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News from the President
April 2006
It appears a Louisiana tractor beam is tugging at us.
As we’re all aware, Hurricane Katrina roared through New Orleans and the Gulf, wreaking unprecedented devastation throughout its path. Almost eight months later, the area is still digging out from the worst of the damage and beginning what looks to be a years—if not decades—long rebuilding process.
Much of this digging-out and rebuilding work is being done by volunteer groups, many of whom have done CSM work in the past. We are feeling the impact as these groups understandably concentrate their attention on the greatest natural disaster in North American history.
We’ve been asked over the years about establishing a CSM site in New Orleans, as we’ve been asked about many North American cities. For a number of reasons, it was not in our plans; so when Katrina hit, we didn’t attempt to rush into New Orleans. CSM’s ministry is built on a full-time presence developed —none of which existed for us in New Orleans when the devastation hit.
That may be changing. Among the many Louisiana groups that have served with CSM is St. Timothy of the Northshore in Mandeville, on the other side of the lake from New Orleans. Youth leader Andy Durbin is a CSM veteran who in fact approached me about a CSM New Orleans site last summer, months before Katrina hit.
With the needs in New Orleans looking to be long-term, I contacted Andy to ask, “Does CSM New Orleans still look like a good idea after the storm? Are you so inundated with volunteers that we’d be superfluous at best, counterproductive at worst?”
His immediate reply was, “We could use CSM in New Orleans.” Apparently, our style of working through and supporting indigenous organizations is still a new way of thinking in the area. Andy’s opinion is that there is a good chance that CSM could fill a legitimate niche that may not yet be addressed.
We’ll find out more about the possibilities in mid-May, when I will travel to New Orleans for four days and have Andy “take me to school” on the possibilities—meeting with potential ministry partners, housing partners, and others who can help me assess whether or not God is indeed pointing a divine tractor beam our way, designed to pull us into the ongoing rebuilding and ministry efforts in New Orleans.
I would very much appreciate your prayers as we try to figure out what to do. This is really different for us; CSM’s ministry has historically been based on the “hidden mission field” that exists in any urban area, as distinct from responding to a specific need or crisis. But Katrina and its aftermath is a sea change for our continent, and could mean a sea change for our ministry as well.
Thank you in advance for your prayers, friendship, and very much for your financial support. Your partnership really does make a difference!
Blessings,
Noel Becchetti, President
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