Hancock County has been laying water supply pipe in our area. The contractor has granted us some of the resulting dirt fill to use in preparation for our new parking lot along Second Street.

Our volunteers from New York partnered with some Amish guys from Pennsylvania and constructed the floor, walls, and roof of another new home last week. This one sits about 14′ above grade on the bayou in Waveland.

We had some great crews here this week from Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Alabama; about 80 folks in all. The St Clair Baptist Association Disaster Relief team built the railings on the front of the Mercy House and did a great job.

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 39520

We 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.

I love receiving reports from volunteers. If you have written anything about your trip to Lakeshore, please feel free to pass it along. I’d be glad to post it here for the benefit of others. That includes, pictures, videos, or other things.

Michael Poirier, Director of Faithful Steward Ministries submitted the following article to his local newspaper:

Aug 29, 2005 is a day, that will be indelibly etched tin the minds of many in the Gulf coast. Some four and a third years later the effects can still be seen and more importantly felt in the community.

Recently I had the privilege of spending a week in the epicenter of the storm, Bay Saint Louis/Lakeshore, Hancock County, Mississippi. I traveled as part of a group of ten men from Pioneer Valley Baptist Chapel, Chicopee, MA and Faithful Steward Ministries of West Springfield MA. We were part of a larger humanitarian mission coordinated by Grace Baptist Church, Carlisle, PA. New Orleans may have and still seems to get the focus of people’s attention but this is the spot where the eye of Katrina made land fall.

For a moment imagine your at the beach enjoying the sun and fun. Now imagine that same beach under 30 plus feet of water. Hard enough to visualize, but the real effects come when the waters finally recede. Things that were once miles inland find their way to the beach and items normally found on the beach are found inland. That is the devastation that the folks in Lakeshore found after Katrina hit. Then came the usual problems associated with any major disaster, the need for food, water and shelter. We all have heard the stories of FEMA and its woes, what you probably have not heard about is one church, Lakeshore Baptist Church (LBC) and its ongoing efforts to rebuild in Hancock County.

Upon arriving in Lakeshore my first impression was that things did not look so bad. There was the new elementary school and things seemed Ok. Well of course after 52 months one could expect that the debris would have been removed. It was when I reached base camp at Lakeshore Baptist Church, say the mish mash of buildings there, and upon closer inspection of the community, that you could see the vacant lots where not only homes but lives were destroyed; the pylons that once supported businesses that will never return and a church steeple on the side of the road hoping one day to once again stand tall and proud on a house of worship.

Before we continue I think it prudent to review some facts about Hancock county Mississippi. They had a Pre-Katrina population of 46,000 and now 40,000 a decrease of about 16%. Eighty individuals lost their lives in the storm along with thousands of homes and nearly 1000 businesses. According to the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce; prior to the storm, the area developed a regional reputation as a great place to live, work, play and retire because of its relaxed atmosphere, great food, diverse cultural activities and strong sense of place.

One would think that the folks in the area would be weary and maybe even bitter of the struggle to rebuild. However what we found was that famous Southern Hospitality. Everyone we spoke to, every house we visited had nothing but appreciation for our being there and a kind word to share. One household we visited, had a family of five living in a structure no bigger than a utility shed available at home depot. When the visitation team arrived they were not only warmly greeted but the people told then they wished that they knew they were coming because they’d of put up lunch for everyone. How many of us would give all we had for a stranger. We found many who still are without running water or power and yet consider it a blessing for what they have.

While many set about to rebuild their own homes and businesses, LBC has spent the past 4 years and 4 months rebuilding not only homes but also lives. All at the sacrifice of their own church facilities. It was very evident to this individual that their efforts have not been in vain. Our group and some 100 other ARBCA (Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America) volunteers from across the country paid their own way to converge upon the Lakeshore area to help in the ongoing rebuilding projects. We spent a week in temporary housing (canvas Quonset huts) and enjoyed a week of hard work and great fellowship.

Pastor Don and the folks at LBC have been on the forefront of these efforts for more that 4 years and are determined to finish as strongly as they started. There is still much work to be done and many needs to be filled. There is no “qualification” other than is the need legitimate? I for one am convinced that there are still many with needs, whether it is material, financial or spiritual LBC and the volunteers have resolved to make every effort to see them met.

What can you do to help? First and foremost pray! Pray for the folks of the gulf coast, pray for the members of Lakeshore Baptist church, pray for the volunteers. Get personally involved in the rebuilding efforts there. You can do this by contacting LBC at www.rebuildlakeshore.com and signing up to go and volunteer for a week. Even if you can not go there in person you can still be apart of the work there. They have immediate need for food, clothing, (especially large men’s sizes) and other basic necessities. You can donate monies for this also on the web or by sending a tax deductible check to

Lakeshore Baptist Church
Po Box 293
Lakeshore MS 39558.

