Easter Sunday

(Picture at right is the inside of a church that was cleared out.)
Many of you spent your holiday at church with family and friends. I ask that you all remember the survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita who want so very much to attend their church services but cannot. We should no longer take for granted that we can freely go to places of worship because there are so many Americans cannot. While I was in New Orleans I saw dozens of churches completely destroyed due to the horrific storms. Many people look for the church for help and it is bad when churches suffered also.

I saw that BET honored Bishop Paul S. Morton. Bishop Morton lost personal propherty and his one of his churches. Bishop Morton is a successful man but he didn't leave his parishioners. He came to the affected areas using his resources and praying for the people. These acts gave many people hope and sometimes hope is the only thing that you have to hold on to. I saw billboards in New Orleans letting members know how to contact Bishop Morton and his ministries.

Churches may have lost their physical structure but the purpose of why people worship is still there. I was greatly moved by how determined people were to find a place to thank God in spite of everything. It reminded me of slavery times when African-Americans didn't have a physical building to worship and had to use fields or whatever was available. That same spirit of giving God thanks despite a harsh reality is evident in New Orleans. These people have nothing but faith but that is more than enough. I was extremely humbled to be able to go to my own church to worship. I had a beautiful building to go to while so many people in New Orleans did not.

I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter and let the people of New Orleans know that they are inmy prayers.

God Bless New Orleans!!!