"Made it to Providence"

After two years, there is more to be done....

2012-01-24T12:52:00.000-08:00

This month, I celebrated two years of ministry in Lake Providence. Things are exciting around here. There are several groups that are planning trips here this spring and summer. Will you be one? There are opportunities to serve in this community.

We are trying to have at least three weeks of Camp Love, starting with a Spring session in March. There is an opportunity for your group to come partner in the community to teach children about the love of Christ in a whole new way.

After two years here, I have seen many great things happen in this community. People are beginning to work together to bring about changes that would have been impossible just ten years ago. God works in mysterious ways, it's true. Help us to begin a new campaign of hope here in this place.

My prayers going into this third year are for the people of Lake Providence to understand God's love, peace, and hope in a new way and for those who have gifts and talents to offer their brothers and sisters to have a place to serve in this community.

God bless you!

Let Us Take These Lessons to Heart...

2012-01-17T10:32:00.000-08:00

Last night, I attended the annual celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday at Progressive Chapel Baptist Church here in Lake Providence. It was, as always, well attended. I was blessed to be in the room. Two years ago, almost to the day, I entered that church to celebrate the same incredible man's birthday with many of the same people. Where I only felt a reluctant acceptance of my presence then, I felt at home last night. The people in that room were there because they not only understood what injustice looked like, but also because they hoped for a future where justice is seen and the love of Christ reigns in this community.
The only damper to my joy in this celebration last night was the lack of faces that looked like mine. It is a sad thing when, celebrating the man who dreamed of a day when all races would hold hands with one another, we can't persuade enough white folks that this man was important for their present and future. There is a joy in the celebration of his life of ministry and peaceful resistance that binds us together. Let us hope and be about the work of making this year the one where we hold hands in our efforts to bring about a change, a mighty wind that will blow all of our prejudice and hate away leaving only our common understanding of who God is and how God works in our world. Pray for Lake Providence and for your community, that God will help us see clearly enough to forge ahead and change the future!

Annual Elderly Project

2011-12-13T11:14:00.000-08:00

Every Christmas, the Make-a-Difference-Day Committee gathers much-needed items and distributes them to the elderly in our community. Last year was my first experience with this project. My contribution was several refrigerator magnets, which were very well-received. This year, the magnets were lovingly crafted by the Women on Mission from Shades Crest Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. These great ladies made 300 magnets for the project. Also, as a part of our summer children's activities, we made 30 fleece blankets along with Pulaski Heights Baptist Church from Little Rock, Arkansas.
I had the pleasure of finding and ordering over 150 pairs of socks for the project and helping to put together sugar-free candy goody bags. The project is going strong and is a way for those who are blessed to bless the folks who may be feeling alone and unloved. Please pray for those who receive the care packs this week, that they would feel the love of Christ through the gifts of every day items.

Decorations

2011-12-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

This Sunday, I visited a local church that I hadn't been to before and was welcomed by smiling faces and a feeling that the congregation was just a big family gathering to worship. I only knew one person in the congregation but was welcomed by many others. The sermon was on the gift of peace and joy that Christ's birth brings to us and the decorating of our hearts with that joy and peace. I came away with a renewed spirit of this Advent season and a renewed energy to decorate my house.
During this time of year, folks try to decorate to reflect the joy of Christ's birth. We get our tree out of the attic or find one to cut. We open those boxes of ornaments and lights. Then comes the important testing of the lights as we plug the lights in, living in expectation that the lights will work fine. Some people just take a leap of faith and string the lights, decorate the tree and then plug the lights in. This is not the recommended course to take, but it's usually reserved for those who forgot the annual light test. That was me this week. You'll be happy to know that all of the lights are working (whew) and the tree looks great.
We decorate the house and tree with the traditional ornamentation, our communities with the traditional greetings for this season and our schedules with added errands. It's time to decorate our hearts with the story of the Christ child and let the story's message of hope, love, peace and joy retell itself in our every expression. Thanks, friends at Melbourne Baptist, for helping me remember to deck the halls of my every movement this Advent season.

Thankful

2011-11-29T08:54:00.000-08:00

There are many reasons that I am thankful today. Before the Thanksgiving holiday, three teams of people came to work on the mission house. All of the windows have at least a coat of paint on them and most of the siding has been painted. It looks bright and new around here thanks to the youth of The Church for the Highlands, International students currently attending La Tech (and a local Bible study) in Ruston and singles from Church for the Highlands and First Baptist Church of Shreveport. Wow. Such hardworking folks, working to make this home a great home, office, and center for any other activities we can dream of.
I was lucky enough to spend Thanksgiving with some of my family. My sister-in-law and nephews were just a few hours away with her family and they invited me to spend it with them. After some great food, football and games with the nephews, my sister-in-law and I braved the late night/early morning crowds to get great Christmas deals. What an adventure! We had great fun and found almost everything we were looking for. The only things we were missing were hot chocolate and better coats for the long wait in the cold.
When I arrived back home, it was to a full mail box! Several ladies from First Baptist in Shreveport had sent me cards thanking God for this work. Thank you, God, for these ladies and their prayers. Thank you, friends, for all of your hard work on the mission house. Thank you to all of those who pray for their neighbors and offer a helping hand. And thank you, God, for your son, Jesus Christ who has given us all the great gift of a life beyond all we can imagine.

Black-Eyed Peas + Butter Beans + Toothpicks = The Christmas Story?

