Covington, LA Updates

News to the GBC Congregation regarding Covington Relief

Covington Update - 3/15/06

Some wonderfully encouraging news and a prayer request from Alfred and Marie Young in Covington, LA.

Good news! - the insurance company has decided to give FBC a "good faith" check for $224,000.00 toward renovation of the Gym building. Once renovations have begun, the rest of the insurance money will be forwarded. The leadership at FBC has decided to "bank" this check so that the summer camp will not be impacted. They will use the time between now and mid-August to solicit architect's plans and bids for contractors. Actual construction would start, Lord willing, in late August.

Prayer needed! - Marie Young has very high blood pressure...so high that the doctors want to hospitalize her. Pray that she can change her diet and lifestyle to lower this and that there would be wisdom for the doctors caring for her.

Let us together bring our thanks and petitions to our gracious God and Savior.

Covington Update - 1/24/06

Kevin Dyer (of Bright Hope) recently returned from a trip to Faith Bible Chapel (FBC) and Covenant Christian Church (CCC) and extended time with Alfred (& Marie) Young and Terry Sistruck.

The following are highlights of his observations of God’s work in and through these churches and in the larger community.

• Bit by bit a plan for the physical facilities seems to emerging - Some details include:
• The insurance companies handling FBC’s claim have promised $268,000 toward the renovation of the two FBC buildings. Alfred estimates that a complete renovation of just the Gym portion (including replacement of dilapidated kitchen equipment and furnishings) will come to about $300,000+. It is their hope to tackle this project first using primarily volunteer labor from various church work groups.
• The folks at FBC would like to renovate the “church” portion of the FBC building and turn it into a “Youth Center”. This work would include replacement of floors and roof. Money for this project would have to be raised from donations outside the local Christian community.
• The leadership of FBC and CCC would like to build a new “Sanctuary” building that would be shared by both churches. Currently, CCC pays almost $5000/mo in rent to the owner of their building and the “shared usage” of one building by both churches would enable them to build and own facilities good for the foreseeable future.
• Terry Sistruck has been a wonderful administrative addition to Alfred. His tenure was to be limited to the immediate cleanup and orientation, but both Alfred and he believe it would be of the LORD to have Terry work “full-time” in this capacity. Terry continues to coordinate work teams that come from various parts of the U.S. and will be the coordinator of the “summer children’s program” in 2006.
• The status and health of both FBC and CCC continues to fluctuate on a daily basis. Over 50 church folks from CCC have had to move in order to secure jobs in other areas of the country. About 35 people have left FBC for similar reasons. While many people began attending during the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, some of these have “drifted away”. This has caused discouragement.
• Financially, the Youngs and Sistrucks live very much by faith. Alfred cannot begin to express how much he and Marie are thankful for the continued support of the GBC family. The combined support for the Youngs from both churches averages about $2000/mo. The Sistrucks will have to raise their support almost entirely from outside the local Christian community.

GBC will be asked to provide some oversight and expertise once insurance monies have begun to flow. Much of this might happen during the summer months. But the priority seems to be Gym - first, Old building - second, new building - third.

Please pray.

Additional note - While in Covington, Alfred showed Kevin Dyer one of the FEMA trailers being erected to provide temporary housing. Each trailer costs $21,000 initially and another $21,000 in site work for installation. Providing $42,000 to a family to renovate a damaged home would be (in Alfred’s eyes) a much more effective use of money. There is much money being spent by the government but on solutions that are temporary at best. Pray that God’s people would remain upbeat, focused and wise in the continued effort to serve His people and His world.

Covington Update - November 24

- The folks are beginning to deal with the fact that long-term improvement is still a long way off. As a result many are getting discouraged and depressed by the lack of prospects and bleakness of the future and are actively searching for ways to leave the area.

- The folks at Faith have received great support from their insurance adjusters. The Insurance agent is having an engineer survey the building to ascertain the most cost efficient approach to repair and recovery. The insurance company will pay for a new roof, interior ceilings, paint and repair to the roof of the Gym building or provide $ instead if they choose this route.

- The larger community is still in recovery with many stories of insurance and contractor fraud emerging.

- Alfred & Marie are very thankful for God's supply via GBC.

