Disaster relief and church planting on the Gulf Coast
August 12, 2009
The Rev. Curt Moore of Lagniappe Presbyterian Church in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi has been named Mission to North America’s Disaster Response Specialist for the Gulf Coast Region. This past spring Lagniappe Church made a transition out of relief work and is now focused solely on development as a church plant and as a ministering presence in the community. Much confusion about this still exists. Every couple of weeks someone comments to me about “Lagniappe shutting down.” This is not the case. Please read this excerpt from Curt Moore’s latest newsletter, courtesy of MNA:
After hosting more than 17,000 volunteers since hurricane Katrina, Lagniappe Church has moved from relief to development. According to Pastor Jean Larroux, “Lagniappe embarks on exciting transition….Over 20 new homes….over 400 rebuilds/rehabs….more sheds than we could count….and nearly 17,000 volunteers- God has done wonderful things in Bay St. Louis. God is doing something else wonderful now! I As I have told hundreds of volunteer teams, ‘Lagniappe is NOT a construction company, we ARE a church.’ That truth has never been more evident.” You would think that after participating in relief work for almost four years Curt would be ready to move on like an evacuee away from the path of an approaching storm, however that’s not the case. These years of service have provided Curt with a renewed desire to move toward the brokenness and need of individuals with the love of Christ. “The Church has become relevant for many non-believers,” says Curt. “When the declaration of the love of God is wed with the demonstration of that same love it is a powerful apologetic. Many people have come to know Christ as a result of their experience with suffering and loss. It provides an incredible bridge for the Gospel. I look forward to serving in a region with such profound need and opportunity.”
On a related note, MNA Disaster Relief offers summer internships on the Gulf Coast. You college students out there, think about this.
Lagniappe update
December 5, 2006
During 2006 FPC Kosciusko sent four teams to work with Lagniappe Presbyterian Church in Bay St. Louis, and some of our folk went down on their own at other times to lend a hand. We’ve also made them an enourmous charcoal grill and sent tools, supplies and money down there. Thanks be to God for how he has blessed us all in 2006.
Don’t forget this work of gospel restoration on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Jean Larroux is asking for ‘prayer tithes’ from supporting churches and individuals, i.e., people who will commit to use 10% of their prayer time interceding for Lagniappe. It’s a good idea. Count me in. Check up on the work by logging on to www.lagniappechurch.com.
FPC and Lagniappe PC, Bay St. Louis
August 8, 2006
It has been said that there is no such thing as bad publicity. Well, perhaps that statement deserves some critique, but there is a bit of publicity about our most recent Lagniappe trip to work alongside our brethren with the Lagniappe PC mission work in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. A clarification is in order: Despite what the blog entry indicates, there is no name change in the works for our church! I am merely the victim of Andy Chapman’s twisted sense of humor.