2011-11-08T08:51:00.000-08:00

I love hand-made art. Everything from hand turkeys at Thanksgiving to macaroni portraits, oil paintings and sand art. There are so many ways that people express their creativity. I love it! Next month, Together for Hope-LA will be having a Christmas Craft-Making Day here in Lake Providence. This is an exciting opportunity for local folks to share the joy of Christ's birth by giving gifts made with their own hands. I enlisted the help of the Women on Mission from Shade Crest Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL to provide some Christmas craft ideas and they really came through last weekend when one of their number came out to show some of us how to make these great projects.
There was one idea that really made me smile. With a toothpick background and roof line, this nativity (pictured below) made from butter beans and black-eyed peas is really fun. I can't wait to make these nativity scenes with folks around here, who will definitely appreciate that the scene is made with true Southern ingredients. I mean, who doesn't love butter beans and black-eyed peas!
Please pray for the new craft nights starting in January, where we will explore our hopes and dreams through the use of paint, glue, glitter, beads, string, yarn, well you get the picture! Pray that this will be a way to open some hearts and minds to the work of Christ in our community!

We Can Move Ahead

2011-10-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

A small community elects its first ever African-American sheriff. Two days later, the sheriff-elect's campaign headquarters are in flames. A community that has its roots in being a safe haven from those who would act against others in violence cannot boast about this heritage.
East Carroll Parish is a community full of folks who love to live here and those who cannot wait to leave. There are those that would go back to the "good ole days" and those for who those day were not good at all. There is tension between the races and the economic strata but there is a striving to get past it. That's what I thought until now, anyway. Where are our great strides toward unity, our moves toward some semblance of peace? One of our pastors in the community of Lake Providence has a daily thought handed out with good food at our local internet cafe. His thought today helped me shape my post now. He said this: "Now is a really good opportunity to allow God to do a great work in our city and parish... As a pastor, I encourage you, whether the election went your way or not, to be sensitive, be kind and walk in humility."
Please pray for the people of East Carroll Parish, as we struggle to understand one another in a new way. Please pray for those who have worries about their employment and for those who celebrate this history-making time, that they will be able to see the world through one another's eyes clearly and through the lens of love.

New Connections

2011-10-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

This week I start volunteering with the Reading Brigade. The Reading Brigade works with our local students to improve their reading skills. We will be reading with 2nd graders each week and I am very excited to be one of the tutors in this great program. Please pray for the students, teachers, parents and tutors participating in this program as we help to set a firm reading foundation for the students.

Please also pray for all of the churches and groups that are considering working here in this community. Would you like to make connections and create lasting relationships while answering God's call to partner with local churches and individuals to make a difference? Please get in touch with me. There are so many opportunities for change, whether through day camps or construction.

And We're Back

2011-09-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I wrote and many things have happened. I've been places and spent time with many Christian brothers and sisters who have been supportive of Together for Hope here in Louisiana. Let me just update a little. Over the next few blog posts, I will be highlighting some ways that you can "plug in" with Together for Hope- LA. This post is just a taste of what I'm thinking to share in the weeks to come.
God has much in store for this community. Every day I am reminded of why it is so. Sometimes I am reminded by loud voices about the future of Lake Providence. We can move forward, we are not a broken and dying Delta town. We are a Delta town that has been sleeping and has awakened to a whole new world. There is much that we can accomplish together. It's in times like this when the harvest is underway that I understand more clearly how cooperation and a common goal can create newness and growth.
The fields are white with cotton or golden with rice one day and a field or rich brown soil the next day. Amazing how the work to have a great harvest is a months-long process of worry, irrigation, pest control, more irrigation, more worry, and sleeplessness and prayer. Any great and lasting work takes time to grow and become. That's why farmers are some of the most patient folks.
How can you be a part of the field work here? This week I'm asking for prayer for the work here in Lake Providence. That's all I ask. Pray about your church or group coming to work or participating in other ways. There are many ways to be a part of this ministry in Lake Providence. Next week, I'll talk about ways to actively work in this community this spring and summer.

And On to the Next

2011-08-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

Well, friends, the students are back in the school room with new backpacks and school supplies, new uniforms and teachers. As I write this, some are sitting down for a rushed lunch before headed back to learn about great things. I remember very clearly when those great, new ideas were put in my head. 2+2=4 2 x 2=4, I go I will go I have gone I went, in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue, and King Phillip Came Over For Graduation Speeches (sorry. Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species. Never can remember those without King Phillip). Let us praise God for teachers who strive to impart wisdom, students seeking new ideas, parents who read with their children, and all of the others that make our educational system work.

Also as I write this blog, however, my thoughts are running toward "the next", all that will be accomplished next year and in all the time between. I'm already receiving voice mails about groups coming next summer and it reminded me to say this to you. Come to Lake Providence. There is much that can be done while partnering with local groups to meet needs and minister to our neighbors. Please prayerfully consider bringing a group. There are so many ways that you can partner with the people of Lake Providence. Call or email me and we can talk about making a great experience happen.

If you are thinking about ways that you can help sooner than next summer, please keep in mind that there are some items that we need for our local senior care packs during the holidays. Men's and women's socks and gloves, blankets, and sugar-free candy are some of the most needed items for the packs. Please contact me if your church or organization is interested in starting a collection.

Thanks, friends, for reading. It means a lot to me that you keep up with the comings and goings of this Delta town and all that God is doing here!

Bags of Hope 2011 a Success!

2011-08-01T08:40:00.000-07:00

This year's Bags of Hope distribution day was a great success! We had over 30 volunteers filling book bags and handing them out. On Friday night, we stuffed 1200 book bags in two hours using an assembly line method. It was amazing to see the bags piling up at the end of the room as we filled them. Thank you to all of the the volunteers who made the weekend work!

On Saturday morning, the students were able to visit with their teachers and school administration as they signed up for a bag. Then they were able to collect their book bags from volunteers from all over the state of Louisiana. We had groups from Shreveport, Baton Rouge, Ruston and the New Orleans area there to be a part of the Together for Hope ministry. With their words, smiles and with their actions, these volunteers showed that there are people outside of Lake Providence that care. The local volunteers were there after working very hard to secure donations of money and school supplies to ensure that the students felt that their community cared.