October 26, 2005

-The Faith Bible Church (FBC) Elders have met frequently and after prayer and fasting have determined that the best course of action is to tear down the FBC building and put up a "structure that gives honor and glory to God."

-This past Sunday they presented this to the congregation and after some resistance (there are many memories attached to the building), the consensus was unanimous to proceed in this direction.

-Every week there are more new visitors and returning attendees such that the main service at FBC was packed out.

-God has brought another gifted music minister who is working very well with Marie and has provided a good uplift to the church.

-Each Tuesday evening the Elders and ministry leaders meet for prayer and planning. This is a wonderful thing that has provided focus to the the church and its people.

-At Covenant Christian Church (CCC) there is good attendance but the future of many who are members there is very uncertain. Many of the members of that church lost their jobs in New Orleans and have yet to find replacement jobs.

-Alfred requests prayer for God-given wisdom in making critical decisions in the absence of visible date.

-Alfred is very thankful for God's provision of the computers and financial support from the folks at GBC. And sends his greetings.

Covington Update -October 7, 2005

What are items of praise...

• Praise God for raising up FBC as a community distribution center for food and supplies.
• Praise God for reestablishing basic services to the area.
• Praise God for allowing the Christians to “be the church” to those who have lost everything.

What’s happened so far...

• Prayed for God’s preserving grace for the believers at Faith Bible Church...
• Provided for Alfred & Marie Young’s personal expenses...
• Purchased two computers for ministry purposes...
• Desktop for FBC financials and communications
• Laptop for “on site” communication & reporting

What are current prayer needs...

• Pray for strength in dealing with many physical and emotional needs of the believers in Covington...
• Pray for grace to reach out to those who are seeing their need of God in times of uncertainty...
• Pray for those who are still out of work and wondering where to live...
• Pray for wisdom for the leadership regarding what to do with the FBC building...
• Option A - renovate
• Option B - tear down and rebuild

 

Covington Update - September 29

• 15-20 homes of Christians have endured moderate to extensive damage.
• Problem - FEMA is encouraging people to abandon their homes and use temporary housing/mobile homes brought in for this purpose
• Alfred is encouraging folks to stay in the community and work to rehab their own homes
• Most of these folks had no insurance for repair
• Electricity is sporadic. Gas for cooking has yet to be restored
• This means that refrigerators and freezers do not work or can’t be counted on to preserve food.
• Food is cooked on grilles using purchased propane.
• It is hot and humid in Covington.
• Terry Sustrunk has been hired to provide admin support to Alfred and coordinate the short-term teams. He is an enormous help and a big answer to prayer.
• Alfred is requesting the purchase of new computers: a laptop that he can carry with him and a desktop that will replace the computers that were fried during the electrical spikes during the hurricane.

September 27, 2005 - LISTEN to Alfred's sermon from April, 2004 - see the "hear the word" page!

September 16, 2005

In the last week the GBC Elders and Missions Committee have made two decisions regarding the use of money given to Covington Relief. These decisions support the strategic plans of a group of churches that have ties to Alfred & Marie Young and the Christians in Covington.

#1 - We will provide personal financial support for Alfred and Marie over the course of the next six months to cover them until the local churches they lead can resume their care. This support will be reviewed each month to ensure that the Youngs are cared for and able to continue their vital leadership in the Church and community.

#2 - We will begin a strategic study of projects that we can finance and personally encourage in the next year. This will include funding renovations of the Faith Bible Church (FBC) building and of Christians home damaged by the hurricane. Additionally, we will explore ways to encourage the work of FBC, looking at job creation and evangelistic outreach to the larger community.

Over the past several weeks God has granted to our stewardship over $30,000 dollars to our brothers and sisters in Covington. We believe He has given us a unique relationship and opportunity for mutual ministry with them. We invite the prayers of God’s people for wisdom, grace and diligence in the faithful discharge of this responsibility.

We believe that we will send several short-term teams to FBC in the coming year to see these plans to their God-given conclusion. While we are not alone in doing this work, we are grateful for God’s work in giving us a “heart” for the work and for this area and a “will” to do His work.

We invite the prayers of God’s people in this endeavor.

The GBC Elders & Missions Committee