Aaron Hoak of Grace Fellowship Church, Bremen, IN, gives this encouraging report on his recent trip to Lakeshore:

Lakeshore, Mississippi got the short end of the stick last week. I thought I might be useful down there. Along with 100+ other volunteers, I went down to assist in ongoing recovery efforts resulting from Hurricane Katrina. That’s right; 4 ½ years after Katrina (August 29, 2005) there is still recovery work to be done – lots of it. And not just in New Orleans. They got the big media coverage, but the eye of the storm actually made landfall at the unknown town of Lakeshore in Hancock County, MS. One mile inland, the water from the storm surge was 30-40 feet high and there were sustained winds of 150 mph. That kind of force brings destruction on an unimaginable scale, so recovery efforts are still going on today and will continue for years to come. 88 people died that day…in Hancock County alone; homes and lives forever ripped apart.

Into that devastation came Lakeshore Baptist Church. They were there before the storm and though their building was completely destroyed, they were there after the storm as well (a church is more than a building, after all). And all indicators point to their presence in Lakeshore for years to come. LBC, led by Pastor Don Elbourne, spearheaded a relief/rebuilding effort that put the needs of the community first, and for the last 4 ½ years volunteers have been coming in droves to help the church reach the community with practical physical help and the gospel of Christ. So finally I went too. Surely I could be a help to those who were still in so much need. Funny how things work out. I trust that by God’s grace I was able to do some good in Lakeshore, but I received far more blessing than I gave. Like I said, Lakeshore got the short end of the stick.

Upon arrival I was paired with 3 others to do visitation and ministry. Under Pastor McDearmon’s able leadership, I along with Paul, Ruth, and Caitriona (and 3 other teams) set out to visit those who had been helped in some way by LBC. We went to their homes to listen to their stories, to fellowship with them, to share the good news with them. We met and talked with people with names like Carl, Russell, Miss Gayle, Oscar, Denise, Archie, Lily, Wilbur, Mrs. Green, and Jack. We heard stories; stories like you wouldn’t believe: spouses lost in the storm; all belongings swept away; ongoing unemployment and poverty; injustice; hopelessness; no faith. We saw unspeakable squalor and poverty. But we also saw remarkable strength and faith in the midst of such unspeakable suffering; the strength and faith that can only come from the God who plants his footsteps in the sea and rides on the storm. We saw God work in remarkable ways to create opportunities for sharing His word with those who needed it most. Men and women heard about Christ from our lips; I saw 6 Spanish speaking people enthralled at hearing the gospel in their own language; a hitchhiker got the ride he was looking for and the good news too. After a week of visiting and inviting, over 60 people came from the community to a dinner and evangelistic service Friday night! We’ve sown seed, watered, and only God knows what growth He will bring about.

I went to Lakeshore because I knew people not only needed their houses rebuilt; they needed the good news of God saving sinners through the work of His Son, Jesus. After all, Jesus Himself ministered both to the physical and spiritual needs of people. When the crowds learned where He had gone, “They followed him and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing” (Luke 9:11) LBC it seems to me is doing a fine job of meeting people’s needs and speaking to them of the Kingdom of God – true mercy ministry.

What happened in Lakeshore was that I was reminded of how much I need the gospel. I learned how far short I come in loving sinners. I learned how pathetic my complaints are. I learned how little I show real love to people in need. I learned how much growing I have to do. I learned how weak I am. I learned again how totally dependent upon God I am. I learned that I can deal with a little physical discomfort. I learned that His strength is made perfect in my weakness. I learned that I have a lot more to learn about mercy ministry (thoughts on how to translate what LBC is doing to our churches would be most welcome). I learned more about the joy of telling others of the hope that lies within me. I learned more about fellowship and communion of believers of like mind. I learned more of how the body of Christ operates. I learned that God moves in mysterious ways. And I’m still learning.

I went to Lakeshore to be a blessing to others, and hopefully I was. But what I know happened is that I was blessed. I’m thankful to each one who played a part in the experience of a lifetime – from my family (love you, E!) and church at home who prayed for me to those who were there with me. I pray now that I remember what I’ve learned, and I pray that God will continue to build not just houses in Lakeshore, but His Kingdom.

Next on the list; we need to stucco the main house, lay pavers for the 32 X 16 front entry, and brick the 10 X 10 pump house. I do not have anyone on the volunteer list for the foreseeable future who have listed these skill sets. If you have experience in stucco or brick, please consider making a special trip to Lakeshore to help with this project. Contact us and let us know you can come. We will put you up in the newly built bunkhouse and I’ll personally prepare an authentic Creole / Cajun meal for your crew.

Although our new “Base Flood Elevation” required us to raise the Mercy House almost 10′ off grade, my design envisioned a two-story structure instead of a building set up on beach front piers. Last week we hid the 12X12 pilings with an enclosure which achieved the desired look. Recommended FEMA Hydrostatic flood vents on the lower level, NFIP code compliant building techniques, and a little visual consistency, brought the building together. I’m looking forward to siding the building with Stucco and hanging the shutters to complete the buildings exterior.

God forbid we see another catastrophic weather event in my life-time, but if we do, this building should resist a 9′ surge without compromising structural integrity. We plan to use the lower level for storage needs in conjunction with our Mercy Ministry; food, clothing, and household item distribution. The exposed beams of the interior reveal the buildings strength with architectural honesty. Lord willing, we will move into the facility very soon.