An addition this year was a "Thank You" card that the students and parents signed. The card, which is a signing mat, is now covered with names of those who felt the love of God through friends and strangers alike. This is what the heart of the mission is, that the world feels the love of God in everything we do. Thank you, everyone, for making that happen.

A New Coat of Paint, Catfish, Conversation and Friends

2011-07-19T08:38:00.000-07:00

I've had a great time today with Lynn Hawkins and Kenny Crump, who have been scraping paint off of glass cabinet doors and painting trim in the house. They came to town yesterday from Ruston. We had catfish last night at The Dock and found out that two pieces of catfish is really four pieces. You know you want to visit now! These gentlemen have been working hard since before the sun came up, which I can honestly say I have not. When I walked into the kitchen at 6:00am, they were already hard at work.
Thanks, guys, for your willingness and your determination. What a new coat of paint does for a house, a new conversation with friends and opportunity for relationship does for a human being. Brighten someone's day today! I know they did mine.

Water in a Time of Drought

2011-06-30T08:36:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year that the local farmers are irrigating and irrigating and watering and, well you get it. We are in a drought, along with many counties and parishes in the US. We can all get to be in a drought or a rut or a time of not being nurtured enough to reach our full growth potential. East Carroll, along with many municipalities around the globe, is needing that nourishment which will make it grow. Friends, let me tell you, I've seen some water and the life that comes from it in the past few weeks.
In a time when kids don't seem to have enough to do, a group of teenagers, college students, and adults holds a day camp that talks of loving God, God's Creation, ourselves and those around us. I watched a dozen local children laugh, sing and dance, play and grow as they made blankets that will be distributed to senior citizens at Christmas this year. A woman who has spent her life taking care of others has a newly painted house that she loves. A group of citizens is working to make the streets safe from stray animals in the community. People who felt unheard are speaking in public to their local leaders about the issues that matter to us all.
I know God works in mysterious ways, but sometimes God works in less than mysterious ways. In-your-face ways.
As I said before, we are in a drought. But one of my favorite sites right now in these fields surrounding us is a stretch of rice fields to the south of town. They are brilliant green and beautiful, as most rice is at this stage of growth. What makes these fields stand out is the series of berms that aren't set out in a grid as most rice in the area. These are dark brown snakes curving through the fields of green. I like to think that God is nurturing us in the same ways. Providing the hope, joy, peace and security in ways that wind through our lives and help us to reach our full potential.

More and More Everyday

2011-05-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

It seems that every day this work is more rewarding. Every time I receive another phone call from someone hours away who wants to bring supplies or people to help with this ministry, I am reminded of what a close-knit family we have as Christians. Every time I have a conversation with a local who wants to volunteer with Bags of Hope or to talk about new ideas, I am reminded of the long-lasting love of our God. When you who read this tell me of your attention, I am reminded of your commitment to knowing about the people who make up this great town.
Over the next weeks, there will be much to report to you friends. We have a day camp, football clinic, and the Bags of Hope event all before August. This is not news to you, I know, but I'll be highlighting some of the local preparations and the groups that will be coming and going over the next months. Praise be to God who has cared for Lake Providence through your thoughtful prayer and support, your visits and your hard work.

Newsworthy Lawn Maintenance

2011-05-10T08:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I decided to mow the lawn. I got my grass-cutting clothes on, found my Zune for some tunes, grabbed my phone so I wouldn't miss any calls and I was good to go. Thanks to Kyle Kelley of CBF LA, I now have a great electric mower. It's quieter than a gas mower, lighter and better for the environment, so it's a great addition to my home. So, I mowed. Yesterday was a hot day, but it was shady in my yard and therefore a little less hot. As you know, when a person performs a task like mowing, that person can get caught up in their own little world. Which is exactly what I did. I sang loudly along with the music and maybe, I confess, have added a dance move in at one time.
Okay, I know what you're thinking. I mowed the yard, what's newsworthy about that? Well, what you may not know is that I live next door (just through the parking lot) to a bank. This fact didn't even cross my mind as I "la-la"ed my way through my task. As I finished the last few feet of the back yard, I looked up to find a woman smiling and waving to me. She and her co-workers had been watching me at my task the whole time. They didn't have a lot else to do, she said. She wanted to take pictures of the mower, as it is electric and therefore strange in my neck of the woods. She said that they debated what type of mower it was the whole time and that now that she saw what a great job it did, she was thinking of it as a good investment. She didn't mention the dancing and singing, so I guess the mower got top billing in her co-workers' conversation.
You know, you never know who's watching how you go about your life. Something as simple as mowing the lawn can be news in a small town. Mowing with something that needs an extension cord is big news. Singing and dancing while mowing is not. Thank goodness, because I'm singing and dancing next time too.

Make New Friends...

2011-04-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

"Make new friends, but keep the old; One is silver and the other's gold." Those were the words of a song that I learned with I was a Brownie so many years ago. It always seemed to me to be putting more value on the old friends, but over the years it has meant that both new and old friends are precious and should be cherished. Over the last 15 months, I have made some great new friends. They are from every part of town, from many different faith traditions, and have different points of view. There is one thing that holds these new friends together, though. Hope. We all hope for a future that has less poverty, more jobs, more smiles and less sadness.
One of my new friends here in town recently fell and broke not one, but both of her shoulders. Yet when I saw her this week, her thoughts were of returning to the job that she loves and being able to drive again.
Another just recently took her driver's exam for the first time. She missed a few questions and will have to take the test again, but her thoughts were of May 3 which is the new test date. She is excited about this new step in her life.
On Sunday, I sat in Sunday School with a group of ladies who have known one another for most of their lives. These new friends of mine were grieving the loss of loved ones and were comforting one another, even as they prayed for others who are experiencing great happiness.
Those new friends, the silver ones, are precious to me because of their steadfast commitment to hope and to the One who gives us hope.
During this Holy Week, I am thankful for these reminders that we worship a Living God. Please pray for these new friends as they hope. Please pray for those living without hope, that they may be comforted by old friends and new, who count them as precious treasures.

