Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
- Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 5:15, KJV)
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Katrina Rebuild
by Ken Parks, September 26, 2006

  
 
MISSISSIPPI (KP) — ETC Ministries has been represented in the rebuild of a small community in Mississippi struck by the devastation of hurricane Katrina. The struggle of returning occupants and rebuilding has afforded several ministries to get involved and directly help those in need.

The good works performed left two families with homes almost ready to inhabit.. They are currently living in small FEMA trailers, trying to regroup from their loses and bring back stability in their hurricane tattered lives.

Ken, the founder of ETC Ministries, interviewed some of the locals and FEMA representatives at the makeshift market store, a one- time elementary school gymnasium. Laurie, one of the organizers, stated, "The initial wall of water was over twenty-three feet high and settled to nine feet for several days. Many homes had boats or trees in their roofs. Some homes were lifted off their foundations and ended up in the middle of roads or were completely washed away."

The grueling work performed on this mission trip consisted of installing drywall in the 90 plus temperatures and high humidity. Two homes were drywall completed as Ken worked along with the crew of another mission team.

The families of the two homes were presented a Commemorative Bible that everyone signed. It was a blessing that brought tears of joy.

The work… the fellowship… and the joy of bringing a piece of happiness to saddened faces was quite an experience and sometimes the feeling was overwhelming. Ken explains, I canvassed the area and took some photos of what was left of the houses. Skeletons and shells of once were homes stood as eerie reminders of the power that a hurricane can do to one’s life.

ETC Ministries contributed sweat and toil, tools, home construction knowledge, and its time and resources to this much-needed mission. It was much more in giving than placing a few dollars in an envelope to a Katrina mission and then sitting back on the couch to watch TV.

Some couch potatoes have been critical and explain that Katrina was a way for God to eliminate the sin of New Orleans. And then they add that the Christians in the same area were damaged because they did not bring forth the message of condemnation upon the homosexuals, prostitutes, and other sinners.

Ken shakes his head in disbelief. “Jesus pointed out that it rains on the just and unjust alike.” Katrina may have cleaned up and rid some of the sin, but it has brought at least one person to the Lord.

Charlie was an atheist and believed the church was a social club. After Katrina and seeing his family and home devastated, the local Churches and missions assisted his family and rebuilt his house. Charlie realized that the Church, the ones who testify Jesus Christ and Him crucified, is what brought him to his senses and removed the hatred he once harbored. More than that, Charlie recognized his sin, acknowledged his remorse, and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Katrina was one of the worst natural catastrophes to hit the U.S. with more than 1,800 people dead, 1.2 million people having to relocate, and over $81 billion in estimated damages.

ETC Ministries has played a small part and some might say "an insignificant" part of the effort to restore. Ken sarcastically remarks, "Be it as it may, the so-called 'insignificance' amounts to great rewards in heaven."


The first morning breakfast followed with a prayer for the mission work ahead and the organization of the work crews. The light of the lord shines upon His elect. The pep-talk and feeling of dedication to a good cause was the morning caffeine fix.

The combined crew missions worked on two houses, installing drywall in the high heat and humidity. The missionaries prepared for mosquitoes and other biting insects, but the bugs were eliminated by the slight steady breeze coming in from the gulf.


An Auburn allumni contributed to the drywall labor. The missionaries averaged about 12 hours of work per day for the two arduous days. At night, sleeping on cots and the sounds of electric fans were ignored due to the aches and pains and exhaustion. Several of the crew members became mentors for the non-experienced mission workers.


One of the homes, a cement block house, was swept away by the hurricane force, leaving only its foundation as a reminder of the devastation. A damaged street sign points toward the diection of the 120 mph winds More than a year later, FEMA trailers still remained as temporary homes.


Anheuser-Busch contributed fresh canned water to the Katrina victims. And several other Church missions set up distribution centers and home rebuilding efforts.