By Baptist Message staff
WELSH, La. (LBM) – Shortly after Hurricane Delta made its way through Louisiana in September 2020, a team from First Baptist Church, Golden Meadow, arrived at First Baptist Church, Welsh, and fed hundreds of community members over a three-day period.
Now, the church at Golden Meadow has suffered damage from Hurricane Ida, so the Welsh congregation plans to give back to the people who offered so much to their area.
FBCW Pastor Pat Deshotel said members designated $3,000 to donate to the Golden Meadow church in memory of member Claude Fontenot, who served as pastor there from 1961-1982 and died in August.
“They came to help us right after the hurricane last year and we wanted to return the favor by paying it forward,” Deshotel told the Baptist Message. “The Bible tells us to love one another and I can’t think of a better way of obeying that commandment than showing love to that church.”
First Baptist Welsh is among the many churches that are giving back to those impacted by Ida.
Others interested in donating money to disaster relief efforts can click here to donate online, or send such gifts by mail: Louisiana Baptist Convention, P.O. Box 311, Alexandria, Louisiana.
Volunteers are needed to serve on chainsaw, assessor, mud-out, tarp and chaplaincy teams. Individuals can sign up online via this link or call 1 (800) 410-3492.
Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team Director John Hebert said some of the most pressing needs are for propane fuel, gasoline and water. A more in-depth list can be accessed online.
“The need for essential supplies is staggering,” Hebert told the Baptist Message. “Louisiana churches should collect everything they can collect for the area and call us for a location to send them to for immediate. Gas is slowly coming back where they run generator power and most service stations can only run one pump. There are massive lines down there at stations. Please pray about where you can help.”
