Sunday (we have arrived)

We arrived on Sunday morning and started off with service at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church (FABC.) For those of you that know me you know I grew up Catholic. I'm not here to knock any one's religious beliefs but ohh weee this church is different than what I'm used to and I loved it. There was no chanting, sitting, kneeling and standing, just singing and dancing and a whole lot of heart. They made you feel welcomed. If there were any visitors to the church, Pastor Luter had them stand and the church recognized them as welcomed guests. You could tell the church was more than happy to have Crossroads there to help out the people of their community and church.

Pastor Luter spoke with so much passion. His word was derived from a situation that happened in their community on Father's Day this year. A fight broke out in the park next to FABC (actually the same place we had our BBQ on Friday) and ended on the steps of their church. A 17 year old boy was shot and killed that night by another group of kids. (Read the story here http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2010/06/new_orleans_cops_shoot_teen_12.html ) Pastor Luter spoke about how the people of the church could reach out into the community. How the younger generation is lost, they want to know what's in it for them to go to church, when the older generation didn't ask questions; they went to church because they had to. He wanted to know how something so horrible could happen on the steps of his church. Pastor Luter is deeply rooted in the community. When President Bush came down to talk to city leaders after Katrina he also spoke with Pastor Luter. It was as if Pastor Luter felt somewhat responsible for what had happen and he and the church were ready to find a solution.

The solution was just what myself and Crossroads were there for. We were there to take the church to the streets. To show the people of New Orleans that we cared. We came by bus from Cincinnati to show them that we still care. That we want to be a blessing to them. Knowing we won't reach everyone, but hoping to reach at least one person to make a difference in their world.

Although I was tired and dirty the service was definitely uplifting, we were able to see people get baptised, meet people we would be working with through the week, and see how they get down in New Orleans.