doing the work but so much more!
Thanks for believing in me. I hope we made FUMC of Santa Monica PROUD.
BE THE HOPE!
In his name,
Jon Ward,
Team Leader
Our Member Sissy Gibbs Recently Visit Our Partner Church in New Orleans
Dear Reverend Edwards,
It was a wonderful experience for me to celebrate mass with you and your congregation, last Sunday! And what a special day it was, in so many ways, . saluting the Veterans, welcoming a new member to your church, rejoicing and praying for the President Elect. I felt surrounded by warmth and true welcome in your sanctuary and I enjoyed talking to some of people after the service. Thank you for your time showing me around your newly restored church.
Seeing some of the photos, how it looked after the Kartina devastation, it made me aware of how far you have come. And it made me feel proud, that our church was involved in helping in the restoration. And will be continuing in the future. I congratulate your community for having such an energetic, charismatic and inspiring leader. With Christian Love, Sissy Gibbs
Read letters from Rev. Edwards.
GCWT
I Photos Youth
GCWT (team II) Photos GCWT
III Photos
Click
here to view photos of the damage
to Bethany UMC after Hurricane Katrina.
Support
Our Gulf Coast Partnership
A Report From a Member of GCWT IV
by
Julia Wallace
New Orleans, Louisiana: A city so rich in culture and diversity. A place where jazz music beats down the streets and the jumping sound of street performers echoes across the town. New Orleans has been a symbol of the uniqueness of the United States for years. Read
the full article... |
| Team III and Steering Committee Member Shares FUMC's
Third Experience in New Orleans
by
Jim Krause
The twenty-one member combined Gulf Coast Work Project team
from Culver Palms, Church at Ocean Park, and First United
Methodist Church returned to California victorious in their
projects and committed to the ongoing work of GCWP. It was
truly a transformative week for the team members. Read
the full article... |
| New Orleans Church Reopens 'Blessed, Beautiful' After Storm
by
Betty Backstrom
Almost
a year and two months after Hurricane Katrina struck, Bethany
United Methodist Church rededicated its newly renovated worship
center. During the 2005 storm, the church's sanctuary and
buildings sustained almost 11 feet of standing flood water.
"Bethany is back. We're blessed, bigger and beautiful,"
said the Rev. Hadley Edwards, who led the Oct. 22 service,
which also marked the church's 49th anniversary.
Read
the full article... |
How You Can Support Our Gulf Coast Partnership
You may contribute at church on Sunday mornings, by stopping at
the church office anytime
or by mailing your gift. If writing a check, be sure to write "Gulf
Coast Teams" on the memo line. To contribute by credit card,
click on Support
Our Gulf Coast Partnership. To learn about our programs of getting
support through emails, click on Instructions
for Sending Appeals for Support.
For
more information about Bethany UMC and the efforts along the Gulf
Coast, visit these links and stay tuned for further updates about
our teams on this page.
Friends
of Bethany UMC Website
The
New Orleans District
The
Louisiana Storm Recovery Website
The
Louisiana Conference
Santa
Monica Daily Press article May 13, 2006
You will need Adobe
Acrobat Reader to view this article. If this link does not work
for you, please visit www.smdp.com and view their "E"dition
Archives to find the May 13th issue.
Coastal
ministries need support through appeal, bishop says
UMNS Article that features Bethany UMC and Rev. Hadley Edwards
The
Katrina Church Recovery Appeal
Gulf Coast Partnership Report
Contributions: From within FUMC $31,272
From other churches 22,342
From outside individuals and groups 7,748
Total income 61,362
Expense:
Landscaping at Bethany UMC (inclusive) 42,526
Gifts to Bethany (chairs, Bibles, baptismal font, etc) 4.056
Misc. work supplies (paint, glass, gutting supplies) 1,322
Work Team expense (food, vans, insurance, etc) 4,703
Donation to host church 1,000
Fundraising costs 1,115
Total expense 54,722
(Note: Income and outgo for the Youth team’s own non-work
expense is not included in the above figures.)
Support
Our Gulf Coast Partnership
|
