Thoughts from New Orleans mission trip this past Aug.

For a year seeing photos, videos, and hearing stories on the TV and Internet increased my desire to go to New Orleans and minister to the people. After driving almost 1,000 miles, the two girls in my car and I finally passed a sign that read “New Orleans.” I still remember how it felt to finally arrive in New Orleans this past August. My heart went out to the people of the city as my friends and I approached the crest of a hill and drove past buildings with windows blown out and tarps still covering their sides.

I looked out in front of my car and took in the sight of New Orleans. It was a broken city that still had so much work needing to be done to restore it- both physically and emotionally for the people living there.

Our team of 3 girls and 3 guys ranging from ages 17 to 21 were ready to arrive at the Vieux Carre Baptist Church where we would be staying for the week. We had worked with this church a year ago and were excited to come back and minister with them again. The Vieux Carre is in the French Quarter, just a couple streets over from the well-known Bourbon St. and close to where numerous homeless people line the sidewalks to sleep at night.

What a strategic place for ministry outreach the Vieux Carre has in the French Quarter! The placement of this church provides its leaders a great opportunity to minister to the storekeepers and the homeless in the quarter.

Depending on where people live, whether in New Orleans, a third world country, or in the foothills of N.C., the way for Christians to minister to people around the world can differ. Some people have physical needs that must be met before they will give somebody a chance to tell them about salvation through Jesus. Other times people are open to debating theological issues with anyone who will talk. However, in other situations people may be so turned off to religion that they won’t listen to what a person has to say about faith or salvation until they see that person live out what he or she believes.

One of the main things I have learned at GW as a Religion/Missions Studies student is that wherever Christians are, we should find a way to make the Gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ understandable and relevant to the culture in which we live. Ministry techniques often need to change with culture, age groups, and more. This concept of ministry is something that became heavy on my mind particularly while in New Orleans.

In the blogs I hope to post in the near future, I’d like to discuss some ideas about new ministry techniques Christians are using to make the Gospel relevant to cultures around the world, as well as here in the U.S. While the ministry techniques change so that the needs of the people are met accordingly, the message remains the same- salvation through Christ.

Alright…so there’s more to come!