NOVA

2011-04-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest problems that faces the people of the Delta today is the lack of living wage jobs. Most jobs only provide some of the funds needed to meet the basic needs of families here. That's why institutions like NOVA are extremely important to the work for change in the Delta. NOVA, which is a employee/job training intermediary, connects employers with training programs and potential employees with training. I've heard the stories of people who have completed the program, which includes a six-week soft skills course (how to interview, be on time, have a great attitude, take direction). The stories are compelling and are hopeful reminders of the work being done by others here. Let me tell you about one of the families affected by NOVA.

A 55-year old woman who didn't graduate from high school and is five years sober, finds herself with a job that doesn't pay well enough and without the training to make more. She has just recently completed her GED.She hears about NOVA on the radio and asks around about the program until she meets the case manager/mentor for NOVA. The case manager works with the woman to get her into a certified manufacturing specialist program at a local community college as well as the soft skill training. The woman completes the training and gains a job that pays in three months more than she made the whole year before. Her husband is inspired by her success and completes the program. Her children and one of her grandchildren have also entered into the program. This is a true story of one woman's success. She is in a job that she excels at, and now volunteers to mentor others completing the NOVA programs.

Give away what is precious and it is not seen for its value. Empower someone to grasp what is precious and the value is very well-known. NOVA is a program with this philosophy. It has made a tangible economic impact in the Monroe, LA area and an intangible impact in the lives of those who now have choices and a living wage. Praise be to God!

The Things We Learn

2011-04-07T08:28:00.000-07:00

This week I was asked to one of the judges for a 4-H demonstration. There were several students giving presentations about a variety of topics. My area was in Food and Nutrition, which was a delight as I got to sample some of the results of the students' preparations. I learned how to prepare chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter sandwiches, cupcakes, no-bake cheesecake, one student's favorite after-school snack, and homemade mac n' cheese. But the one that was the most surprising and new to me was how to make a kool-aid pickle. It was a surprise because I don't think of kool-aid and dill pickles together. The student took me through the steps, which basically involved soaking a dill pickle in kool-aid for a week until it's ready. It was really tasty and red like kool-aid. The student was surprised that I hadn't heard of this snack and seemed to enjoy teaching me something that I didn't know.
The students were charming, giving their ways to make their favorite things. I hope that I will be able to take part in more such fun days. There's still a lot to learn!

Potlucks, Pilate, Panes and Plants

2011-03-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

It's always a great thing when you can sit in a room with 50 other people who are Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Catholic (well you get the picture), and listen to the same message. I find that I look forward to these lunches more and more each week. We always start with a prayer and some great food. It's like going to a family reunion every week. Then the speaker will share his or her thoughts with us and we go about our day.
On Friday, First Baptist Church of Lake Providence hosted the Lenten lunch with the pastor, Mitch Minson as the speaker. We were encouraged to look at the story of Pilate and the crowd that yelled to release Barrabas and crucify Jesus from the perspective of Barrabas. He talked about the thoughts that probably went through his head, of knowing that he was notorious for causing trouble and committing treason against the ruling power. It was a powerful moment when Rev. Minson compared the realization of his release and Jesus' death sentence with the realization that we all have been replaced on the cross by Jesus instead of being condemned for the choices we make. It was an important reminder of the sacrifice that God made us God's creation all because God loves what has been created.

On Saturday, I had two people from University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge and three people from the Church for the Highlands in Shreveport here to work with me on the house. We weeded, trimmed and planted in the front flower beds and I know a lot more about flowers than I did before. We talked about sun, water, earthworms, frogs, and monkey grass. It was a great day to get our hands dirty. Two of the guys worked two A/C units out of the windows and covered the windows as well as put some decking in the attic. Hurray for storage space! Later in the day, a few of us replaced window glass and re-glazed the windows on one part of the house. Glazing takes patience, which the volunteers seemed to have plenty of on Saturday.

Between Friday, when we were reminded of the greatest sacrifice and Saturday, when I was blessed by those sacrificing their time and energy as well as their gifts it was a great weekend. So, as we gather together in fellowship or work and as we gather to pray or to plant, let us remember that every little bit of ourselves that we give(whether it's time, talents or prayer) is a blessing to those around us

Lenten Lunches

2011-03-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

Last Friday was the first of six Lenten lunches that the Ministerial Alliance hosts throughout the season of Lent. Individual churches provide food each week and their pastor or leader provides the thoughts for the week. This past week was Rev. Michael Owens, who pastors Jerusalem in the Bend, New Hope and Mount Chapel Missionary Baptist churches. The food was great, the fellowship was relaxing and the words were challenging and inspiring. Rev. Owens spoke about the meaning behind the Lenten season and why we focus on the different elements of this time of sacrifice and remembering the sacrifice of Christ. One of the things that he mentioned was the task of marking your calendar with symbols for each week of the month based on a different focus for each one. For example, one week may be helping those less fortunate and another may be praying for missionaries.
I'm planning on changing my calendar to reflect that as a way to remind myself of my new birth in Christ as I walk the road that leads not just to the cross but to the empty tomb. Make this Lent new by taking up actions that maybe you've been afraid to take up before. Be blessed by the road that Christ walked and if that road leads you to Lake Providence on a Friday at noon anytime in the next five weeks, join us at Barker Hall across from the Catholic church. You're welcome to come and have some good food, blessed fellowship, and you're sure to be challenged by the words of one of our local ministers!

