Although the waters of St. Bernard may be safe for fishermen to return, not all of the surrounding areas are oil free. If you watch this news story and look into the eyes of Russell Dardar and hear his voice, you’ll see why we are so admit about opening the Louisiana Healing Center. When you hear his accent you may need to remind yourself you’re still in America, although Southeast Louisiana is nothing like the rest of the Country. Please help us help the people of the Greater New Orleans region by saying “yes” to the Gideon’s Call.

This story came out just 9 days ago. This video features Louisiana’s State Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce Greenstein.  The challenge the Greater New Orleans area faces is that there are not enough resources to meet the needs in the community. In Southeast Louisiana, 1800 churches were damaged or destroyed by Katrina and many have not returned. Some that returned have staff and outreach ministries, but many do not have the capacity to handle the volume of people struggling, and that’s where the Louisiana Healing Center can help. While many international ministries came to help families gut and rebuild their homes in the aftermath of Katrina, almost all left after 2 1/2 years. And when the Gulf oil crisis hit, less than a handful came. Please join us as we bring the light of Jesus to this community, and restor lives and renew hope.

This video shows the problem that people are facing in the Greater New Orleans area.  Please join us as we bring the solution: the healing Power of Jesus. Please pray that 300 people will say yes and give a one time gift of $100 so we can open the Louisiana Healing Center and begin ministering healing to the people.

Keith and Cindi,

Good Morning!

Put me down for $100. I believe in what you’re trying to do. And, if my response today can help persuade others, feel free to use it.

I thought I knew what ministry was for the first 25 years of my ministry, until Hurricane Katrina struck. I suppose if I took the time to read all the books, or went to all the conferences that deal with stress and anxiety, especially after a major disaster, I would learn important stuff. But, instead, I’ve spent my time as a Senior Pastor; District Pastor; and Night Chaplain at the grass roots of our community, experiencing things first hand, practically on a daily basis. I’ve been preaching hope for years to people who I thought were in need. In their minds, I guess they did have needs. All needs are important to the Father, so they should be to me, too. But, the needs around here after the storm just seemed deeper.

I can appreciate all the recovery work that’s been done in the greater New Orleans area over these past five years. I can even appreciate them wanting to build a nice new medical complex in Central City that will employ thousands, and do much good. Yet, when they decided not to re-open Charity Hospital, where the entire third floor used to be a Psychiatric Ward, it spelled trouble. New housing has replaced some of the old housing projects that have been torn down. The Superdome now was not only repaired, but has upgrades. I tell my wife all the time, driving around our city, it’s easy to see where the money is, because that’s where the most progress is being seen. Except when it comes to mental health needs.

They have not yet supplied anything near close to a substitute for even what we had at Charity, to help those in need, much less the many thousands of folks living with great despondency because of what they lost in the storm; the oil spill; and just everyday life. Well, anybody with a working brain knows that it was the faith-based groups that did the most good responding to Katrina, and not the government. This is another such case. It needs to be…it has to be…God’s community of believers that will step up and reach out. That’s not altogether bad, either. After all, the government can only offer “treatment” at best. God’s people have the light of the Gospel inside of them, and can share it with those walking in spiritual and emotional darkness. The only hope for these…is the only hope for all: Jesus Christ! In the song, “God of The City”, it declares the He is the, “light in the darkness; hope for the hopeless; peace to the restless”. Let’s share that light!

Be Blessed!

Pastor Terry Ray
New Day Christian Center
New Orleans Mission