Go help

Paul answered, “What do you think of the gospel?” in Romans 1:1-17, which is this week’s Explore the Bible lesson, by making clear that he was not ashamed of it. He also prayed that he’d succeed in going to Rome to minister/serve there. I hope we are not ashamed today to go offer help where it is desperately needed.

Yesterday, our church staff was not ashamed to go to a local hotel full of evacuees from New Orleans and offer help in the name of Christ. After receiving help many attended last evening’s prayer service and shared their story. Most are grateful and desperately want to communicate with loved ones that are unaccounted for after the chaos and destruction created by hurricane Katrina.

If you want to help your class understand what they can do to help victims of this disaster, here are a few suggestions.

1. American Red Cross www.redcross.org 281-885-4563, or national 866-438-4636. They need new blow up air mattresses, new bed sheets, and bottled water.

2. Victim Relief www.victimrelief.org 214-275-9900 to volunteer

3. Texas Baptist Men 800-558-8263

4. Salvation Army www.salvationist.org 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)

5. Harris County Citizen’s Corp www.harriscountycitizencorp.com 713-755-4077

6. North American Mission Board

Go help because you love people in the name of Christ, out of obedience to His wishes and because you want to be a good steward of the resources He has given you.