Every home in Lakeshore Mississippi suffered major damage from hurricane Katrina. Many of these homes no longer exist. Others can be salvaged by gutting the building and using the existing structure as a skeleton.
With the help of volunteers from across the country, Lakeshore Baptist Church has launched a massive rebuild effort in our community. A list of over 25 homes stand in various stages of rehabilitation. We add more addresses regularly. One of these homes, pictured here, belongs to one of our church members, Mrs. Violet Patterson. When Lakeshore Baptist Church called me as pastor 11 1/2 years ago, Mrs. Patterson’s husband served as the church’s only deacon. He passed away a few years later. Her two children and their families also lost their homes in the storm.
Hurricane Katrina flooded Mrs. Patterson’s home and left her a homeless widow seeking refuge with family members in Alabama. She planned to bulldoze her house in Lakeshore, assuming it to be a total loss. Not knowing which way to turn she called on God for guidance. Without sufficient funds to completely rebuild, she asked God to “open a door.” After assessing the damage to her house, we realized we could indeed salvage the structure. We had to demolish an addition that had been added on the back, completely rip out all the sheet rock, insolation, wiring, and plumbing. We even had to remove the water-logged siding. This past Saturday a team removed the old shingles and replaced her roof. We need skilled laborers to volunteer to complete this project and get Mrs. Patterson back into her home.
If you would like to come help with this house, or similar projects, please call our church office at (228) 469-0110. We work with a very limited staff, so please leave a message and my administrative assistant JoEll, or our project coordinator, Greg London, will return your call. We need roofers, electricians, plumbers, framers, folks who can hang and mud sheet rock, finish carpenters, those able to lay flooring, painters, and other skilled help. We would love for you or your group to plan a trip to Lakeshore. We have housing and meal arrangements on our church property and host teams on a regular basis as we rebuild Lakeshore to the glory of God. Please come and help.
5 Comments
Thank you for continuing to tell the story, even as you live the story. It’s one that needs to be heard, over and over.
I’ve linked.
Wow, Don…what a story. May God bless and strengthen you in your continuing efforts to rebuild!
Thanks for the update. At Brea Center Baptist Church in California we continue to pray for your church and community weekly. These update help us remember that the work that is to be done is still great but the God that supplies the strength to endure is even greater.
Dear Pstor,
My church group is eagerly awaiting to depart for Lakeshore the week of June 10. We will hold your town and all of the volunteers up in prayer. May God continue to strengthen your town.
Joe Delfino
Trinity Lutheran Church
Joppa MD
Dear Lakeshore, Working on Mrs. Patterson’s house was such a joy. Our church continues to keep you in our prayers. Hope to be back in the fall. Ed Rinnier- Calvery Baptist Church- Carney’s Point New Jersey