By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor
COVINGTON – The decision does not come easily for Johnny Huffman of Fairhaven Ministry.
But after seeing the misery and suffering caused by the recent flooding, he will not be sending a Christmas shipping container to Romania for the first time “in 15 years or 16 years.”
“I, with the blessing of others involved, have decided not to ship to Romania in November this year,” said Huffman. “For many who help with the Christmas boxes, we will be directing all of those assets to helping children in the flooded areas at Christmas this year.
“Under the present circumstances, I believe it is the right thing to do,” he said.
While the historic flooding did not affect Huffman and his ministry at Fairhaven, he recognizes a lot of people are hurting at the moment.
“So many who have had their lives completely changed in the past two weeks due to the flooding in South Louisiana. I want to assure everyone our prayers and thoughts are with everyone,” Huffman said. “But we also desire to help as The Lord makes it possible.”
With his considerable contacts across the country and around the world, Huffman is putting the word out for any assistance people can provide.
“To all my friends and contacts, words can’t describe all of the feelings people have in having lost all they own,” he wrote in a note to those friends.
Supplies from Tennessee Baptists are offloaded from trailers by volunteers at Fairhaven Ministry in Covington. The supplies are being distributed to churches and relief centers in the hard-hit Denham Springs area.
Huffman said he was in a shelter/distribution center Aug. 19, delivering supplies, when a gentleman came in.
“The leader of the center went to him and asked if they could help him,” Huffman related. “The gentleman said, ‘We have lost everything. Anything we can have would be appreciated.’”
The heart-wrenching moment is just one of the many stories of desperation unfolding across south Louisiana and it definitely made a profound impression with Huffman.
“It is because of this, and the needs which will want to be met in the months to come,” he said. “I decided to not send the container.”
Since before the rains ended, the collection of items for the needy were being collected.
“In our area, there are many churches/organizations that have been collecting,” Huffman said, “or you can bring items to Fairhaven and we will see they go where they are needed.
“The Lord willing, on Tuesday or Wednesday we have delivery of an eighteen wheeler load of supplies from the Baptist Disaster Relief center in Morristown, Tenn.” said Huffman. “We want to get these supplies to those in need ASAP.
“As you may have noticed, we are getting little or no national media attention, but it really doesn’t matter. I believe the Lord is going to use this situation for His glory,” he said. “The Lord knows our needs and He will provide. I believe our Lord is giving us the opportunity to demonstrate His unconditional love.”
If any in the flooded area have needs or know of others who have needs, Huffman wants people to contact him at Fairhaven by calling him at 985.892.1134; on his cell at 985.264.5052 or, if possible, you can email him at johnny@fairhavenministry.com.