Time Change and a Time for Change

2011-03-08T08:25:00.000-08:00

This Sunday will mark the unofficial start of Spring when we set our clocks forward an hour. I was talking with a friend of mine here in town about the time change and his first thought was "Yes! More sunlight for me to get things done." Imagine what the world would be like if all of the people that we depend on to get things done in the world thought the same way. My friend, one of the few licensed electricians in the area, has a very busy schedule and usually is stretched to the limit of what one person can do. He has worked very hard in this community for pretty much his whole life and never ceases to amaze those of us who know how hard he works. I will confess that my first thought upon being reminded of the time change was "Ugh, I'll have to get up an hour early on Sunday." After my conversation with John, though, I've decided to shift my thinking. Imagine how much we can get done with an extra hour of sunlight. With the Sun comes our ability to see where we're headed, warmth for winter-chilled bones, and much needed cheer after a rather dismal winter. So, with the beginning of the time shift, I will focus on one more hour in the rays of the Sun.
I think that'll preach. When we have more time with the Son, we have more cheer, warmth to our world-weary bones, and the ability to see where we're headed. I'll be taking an extra few moments to bask in the warmth and light of the One who guides in the coming months, even as I live in the realization of the sacrifice that the Son made for me. I'll strive to take more opportunities to reflect that warmth, that glow, that cheer to those who feel that their lives are in shadow. How blessed are we to have reminders as simple as a time change to tell us how much more we have. Live in the light, friends, and be blessed!

Friendly Enthusiasm and the Creation of Hope

2011-03-04T08:17:00.000-08:00

This week I was in Alabama to speak at Shades Crest Baptist Church in Birmingham. I was asked to prepare for the Women on Mission group, the Alabama CBF Pastors' Conference, and Shades Crest's Wednesday night service. The three groups overlapped some and they all heard me say some of the same things, but hopefully it was informative and somewhat entertaining. On Tuesday morning, I had the privilege of meeting with a group of women that works in the community to share the love of Christ by providing food, support and comfort to those who do not have enough. I was able to tell them about the annual book bag distribution here in Lake Providence and this group of ladies has already begun buying and collecting children and youth books for this summer.

After lunch, I walked across the street to tell a little of how God called me to this work. One thing that I try to say is that we are all called to this work and that I'm lucky to do it full-time. The ministers present expressed their concern for East Carroll Parish and for its people. They promised to pray and to encourage their congregations and organizations to get involved. As an Alabamian by birth, this swelled my heart to know that the churches of the Alabama CBF are praying and journeying with us in this work.

On Wednesday, some of the same people were in the room to hear more about Together for Hope- LA and some about this minister's journey. A woman I had spoken with the day before came to me to say that she had been researching Lake Providence on the internet and was beginning to understand more about why I work here and why I love the people here. The questions from the group were thoughtful and heartfelt, and I knew that this church genuinely cared about people living hundreds of miles away. I look forward to seeing some of them here in the future.

The central theme for what I said to these groups was this: East Carroll Parish is a poor place, but its people are beautiful creations of God who hope for a better future. I hope, through this blog, to always say that.

So, with all of this in mind, I'll talk to you next week.

In the meantime, please pray for ways that you can "plug in" to your local ministries to help those with lesst have more love, peace, and what they need.

Happy Birthday to You

2011-02-15T08:16:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning, I celebrated with the members of Providence Church for the 30th anniversary of the church's founding. Beginning with 23 charter members, Providence Church began with a vision of worshiping God together and caring for one another in the spirit of God's love. Thirty years later, the church has a membership over seven times that of its original numbers and has become a sanctuary for those who felt they had no place in other churches. The pastor and his family have ministered to the congregation with love, patience, and respect, and with the knowledge that God called them to work alongside others to share the love of Christ in northeast Louisiana. Serving as a shelter after natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and as a place to rest for those volunteering here in the community, Providence Church has proved itself to be a prime example of Hebrews 13:2, which states, "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." Everyone who walks in the door is treated with respect and genuine Christian love.
Happy Birthday, Providence Church! May you have many happy years to come!

Providence Church

2011-02-10T08:14:00.000-08:00

This Sunday, February 13 will be the 30th birthday celebration of Providence Church. Pastor Don Boyett and his wife Linda have ministered to their church family (and it is indeed a family) for the entire life of the church. Begun with a common vision of the movement of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who believe, Providence Church still shares the same vision. The members are welcoming and prayerful people. When I visit with them on a Sunday morning, there are more people each time who offer me a place among them.
The church building itself has been a resting place for CBF LA churches working here in the community and those who have stayed there have all commented about the feeling that God is present there. Many have stated just on sleeping in Sunday School rooms that they would visit there, based solely on the spirit of the place.
Congratulations to Providence Church on your 30th birthday and as one in my 30's, I can say that it's a great time of growth and fun. I pray for growth, fun, and ever increasing knowledge of how God is constantly working in the world. It'll be a great day and I'll have more on Tuesday about the celebration!

Gathering to Worship

2011-02-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

This Sunday, I participated in a worship service at the Methodist church here in Lake Providence. The service had speakers from Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, and Episcopal traditions. We sang, prayed, listened and gave together. All of us, from different traditions, races and places. We shared with one another a moment of recognition that the God that provides for God's creation is in our midst. The main focus of the service was "Blessed are the History Makers", taking the idea that in order for us to be about God's business in the world we must be agents of change serving alongside those who may or may not worship how we do. Sister Bernie, a local sister working in the community, said that she had been praying before the service that whoever needed to be there would be at the service. We had a small group in attendance due to the weather and other events planned, but we all agreed that those who needed to be there were indeed there. Please pray for the work of the Interfaith group in Lake Providence and in Tallulah as we strive to change our communities for a future with hope. It was a great day!

