By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Two teams recently lined up inside a Walmart for an unusual Kingdom-minded shopping challenge, the Baptist Message has learned.
Using a $1,000 grant from the Louisiana World Hunger Offering, the student teams from Miner Baptist Church, Sikeston, Missouri, split the money and went on a shopping spree to each fill 25 boxes that were then distributed to needy families in New Orleans, Jan. 4.
Jacob Crawford, executive director of City Life NOLA and pastor of City Life Church, New Orleans, said the effort met basic physical needs of the recipients and provided opportunities to pray with and share the Gospel with individuals with whom his church was trying to develop relationships. Each box contained food, a blanket and hygiene items.
“This not only built excitement among the teams, but it gave us an opportunity to further relationships with individuals who previously were homeless and had recently moved into a rental unit,” Crawford told the Baptist Message. “These boxes provide access for us to meet people we usually wouldn’t.”
Adult leader Pam Lowe was amazed at how the appreciation expressed by each recipient.
“One lady that we gave a meal to told us that she had just called her caseworker because she had no food and was so hungry,” Lowe said. “She told us that God sent us to her. The next day we came across a man who was blessed with one of the bags from his neighbor that we left a few with and he said it came at just the right time. That’s God.”
Team member Samuel Tyler said he was humbled during the ministry outreach.
“When we gave them the food we could see the smile on their faces,” he said. “We take so much for granted but they were so appreciative. As a believer in Christ, I’m reminded that we need to keep giving to those in His name.”
This was the ninth trip MBC has taken to work with City of Life NOLA. David Mercer, the previous youth pastor with MBC and current youth pastor with First Baptist Church, Folsom, Louisiana, first connected the Missouri youth group with City of Life NOLA in 2021. He expressed enthusiasm about the mission work that has taken place in New Orleans over the last few years.
“I was thrilled to death to be on the ground floor when this ministry started and I have loved watching it unfold and grow into what it has become today,” Mercer said. “I am glad that my previous youth are still involved and look forward to getting my new youth group connected.”
In 2023 alone, 367 short-term missionaries composing 29 teams helped City of Life NOLA fulfill its mission, which is to join God in transforming communities in New Orleans through disciple-making. This is accomplished through compassion ministry efforts like the food distribution and the establishment of a network of discovery Bible studies and micro churches in Central City, the 7th Ward and the Central Business District of New Orleans, Chalmette and Hammond.
Last year, the ministry celebrated numerous salvations, seven baptisms, establishment of 12 discovery Bible studies and two micro churches.
“We are so thankful for the generosity of Louisiana Baptists,” Crawford said. “It would be extremely difficult to do what we do without the help of the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering and World Hunger Offering. Together, we can see New Orleans transformed through the Gospel of Jesus.”
