By Message Staff
LAPLACE/RESERVE – Since early Thursday, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams have completed work in LaPlace and Reserve on eight homes, tarping the roofs and removing debris and cutting down tree limbs, according to Billy Puckett, director of community ministry at New Orleans Baptist Association. Puckett is also coordinating Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief efforts in St. John the Baptist Parish. Two chainsaw teams, one tarp team and three assessor teams that include a chaplain with each assessor team are working the area.
Puckett said they will continue their effort at least through the weekend. At which time, they will determine if will still be needed since many other organizations are coming to the aid of storm victims.
Puckett said the unity portrayed by the faith-based community and the residents of St. John the Baptist Parish has been evident, not just in work on homes but in a prayer service held at Percy Hebert Building in LaPlace. More than 100 people attended the service. The various denominations are rotating days and times of feeding the community, Puckett said.
“This community is very familiar with disaster relief,” Puckett said. “A lot of neighbors who didn’t receive any damage are helping out their neighbors who are. Seeing neighbor helping neighbor is certainly inspiring and that’s one reason our workload may not be as much as usual in a disaster relief response.”
Even though the teams are progressing with their work, Puckett is asking for prayers as they continue giving a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name.
“Pray for us,” Puckett said. “Pray for the gospel to make headway, and for people to be open to the gospel because of the way churches are serving them.”