Dinner on the Grounds

2011-01-25T08:12:00.000-08:00

Last night, I listened to a woman talk about how her ministry here in Lake Providence began. She became aware of needs around her, such as hunger and homelessness and decided that there was something that she could do to help. For the past 13 years she and her daughter, along with a group of other volunteers, have fed a group of around 30 people every Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. She said that a few years ago, the group started eating alongside those they were feeding. She described it as a family. They are all her family. They eat outside, like a traditional dinner on the grounds, at the home of a gentleman here in town. Even when it's cold like it was this Christmas, they are warmed by the good food and the love of people who believe.
This ministry and others have reminded me that others saw reasons to hope for Lake Providence and towns like it, people like those living here. They are family, and we take care of family, we hope for family.
This year, think about serving for just a day or two, maybe longer, in a community like Lake Providence. One of the most important ways to help hope grow is by sowing your time and friendship. God bless!

Renovated, Painted and Ordained

2011-01-18T10:10:00.000-08:00

Life has a way of handing us the right people at the right moments. This past week, I had a group here at the house. A group from First Baptist Church, Madison, AL (the church that raised me) came to renovate a bathroom and an office. They arrived in a staggered schedule due to the arrival of inches and inches of snow in the South. As they arrived, each individual just sort of gravitated to a project. They worked tirelessly to make this house more of a home. This place looks so great! I'm grateful for all of their help sawing, hammering, bolting, prying, carrying, mudding, sanding, painting and cleaning this home. Also, the mission house now has one and a half sets of bunk beds and five new mattresses! The group also had another reason for picking this coldest week of the winter.
I was ordained on Saturday at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Alexandria, LA. It was a great day with family, church families, colleagues and friends gathered in the chapel to celebrate my calling as a minister of the gospel. I have never felt such an outpouring of love and support as I did this past week. Thanks to all who have supported the work that I do here and to all who pray for those living in poverty and hunger.
Be blessed!

Updates!

2011-01-06T08:18:00.000-08:00

I am trying to plan for the Spring and Summer projects. So if you would like to come join our work in Lake Providence for a day or two or a week-long encounter, please contact me. I'd love to talk with anyone who is interested in becoming a part of the work here!

You can reach me at: sthepny@gmail.com or (318)418-4075

Prayerfully consider becoming a part of this journey!

Be on the lookout for a new CBF Lousiana website currently being designed by Kyle Kelley and a new Together for Hope-LA site. I will also be blogging with more regularity, so stay tuned.

Peace!

Hammers, saws, blessings and new opportunities

2011-01-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I know what you're thinking. "Did things just stop happening in Lake Providence? Is that why she's stopped writing about it?" I will answer with a resounding, "NO!" I have fallen down on the job, folks, and am not too proud to admit it. It's been a while since my last post, but things are hopping around here!

I have moved into the mission house and am currently listening to John and Pete discuss the best way to get my heating installation done. Crash! It's okay, folks, the globe just fell off of the hall light. I hear banging around and yelled instructions, the sound of power tools and the smell of sawdust. Ah, progress!

The town has experienced some change as well. As I began my move into the house, the town voted for a new mayor, police chief, four new school board members and four new aldermen. Not sure what the PC term for that is. Spell check doesn't allow for alderpeople or alderpersons. Let's call them town council members. Anyway, the town has voted for change. This spells hope and renewal to people like me, who are working alongside people to create change and a cause to hope for a new future in the Mississippi Delta.

On the day after Christmas, I had my first preaching opportunity since my arrival last January. The people of First United Methodist here in town have always been very welcoming to me and I have felt like a part of their community of faith with every visit. The sermon, which had a working title of "The World", was my reflection and interpretation of John 3:16 and its affect on our covenantal relationship with God. In other words, it's not just the first verse we memorize but one of the most important. In order to create change, make disciples, feed the hungry, and love our neighbor, we have to look out our windows and see the "world" that God so loved.

The progress of Jesus' day had its share of hammering, yelling and sawdust. It's result was much the same as my current project: warmth. Even the ones who became angered by Jesus' words of inclusion and challenge were warmed by the new images and new concepts. May the warmth of God's love be in your hearts in such a way that we love the world and warm it along the way.

Pencils, Crayons, Glue Sticks.....

2010-08-16T09:15:00.000-07:00

Over the three weeks leading up to this year's Bags of Hope book bag distribution on August 7th, I bought carload after carload of supplies. As I would walk the aisles of different stores, I would be bombarded by that smell of new school supplies. I can take a deep breath and remember it now... New pencils, crayons and paper have a smell that takes me back to the first day of the school year. Each year, whether I'd been in the school for years or just that day, I would enter into a new classroom and experience a rush of anticipation, delight and terror because of the new adventure waiting for me.
The Bags of Hope event, which is in its 8th year, is a way for the community to support the education of its young people. There were smiles, waves, hugs and thanks flying everywhere. It was a great morning for the students, their families and for the volunteers. There are many reasons that it was a success, but I'll break it down for you:

22 the number of local educators, students, parents and friends that helped stuff bags on Friday and hand them out on Saturday.

14 the number of volunteers from churches in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Madisonville, and Shreveport who helped Friday and Saturday.

9 the number of containers of books donated by FBC Madison, AL

1107 the number of bags that the volunteers stuffed on Friday.

210 the number of already-filled bags received from LA churches.

918 the number of students who received bags on Saturday.

It was a great day to be a ray of hope for a student and receive sunshine right back.

Thank you volunteers, donors, churches, and people who simply prayed. It all worked together to provide students with the tools they need for this year's new adventure. Pray for your students on their journey this year, as they learn and grow.

