By Brian Blackwell,vMessage Staff Writer
DENHAM SPRINGS – James Carson is calling all soul winners to join him at Northside Baptist Church in spreading the Gospel to those hurting after recent flooding in south Louisiana.
“We need all the help and prayers and support we can get,” said Carson, interim pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Denham Springs. “We as a church are looking at this opportunity not only of ministering to the physical needs of people but more importantly to the spiritual needs and trying to win people all over this community to Jesus Christ. We will put forth a really hard effort to get that done in our community here.
“And we welcome any soul winners to come and join us in this effort,” he added. “We would appreciate that.”
Nearly four feet of water came inside the worship center at Northside Baptist Church in mid-August. Nearly everything from pews to hymnals to carpet is ruined, except for the baby grand piano, an organ and the Bible sitting atop the Lord’s Supper table.
“We are most grateful that our grand piano and organ was spared as they are used to glorify our Lord with leading our praise to Him in worship,” Carson said. “We also are grateful the large family Bible on the communion table was spared as Northside Baptists are a people of the Book. We believe that the Word of God is ‘a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.’”
Most of the congregation is at least 70 years old. Carson believes some may never return to Denham Springs while others are limited in their ability to help clean up inside the facility, which is why he is heavily dependent on help from many outside his congregation.
Already, a team from First Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala., has committed to help clean the inside of the facility as well as assisting in the restoration efforts.
Carson is asking for additional volunteers as Northside Baptist Church strives to position itself to reach its community with the Gospel.
“There are many in our community who are unchurched and unsaved,” he said. “We want our church to have a positive impact on those who are hurting in order to build relationships with the community that will result in sharing the Gospel message of salvation to the unsaved and to reclaim those believers who are unchurched.”
To help Northside Baptist Church in their rebuilding efforts contact Carson at 318.547.0785.
