If you made a donation to Lakeshore Baptist Church last year, you should have received a year-end contribution receipt by now. If you have not, please let us know and we will get one to you asap.
In the mail out, I took the opportunity to include a 2009 update letter, recapping the progress of the year and looking forward to the future. I know many of you contributed to the efforts here through your local church and those finances were forwarded to us. In that case, you did not receive a letter from us, so let me include the update here for everyone.
Dear friend and partner of Rebuild Lakeshore,
Almost four and a half years ago Hurricane Katrina slammed into the gulf coast and devastated the small community of Lakeshore MS. Early optimistic estimates predicted 5-10 years of rebuilding and recovery. As Lakeshore Baptist Church approaches that 5 year mark, we see that we still have a long long road ahead. We could not have made it this far without financial partners, like you, who have stood along side of us as we minister help and hope in the name of Jesus Christ to our storm ravaged community. We praise God for your long term commitment to the cause and we continue to pray for God’s sustaining grace to press on.
Last year, 2009, rebuilding ministry in the community moved forward as we hosted 172 churches or groups and approximately 2,300 volunteers. With your help, several families finally moved back into their homes. We also began building permanent structures on the Lakeshore Baptist Church property to facilitate ministry for years to come. This time last year God gave us the vision for the first two buildings, a housing facility for volunteers and a building to accommodate our long-term mercy ministry.
The Bunk House nears completion. Sleeping 38 people the building is equipped with restrooms and showers. The raised 1,500 square foot structure sits approximately 10′ above grade. The screened in lower level provides a spacious multi-functional area. Your church can help fund this project by sponsoring one of the 33 pilings for $1,500. Each piling will carry a plaque with the name of the sponsoring church, giving a wonderful testimony to God’s people from across the country helping in this great hour of need. Please talk to your church leadership about this possibility. I would love for your church name to grace one of the wood columns supporting the building.
The second building we began this past year, The Mercy House, will serve our ongoing mercy ministry. The lower level will provide storage for goods, such as food, clothing, and household items, distributed to those in need. A large multi-purpose area on the second level will allow for a variety of gatherings, such as Bible studies, financial management classes, small groups, seminars, and various activities associated with the growing mercy ministry. You can contribute and help see this project to completion by putting “The Mercy House” in the memo line and making checks payable to:
Lakeshore Baptist Church
6028 Lakeshore Road
Bay St. Louis MS 39520We also depend on un designated gifts to cover the regular costs of electricity, propane, sewer, garbage pick-up, phone, intenret access, gasoline, vehicle insurance, maintenance, staff support, office supplies, etc. Please consider making a one time gift to kick-start 2010, and/or a monthly financial commitment toward the ministry here.
Keep us in your prayers and check up on the progress online at http://rebuildlakeshore.com. Thank you so much for being a part of the work God continues to accomplish on the gulf coast to the praise of his name.By grace alone,
Pastor Don A. Elbourne Jr.