Bags of Hope

2010-07-06T10:43:00.000-07:00

I am preparing for my first experience with Bags of Hope, CBF Louisiana and East Carroll parish's joint effort to provide school bags and supplies to all students in need. Last year, volunteers gave out over 1300 book bags in East Carroll parish with hundreds more in Tensas parish. The local committee members raised over $5000 to provide half of the bags to students. This year is the 8th Annual school bag drive and we're off to a good start. Churches all over the state have pledged to provide bags, supplies, money and/or volunteers to the effort.
It's always amazing to me what can happen when a community, small or large, believes in a cause. We all want for our students to have the opportunity to learn, equipped with the supplies they need.
Maybe it's in giving these paper, pencils, folders and glue that we can understand more fully what we all need.
Don't we all need a forum to speak, a way to express ourselves, ways to organize our thoughts and feelings, and ways to fit our ideas together? Please pray that the students of East Carroll parish will receive all that they need to step out into the great wonderful world of learning.
For more information about the project, check out Bags of Hope 2010 (Together for Hope)

Peers and piers

2010-05-21T21:48:00.000-07:00

I just got together with my peer group for a retreat. They wanted to come here to Lake Providence and see the place I've spoken of when we gather. We met at the Byerley House, which is the local visitors' center. After talking with Ms. Eloise for a while, we walked to my future home. I was able to share with these fellow ministers about my hopes for the use of the house and its property, as well as a little information about that part of town and its rightness for what we hope to do.
I drove my friends around town, pointing out sites of interest and areas of need. They asked questions about what I've seen and heard as the major concerns of the citizens of Lake Providence. I asked them to continue to think about Lake Providence and those of us who live here as we work toward a different tomorrow. We met with two local pastors, who were able to share their stories and their visions for Lake Providence.
It was exciting to hear the ideas that my colleagues shared from seeing the town. There was talk of building a pier on the lakefront property and starting a fishing ministry, setting up places for RV's full of volunteers to park in the back yard, and setting up specific times for their churches to come work alongside the citizens of Lake Providence.
My brother and I were talking tonight of the need to sounding boards of peers to let go with. As professionals who both take care of people in a public way, there are some restrictions to what and how we say things. Peers, however, provide a comfort and an easy accessibility of free thought and speech that bring peace of mind. They are like a pier, a place to pull alongside for a moment's rest. Laughter. Fellowship. Safe harbor.

The Poorest Place In America

2010-04-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

The Poorest Place In America

The article that was written years ago only gives a little bit of information for a town that struggles in some ways but is making strides in others. What makes some delta towns thrive and others simply survive? Is it a simple matter of monetary resources? A few hours to the south and one hour to the north, there exist Delta towns that have made successful ventures over the last years. These towns have begun to pull themselves up by the bootstraps of their local industries, casinos, and small businesses.

Lake Providence has its ups and downs, its triumphs and defeats but one of the main hurdles that this delta town has to overcome is the perception of the world. When the TIME article was written, the struggling town became not just one of the poorest places but the singular distinction of THE poorest place in America. It is not the poorest place anymore, though I will not mention which towns are listed through the different sources as having that position. No town needs to have that yoke upon its back when there are problems enough that weigh its spirit down.

As I get to know more and more about the people of this town, I know that this community's days as a struggling entity are numbered. It will fail or succeed not because of its resources, grants, industries or businesses but because of the willingness of its people to act, to strive, to become a united force against the oppressive yoke of its former title.

My neighbors

2010-04-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

I've recently moved into an apartment north of the lake. If you're looking at Google Maps to find it, look at the satellite view of Lake Providence. At the very northern tip of the runway at Byerley Airport, you'll see a small grouping of buildings to the left. I'm there.

Anyway, I started moving in kind of slowly last weekend and was greeted by my first neighbor, Mr. Mitchell, from across the little through street. He said that he was glad that I had come and that I was welcome to visit him anytime. I think I will.

On my next trip with various belongings, two of my other neighbors introduced themselves and offered to help me move in on Monday. So yesterday, three Filipino stay-at-home dads and I went moved everything that I own into my apartment. They were lots of fun to work with, always commenting about the best way to pack or unpack the truck and wouldn't really let me lift much, saying "No, you're the boss. You get to tell us what to do." They taught me how to say some helpful words and phrases in Tagalog, such as "that's enough" and "work faster" and I was instructed to use the latter all of the time. I think they thought it was fun to have me drive the big truck and order them around.

Today, one of my new neighbors signed for a package when I had to leave for a moment. She found me before I had even read the posted note on my door telling me where to find her.

That's what neighbors do, though. We watch out for one another, help each other, or just greet one another in a sense of community.

Lake Providence is like many small towns. It has its problems, its struggles, but it also has great successes. The sense of community that I have found in my short time here has helped me to understand more about what Jesus called our neighbors. Every person we meet on the street is our neighbor, whether we like them or not, acknowledge them or not.

Small town, big heart!

2010-03-10T08:43:00.000-08:00

People have asked me questions about my presence here in the community, but the one that I receive the most lately is "Wow (or other varied exclamations), this must really be different from where you used to live, huh?" The answer to this interrogative is always a resounding "YES."

Lake Providence is small, struggling, seemingly crumbling before our very eyes. This town used to be a thriving place where people would take the ferry across the Mississippi to do their weekly shopping. Shops used to stay open until midnight to accommodate those making their necessary purchases. The movie theatre, coffee shops, restaurants all had people bustling in a out. The Miss Louisiana pageant was once held here.

Today, this town doesn't have a movie theatre or the pageant. Shops close at 5 or 6 pm, leaving the businesses of the downtown area looking almost forlorn. People reminisce about the old days of Lake Providence and hope for things to return in some way to the "glory days" of this river town.

When I say that this has been one of the biggest culture shocks I've experienced, I don't exaggerate. I used to tell people that I was from a small town close to Huntsville, Alabama. Athens (where I lived most recently) and Madison (where I grew up) have 20,000 and 50,000 people, respectively. Now, when I tell people where I've just come from I usually have to make myself say that I am from a city called Athens or I grew up in a city called Madison.

People speak disparagingly of small towns, like they don't have anything really to offer. This town has gifted me with new friends and a sense of belonging. This community wants to create change for its citizens, not because of a sense of justice for all or pity for those less fortunate. The people that I speak with every day want to affect change for future generations of their friends. They want to make life better for their neighbors because they are their neighbors. As we journey together to make this happen, pray for Lake Providence and its people. Pray for our journey to make the future bright and happy with children who grow up knowing that they have a chance at a good future and adults who have hope enough to instill these beliefs.

