“THANK YOU CELEBRATION CHURCH FOR HAVING COMPASSION ON THE COMMUNITY.” Those words were posted to our Celebration Facebook site several days ago by a young lady named Amanda Thibodaux. Amanda went on to write: “I went to your Laplace location today and was given food, water and HOPE and a PRAYER. There was a lovely lady who was so sweet and helpful. Today is her birthday and she was out sweating and working to serve others. A true testimony. Thank you for touching so many.”

We’ve received many similar responses from the people from our Church’s relief effort in Laplace, where 7000 homes were flooded by Lake Pontchartrain in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac. As a result of our partnerships with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Teams, Convoy of Hope, Samaritan’s Purse and a number of other organizations, lots of Relief supplies and meals have been distributed, lots of Relief work has been accomplished, and lots of ministry has taken place. Much of this Relief effort and ministry has been done by our incredible Celebration members, as well as by other volunteers from around our state and nation. You can read more about what has been accomplished through our Celebration Relief Center in a North American Mission Board article titled, “FLOODED CHURCH NOW MINISTRY SITE” click here to see the article. Also, our Church and our partners have been involved in Relief efforts in Plaquemines Parish and Lafitte, as well as in St. John the Baptist Parish.

OUR PASTORS AND I ARE ENCOURAGING THE MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH FAMILY (AS WELL AS YOUR FRIENDS) TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THIS ISAAC RELIEF EFFORT THAT’S HELPING SO MANY PEOPLE. You can support this ongoing Relief effort by:

   * Volunteering to help staff our Relief Center at our campus in Laplace (3400 New Hwy 51) on weekdays and on    

   * Saturdays from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm (contact is checkerzw@celebrationchurch.org)

   * Volunteering to help “mud-out” homes for the elderly and widows on Saturdays, click here to contact Tony.

   * Giving generously above your regular tithes and offerings to our Isaac Relief Ministry, you can give online by clicking here.

    * Praying for the Lord to provide the needed number of volunteers, praying for those volunteers, and praying for      the people who need help

Many of us need to remember how others helped us in the days, weeks and months following Hurricane Katrina, and be willing to sacrifice to help others in the same way.

SPEAKING OF REMEMBERING, WE NEED TO REMEMBER AND PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES THAT WERE IMPACTED ON THIS DAY (SEPTEMBER 11) BACK IN 2001. On that day almost 3000 Americans lost their lives as a result of terrorist attacks. I will never forget where I was when I received the news of the attacks upon the Twin Towers in New York City, how I felt, and then how our Staff prayed for our nation in the hours that followed. I will also never forget how many, many people showed up in Church on the Weekends that followed to seek help from the Lord and His people in dealing with their grief and sorrow. I learned a principle in 2001 that was reinforced in 2005 and in recent weeks. I learned that the only person that people can turn to and receive help from when dealing with great tragedy and sorrow is the Lord and His church. That’s one of the primary reasons God has the Celebration Congregation here in New Orleans – to proclaim to the people of our region that there is always help, hope and healing with the Lord. Let’s thank God that He is able to bring people help, hope and healing, and that He utilizes us to bring comfort and change to people and to communities.

THIS COMING SUNDAY AFTER OUR SERVICES, WE WILL BE HAVING OUR SAINTS TAILGATE PARTIES. At our Laplace and Westbank Campuses, we will be hosting those parties in Life Groups, while at our Metairie and St. Bernard Campuses we will be having those parties in our worship centers. So plan to join the Celebration Congregation this Sunday for a great time of feasting, fun, fellowship, and great football. And bring some friends with you. They will have a blast, and will learn that Christians know how to have even more fun than those who don’t know the Lord.

Thanks again for being the people that you are, and for doing all that you for the Lord, our Church, and for others. May the Lord bless and reward you in response to your faith, faithfulness and generosity in the days ahead.

Pastor Dennis

P.S. I sent our Church members a letter this past weekend about plans to move our Church offices in the near future to our Airline Drive Campus. Please read that letter, and send to our Business Administrator Ken Boudreaux any questions you may have, click here send email.