K.C. Wahe - Follower of Jesus, Husband, Father, Pastor, Student, Blogger

Mark continues his series on the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  Please give it a read. It’s good stuff. 

Found this here. Have come to learn that Petra has made it official. These old guys are retiring. 33 years. These guys are and have been a blessing to the world of Christian music. I must confess. I was a Petra fan. The only song I can remember, "More Power To Ya."

Here’s another picture of a church affected by Katrina…Pray for our friends here in Lakeshore, MS. Visit the pastors blog here. Again. Nothing to say. My list of possible youth group mission trip locations continues to grow…

Before

After 

I can’t help but remember the last line of my statement of faith I had to write for ordination, rewrite, and write again…"Come, Lord Jesus, Come."

Christ Episcopal Church Bay St. Louis, MS Before

Christ Episcopal Church Bay St. Louis, MS After

Nothing else to say.

Visit their web site here for information about supporting this church. Just another of the many churches who need our prayers and support. You can also view more photos here.

Found this (Click on a box to get a satelite image of the areas most affected by Katrina) on a Mississippi news web site. Found this here.

Prior to my time at Princeton Seminary, I spent 18 months hanging out with APU finishing up a 12 year attempt at finishing college. APU is doing something pretty amazing. If you got the time check this out and pass it along.

Found this on Pastor Carol’s blog. Steve, Pastor Tod and Mark have excellent posts on recent events in the South and ways we can help. Tod posted this site, an excellent site to keep us up to date on the needs within the South.
 

With all of the Katrina stuff happening in our world I’ve not finished
a post I started a few weeks ago about something I heard in a small group of pastors.
The idea of leading means that there are times in a pastors life that
he or she has to take some lumps from those they lead. It means
honestly sitting and trying to understand a persons point of view.
Leading also means being able to admit when you’ve blown it. One
mentor friend refers to this trait of leadership as "keeping short
accounts." When a person feels loved, that you know them through and
through, you’ve in my opinion have earned the right to lead them. They
might disagree with you in some areas, but if they know they are loved, they are more inclined to follow. Leading also means there are times you just might not get your way. You might feel the Lord has blessed you with an awesome vision for reaching the world for Christ, but you might have to wait for another day and another to unveil that vision. This is something I’ve truly learned in my young ministry.

In a few hours we will arise and drive to the coast for a weekend family camp with our church. I have to admit that it will be nice to be away from the television, radio, and Internet. I’m overwhelmed and exhausted by the amount of trauma that we’ve witnessed over the last several days knowing what we see and hear is only a fraction of what is happening. I feel helpless. All I can do is pray and encourage my brothers and sisters here at home to consider as others are doing the possibility of partnering with a church in the south. Even if it is as simple as giving of our money with the hopes of helping rebuild a church community in need.

The following was another phone conversation sent to me by one of Pastor Toby Nelson’s friends…

“I and other relief workers caravanned into New Orleans in 16 minivans, snaking through a circuitous route into the heart of the city. All along the highway, thousands lined the streets, dazed. Everywhere our caravan stopped, people knocked at the windows pleading for water and for help. Ultimately, it was necessary for us to make a potty break. No facilities anywhere to be found. We all, men and women alike, simply, humanly, lined up on opposite sides of the vehicles out in the open.

Entering the city, I cannot begin to describe the devastation. The word “catastrophic” is minuscule. The city is gone. When I was in New York after 9/11, I saw 35 city blocks destroyed. Here, there is destruction in every direction. Some buildings remain defiantly erect. From here I can see the Hyatt Hotel with hundreds of its window blown out. But the smaller buildings and the residences are gone or underwater. The Superdome is a mass of suffering humanity. Tens of thousands have been inside since Sunday. Since Monday morning, there is no power and the building is very dark except for the sunlight which comes through one hole in the roof, and that only during the day.

There is no air conditioning in the August heat and humidity. No ventilation to speak of. The regular toilet system was over-whelmed shortly after the power went out on Monday. No water to flush with. Now, with flooding, no place for sewage to be drained away. Without being graphic in detail, envision thousands of people with no place to go to the bathroom except in their immediate location.

Medical personnel are doing all they can. Stress on the refugees and relief workers are extracting a terrible toll. The aged and infirm are desperate, their minds and bodies in debilitating shock. Officials are working frantically to move the people from the oppressive surroundings, but move them to where? Outside into the sun? Outside to block the only arteries for relief vehicles bringing in food, water, medicine? One ranking nurse told me 800 busses were to arrive this morning (Wednesday) to begin the task of evacuation. By dusk just a few had arrived.”

Continued prayers for the many who are experiencing a great deal of loss.