Brethren congregations are in the path of Hurricane Rita.

Three Church of the Brethren congregations in Louisiana and Texas are in the path of Hurricane Rita and are in areas under mandatory evacuation orders: Falfurrias (Texas) Church of the Brethren, Roanoke (La.) Church of the Brethren, and Lake Charles (La.) Community Church of the Brethren. The three churches have a combined membership of 197.

Southern Plains District minister A Joan Lowry encouraged the denomination to be in prayer for the Brethren who are on the road seeking places of safety. She knows where Roanoke pastor James Balmer has evacuated to, but of the rest of the three congregations, she said, "They're on the road somewhere, the church folks as well as those they are helping." The Lake Charles church had been housing four families evacuated from Hurricane Katrina, including about 17-18 people.

Lowry expressed the sadness of the situation, especially for those who are evacuating for the second time. "And now they're displaced again," she said. Each of the evacuated families had already found employment in the Lake Charles area, she said.

"God is good and faithful, and we just have to keep trucking," she said, expressing her deep faith in God to care for the people of the district during this critical time.

Source: 9/23/2005 Newsline
top