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2007-02-20 issue:

Pastors lead drive to rebuild parish

by Mennonite Disaster Service

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PORT SULPHUR, La.—Even though residents are slow to come back to Plaquemines Parish, several pastors in the area are proceeding with rebuilding their church structures.
The first was George Reno, 72, of Lighthouse Fellowship Mennonite Church in Buras. The storm tore down the front doors, blasted the privacy wall and scattered the hymnbooks and pews about the newly laid linoleum tile floor. A sidewall supporting the roof was also damaged, and the roof trusses broke in several places.

When Reno first saw the damage and debris, he felt the place would have to be demolished. But when Mennonite Disaster Service Gulf Coast coordinator Jerry Klassen visited Reno, he inspected the structure and thought otherwise. He proposed to Reno that MDS repair the structure in return for using it to accommodate MDS volunteer teams.

Reno, who lost his house and still lives in a trailer, accepted. Since then, countless volunteers from MDS and other groups have used the building.

Likewise, Teddy Turner, pastor of an African American church, called for help but declared that if he had to he would rebuild his church on his own until it was done.

Faith Temple, supported by Feed My Sheep ministries has built a modern dome, tent-like structure and is proceeding with plans to expand and augment their facilities.

Kerry Eidse, MDS project director in Plaquemines Parish, says, “I have never seen such strong leadership in pastors.”

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