A Letter to a member of our Gulf Coast Steering Committee
from Rev. Hadley Edwards, Pastor Bethany UMC, New Orleans
February 14, 2007

To all of our Partner Churches, Pastors, and Friends,

In the early hours of the morning (3:30 a.m. February 13, 2007) Several New Orleans Neighborhoods were hit by a TORNADO! Pontchartrain Park was hit resulting in one fatality. However the blessings of the Lord was on Bethany Church and the Tornado dipped down 2 blocks to the west of us and dipped a second time 2 blocks east of us. Not a blade of grass was out of place at the Church---Thanks be to God.

I am constantly reminded of the reasons I have shared with each of you why it is important for Bethany Church to be a viable presence in this community. Although the neighborhood was left looking like a wrecking yard by Katrina, I still see a Renaissance before us.

My email to you today is to thank you again and to give you an update on how Bethany is at work and your efforts are at work with us as we do ministry and mission here in New Orleans.

The electricity in the area of the church came on about 1:30 p.m; I got back to the church about 2:00 p.m. realizing that Bethany had to do something to help the people living in the FEMA trailers in this community after this disaster! It was constantly in my heart that God spared us for a reason this time! With cell phone in hand I started calling on my Bethany Believer Bees. I called telling them that I needed them to get to the church and on your way you stop and bring bread....Chicken....salad fixings....Cokes......ice.......Cookies...etc and the meal was on. I quickly got on the computer made and printed flyers to put out in the community and a mission project was birthed by Bethany again.

At 6:00 p.m. the "hungry and storm torn" began walking through the doors of Bethany Church. We were able to feed, and comfort 84 people of all ages who had been through a terrrible storm in those trailers. Your hands joined our hands as we wiped tears, washed little children's hands and offered food and drink to these our "broken again" brothers and sister.

Our Health Ministry was quickly able to set up a blood pressure screening station in the Narthex and we became the real essence of what I envision Christ calling the church to do and to be in such times as these. We are called to a ministry of Body, Mind, and Soul. Oh what a comfort we (ALL OF US TOGETHER--YOU INCLUDED) were able to be on such a terrible day in the lives of hurting people.

If I haven't said it lately, let me resoundly say it TODAY! Thank you friends, Thank you PARTNERS for your love and coming to us in such a time of our need. When we share, when we give back it is all because and Christ and the Christ that lives in YOU! We are the FEMA (First Efficient Methodist Association) of Pontchartrain park.
Pastorally Submitted,
Your Pastor, Shepherd & Friend,
Hadley R. Edwards

A Letter to a member of our Gulf Coast Steering Committee
from Rev. Hadley Edwards, Pastor Bethany UMC, New Orleans
January 28, 2007

Cindy,

It is so nice hearing from you. We are doing great! The church's renovations are nearly completed, I am having the hardest time "making the contractors leave"! It seems like they just don't want to leave. I tell them they are more than welcome to come join the church. The painter comes to pray every Friday and leaves his tithes on the altar.

Pastor Young sent 8 quilts and I have given them out, they have gone to persons living in the FEMA trailers, Senior Citizens, and a 100 year old in a nursing home in Nashville, TN. For those in the FEMA trailers they are providing a little more warmth during these cold nights we are having here. You all have been such wonderful partners to us. I realize more each day that where we are today would not have been possible with out your hands of love. We are still the only church open in about a 10 mile radius. We are having lot of visitors to come on Sundays. We have taken in 20 new members since we started back in March 2006. That is quite good for a devastated community.

Please continue to spread the news of our struggle in New Orleans. The Struggle is NOT over yet. Many people are dying from the stress. We had a 41 year old mother of two who died of severe stroke and was buried by Bethany Church last week. The stress of jobs, houses, and daily living in this "primitive environment" is a challenge.

Bethany Church has come back and we have had two Mission Projects: one to poor children and another of feeding poor people in the Public Housing complex near downtown. We are going to do everything in our power to help bring back a reformed NEW ORLEANS. We understand what it means to "Miss New Orleans" This is a long way from being the Big Easy--This is more rightly called the "Big Survival."

Keep us in your prayers. Come when you can. Send more soldiers to this battlefield when you can.

Pastorally Submitted,
Your Pastor, Shepherd & Friend,
Hadley R. Edwards