Peace

2010-03-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I attended my first Catholic worship service since my college days. St. Patrick Catholic Church is located downtown on Scarborough Street in an architectural wonder of brick and glass. From the outside, this building is sort of brown and blocky with a few parts that stick out here and there (you can tell I know a lot about architecture). But when I entered, I found open spaces and cathedral ceilings with skylights and windows in just the right spots. The priest spoke with confidence in the litany and with pride that yesterday was the first communion for three children in the congregation.

We offered one another the peace of Christ, which is one of my favorite parts of any service. The congregation gives a hug, handshake, or kiss along with the "Peace" or "Christ's Peace to you." It gives me, a visitor in their midst, a further understanding of how large the family of God is. The people in the service yesterday offered their hands to me, a fellow traveler, a fellow believer. In that moment, we were all of the same understanding of God's Peace working within us.

The children received communion and were accepted into the greater fellowship of the congregation. Their faces shone brightly with an understanding of this rite of passage in their faith. We, of different faiths and traditions, all have our rites of passage. The first time a child attends worship service for the whole time. The first time a parent leaves his or her child in the nursery. The first time a college student comes home for a visit. We all have ways of entering into fellowship with one another.

My prayer is that all of us can work together in fellowship and the Peace that passes our human understanding. I pray that the hearts of those who seek God will be seeking ways to serve, for it's in that fellowship that we can fulfill God's calling for all of us. Go. Make. Baptize. Love. Share. Help. Feed. Quench. Follow.

Providential Pancakes. Who knew?

2010-02-17T12:13:00.000-08:00

Last night I with new friends at the Episcopal church at one of the longest running annual events in Lake Providence. Every year, for as long as anyone can remember, the ladies of Grace Episcopal host the annual Pancake Supper on Mardi Gras. I was met at the door by church members decked out in their Mardi Gras best, with beads and colors and of course New Orleans Saints shirts and hats. As I sat, two shy girls came to tell me that they were my servers for the evening. Dressed in their purple, gold and green aprons and beads, they shone brightly as the new torch-bearers of this tradition. They were proud to serve. I tried to figure out how many years this community has continued this tradition, but was met with shrugs. I was told by one lady that the tradition was established before she arrived in 1973. I was born in 1973. Wow.

I sat laughing and eating with people I've known since my arrival last month and people that I just met yesterday. We shared the meal together, experiencing great fellowship. We talked of traditions in the community, of hopes for the community. In that room with "WHO DAT" in gold garland on the wall and Mardi Gras masks, beads, green wigs and jester hats, we found reasons to celebrate community. There was no doubt in my mind that if someone asked who had made this tradition last so long by asking the famed question "Who dat?" the answer would have simply been God, the One who created these people, this place, the fellowship that only those who care for one another can have. I feel blessed.

Celebrating a Heritage

2010-02-10T10:24:00.000-08:00

So far in my time here in Lake Providence, I have gotten the chance to attend both the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day service and the Black History Celebration. The two events were well-attended, well-planned, and spirited. The people in attendance celebrated with pride how far they've come and remembered with some sadness the struggles that got them the freedom that they enjoy. The theme for the King service was "From I Have a Dream to I Have a Plan," a call to action for the local community. Since this is why I'm here, I wanted to stand and shout my "amen" and "hallelujah." The words of the speaker, Louis Scott, were inspiring to all of us and designed to encourage the dreams of the past to become the plan for the future. He spoke of the dreams that his father had for this community that never came to be and encouraged us to make them realities. One of the things that he said that really stuck with me was "If you don't make plans, someone will make plans for you." How true. The longer we sit waiting for a plan to arrive, the more likely that plan will not be ours or even be a plan that takes our needs into consideration.

Last week, I went to the Black History celebration. There was a chorus, a choir, Girl Scouts leading in the Pledge of Allegiance, and many others but the show stopper consisted of a group from one of the elementary schools. The children had each memorized part of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech and though they all did a great job, the last boy really seemed to understand the words and what they meant. He got revved up about the words of King, escalating and at times sounding like King himself. The crowd got into it with laughter and clapping becoming louder as the boy spoke with more and more conviction. I wish that my white brothers and sisters had attended this with me.

Much like the King service, there were fewer than 5 white folks in attendance. Black history is the history of our brothers and sisters, though it doesn't get enough space in the history books. God created us, the same in essence. The soul has no color. It is the experience of those souls that can either be color-blind or able to see every difference in clear detail. It is my dream that I can share that love of God in a way that all could understand how much God loves them and created them to love others. In this place, where the monetary resources are few and the people resources are plentiful, maybe we can figure out how to use our most plentiful assets to meet the deepest needs of those around us.

Together for Hope,

Steph

New Girl in Town

2010-02-07T09:07:00.000-08:00

After a seven hour journey, I arrived with my helpful parents in Lake Providence, LA. Over the past months trying to understand my calling to this place, I have researched the demographics, geography, history, culture and possibilities of this river town. After settling into my temporary residence and saying goodbye to my biggest supporters and waiting for my pipes to thaw (deep south in winter?), I set out to get to know the Providentials. During these first few weeks, I have met Mrs. Condrey, Eloise, Betty, Harriet, John Ann, Michael, Barbara, Sarah, Debbie, another Debbie, another Eloise, Linda, Gina, Don, John, Hope, Mitch, Cory, Amanda, Deanna, and many, many others. This town has welcomed me with open doors, hearts, ears, and arms. I write this at a table in Jehovah Java while listening to the sounds of old friends greeting one another with a joke or a tale, and now greeting me with questions of how my work is coming along. Many people have told me their hopes for this community and their plans for the future of Lake Providence, now my town too.