Justice at the Gate - Building strategic partnerships to mobilize Christians to pray effectively and to vote righteously
September 27, 2005
Our hearts are grateful for God's mercy on our state and heavy for those in Mississippi, Louisiana and now East Texas whose lives and property have been devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We in Texas give thanks and praise to the God of Creation for the mercy poured out upon Texas. Had Rita hit Galveston and Houston, the devastation and loss of life would have been multiplied many times over. But that doesn't lessen the impact on families who live in Orange, Jefferson, Jasper and Newton Counties – the hardest hit in Texas.
Texas was already depleted from the influx of evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. Our state became a place of refuge, comfort and provision as churches, individuals and agencies opened their hearts and pocketbooks to minister to those displaced by Katrina. From the largest to the smallest cities, the entire state was mobilized by our Governor and by the body of Christ's compassion to meet needs and take in families. When Rita was on the way, evacuees in the target areas had to be moved. As you know, it was the largest evacuation in the history of our nation. Although God was merciful to us and the full brunt of Rita missed most of our state, thousands are homeless and destitute.
In the dense piney woods of Southeast Texas, huge pine trees crashed on houses, cars and continue to obstruct roadways so that rescue workers cannot even assess the damage. It's extensive. Entire towns have been destroyed.
Many of you know our dear friends, Pastor Charles and Beverly Burchett of First Baptist Church, Kirbyville in Jasper County. Charles and Beverly have set up a staging area for Somebody Cares to distribute water, food and the touch of Jesus to hurting people in the region. Yesterday when Beverly called she said, "You can't imagine the destruction. People have lost everything, and they're desperate for water and food." FBC Kirbyville is one of the few churches that has phone service in the region, probably because they have an old-fashioned phone that doesn't require electricity to run. They are fully engaged in meeting desperate needs. Somebody Cares has set up other staging areas at Triumph Church in Nederland and Cathedral of the Pines in Beaumont. Please consider giving online at http://www.somebodycares.org/ or calling 713-621-1498 to give a credit card gift or mailing your gift to: Somebody Cares, PO Box 570007, Houston, Texas 77257
Other ministries like Blood n Fire San Antonio and Daily Bread San Antonio are part of the Somebody Cares network and are sending trucks of food and water to the region. Mark Roye with Blood n Fire drove their portable kitchen to Nederland yesterday to prepare meals for the rescue workers so they can have strength to do their jobs. In the record heat that Texas is experiencing people in the counties that have no electricity are miserable – at the very least.
Pastors and leaders that we've known for years in the "prayer movement" are engaged in meeting needs and ministering comfort, encouragement and salvation to the hurting. We're seeing obvious answers to prayers that have been sown in cities all over the state and in repentance and reconciliation for racism that many have been involved in over the years. At the end of this update, you can read an AP story about Vidor, a small town in Orange County where the KKK ruled in recent years and no Blacks were welcome to stop there, much less live there. It's a story of redemption and transformation that you won't want to miss.
In spite of Katrina and Rita, there will be a Special Election in Texas on November 8 to decide if God's definition of marriage will be the law of the land. I've been asked by Texas Restoration Project to organize the state of Texas for the November 8 election. We're recruiting people in counties all over the state. Will you help? Many pastors and concerned citizens are committing to deliver voter guides to churches in their region as well as getting them out to their own congregations.
Please contact us by return email, by phone at 210-677-8214 or by fax at 210-677-8201 for questions or commitments to help.
Gratefully, Alice Patterson, President
PO Box 681148, San Antonio, Texas 78268
(210) 677-8214
www.justiceatthegate.org
JusticeAtTheGate@aol.com
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