Hurricane Relief Update

This was our report yesterday afternoon:

Hey guys,

Just left Bruce Stinson down in Beaumont, TX, an hour

east of us. Left him supplies, etc. Gas (unleaded and diesel) and gas tanks
are their greatest emergency need right now and it is hard or nonexistent
to find gas cans even here in our nearby town. We have plenty of gas but
they have neither gas or gas cans for 50 miles or more. I am about to order
them online and get them here to take to them!

The area does look like a bomb went off. Power is
still out. Access is not overly restrictive but they do stop each one entering
in on some areas to just ask what you are doing there. Bruce and his
people are weary but upbeat. They have their gymatorium filled with goods
and organized into a few hundred bags for families. He is also having a
special service for all the community and churches tonight. His church
building sustained very heavy damage though repairable over time. He has a
great church and people and a ripe opportunity to show Jesus and the Gospel in
this dire time. They are filled with families from the surrounding communiyt with little babies. The county judge would not let Red Cross set up a shelter at tehir church (for political reasons).

Pray for them:
-for Bruce and his family's needs
-for Bruce's leadership (which is excellent)
-for his church folk: they are stressed and tired and the road is long yet
for them all

Just givin a report so you all can mention it in prayer in your respective
services tonight,

Walt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Swaims
Pastor, Central Baptist Church of Pasadena (Houston), Texas
http://centralBClife.com
http://wswaim.blogspot.com

September 25, 2005

For the final week of Experiencing the Hope of Jesus, I wanted to preach a message different than I have preached before - no handouts, no powerpoint, and freedom to daydream. Why? Because we were talking about heaven, and there is no way to adequately describe the joys and wonder of heaven, I didn't want our imaginations to be held to words or images. I don't know how successful I was at getting my point accross, but even the Apostle John in Revelation is left to use similes and metaphors when describing the things he sees. So perhaps it is best that rather than telling what heaven is like, maybe I could give a glimpse of how absolutely unimagineable it is. I used the songs Imagine by John Lennon and I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me to demonstrate the point.

I was moved when our congregation began lifting their voices during I Can Only Imagine. I almost couldn't sing, as I felt the presence of God draw near as we drew near to Him. I so long for our congregation to experience this movement of God regularly.

A highlight of our Sunday was baptizing three people - Veronica and Kregg Gauthier, and Silas Thompson (see pictures below). I am always glad to witness people follow the Lord in this area. I pray for each person, that the Lord will grow and mature them in Christ.

It was a good day at the Journey, with an attendance of 95 and a good spirit.

This is Silas Thompson, a good kid who wanted to get baptized. He is a great example, and I look forward to seeing God work in his life. 

Silas comes out of the water. I am glad that he is an example to our kids about obeying God. 

Veronica has re-dedicated her life to God, and has been influential in seeing her husband come to know God.

This is Veronica Gauthier, who's husband Kregg also got baptized (see below). 

This is Kregg Gauthier - he got saved in our service back on April 24th. God is so good.

Kregg comes up out of the water - "Raised in the likeness of His resurrection."

Update from Houston, Texas

Below is an email from Pastor Walt Swaim of Central Baptist Church in
Pasadena, Texas (next to Houston). We have so far sent $2000 to his church to help as they help others, and will
be attending a candelight vigil in Pelham, NH next Sunday evening (for anyone who wants to attend, it will begin at 7pm).

Hello from Pasadena, Texas!

I am behind but am finally able to give a brief update on our hurricane relief work.

Up till last week we were still receiving goods and also were housing the last remaining evacuees.
We also delievered goods in coordination with City of Pasadena and SE TX Housing Authority.
We have received over $3,000 in cash donations that have been held ina special fund and deducted as needed.
As you may have seen in the news, all over Houston most of the evacuees have now found places here or elsewhere
to live, especially backed with federal aid. In our particular case we realized quickly and by suggestion of our
overall coordinator that we use these funds for those special needs that are not met by federal or other aid.

So I introduce you to Janet. Janet is a single mother from New Orleans who has a baby and a 10 year old autistic boy.
The changes for her autistic son have been dramatic and accentuated beyond normal due to such drastic changes.
She was provided an apartment and her son has begun a school, though it is not working well for them at this moment
for him. She has nothing but her car, their clothes and is possibly getting a new job. What we were able to do then
was such a joy thanks to many of those who have donated. Her major need not covered is for her to have childcare so
she can work and take care of her family. We were able to provode about two month's worth of childcare at the place
or person of her choice!! We may help her in other things soon (such as with aid for her autistic boy) but we'll find
out more next week.

Another family was passed to us in private that has a total of 11 people (parents, kids, grandparents) in three
apartments on loan in nearby Baytown. We also went out there Thursday and surprised them with a visit with a truck
load full of kids colroing books and toys and food items. They had no furniture (as we could see in their new little
home) and so we were able to help them purchase some furniture - again thanks to you our donors. The mom's name is
Harriet and her husband is a New Orleans corrections officer who was called back to transport prisoners who had
gotten out and calling people to come pick them up! Also much of the evidence of these cases is now gone or ruined!

While in this apartment complex, we discovered a whole "colony" of folk from the same area given shelter here.
We are going back with more goods: food, baby crib, and more to give out to 11 families there.

I have attached a picture of Janet with her child (the boy was at school) and the other lady is harriet with
one of her daughters. They received the help warmly and Shane and i prayed with each one as well as giving them
Bibles and Gospel tracts to read.

Now we face a new challenge which may delay things for a few days - our own hurricane! We are in disbelief
but getting prepared here in Houston. What is even more difficult is that there are thousands who settled here
after Katrina only to have to move or flee this hurricane! Pray for us all please, and we will be sending
another update soon as possible.

Serving Him in Houston,

Walter Swaim

Sunday, September 18, 2005

I am so grateful to pastor a church like The Journey. The diversity represented in our backgrounds along with the commitment and passion of our people is refreshing. Today was a day where there was passion and commitment demonstrated - even awkwardly at times - from our people, but I love when people get excited about Jesus Christ.

Today was a good day at The Journey - the music and the preaching was good. We introduced the song, "Better is One Day" from Psalm 84 to our people, which went well. My message was the completion of last week's message. "After This-the Coming," focusing on the names of Christ at His coming. It was one of the more enjoyable, excitable sermons that I have preached - I am passionate when speaking about the love of Christ that extends to us - the love that extended to us through Jesus Christ as the Word of God in John 1 and Isaiah 63:7.

Our attendance today was 96, and I missed several of our members who were away today (you know who you are!). I look forward to worshiping again with you. We did have a few visitors from the area - Johnathon and Lauren in the 2nd service, and Coleen in the first service. I hope to see them again.

"Overturning the Gospels"?

This news article from Newsweek is very interesting and scathing—is the church what it should be in America? The premise of the article is “Katrina has reminded us that Christian morality should be about responding to the wretched and loving the unlovable—not about other people’s sex lives.” Read the article and feel free to post your comments.

A House of Prayer

Wow. God is so good, and we are just seeing a little bit of what God can do at The Journey. The prayer time was great tonight - so many people crying out to God. God is pleased.

We prayed for three things tonight:
1) The persecuted church in the world.
2) The area churches, both in our communities and around the state. Prayed especially for God's kingdom to advance through these churches.
3) The Journey and the launching of our small groups.

Prayer is vital, and prayer is the key. Let's keep praying.

Sunday, September 11, 2005

The momentum continues to build as we head into the fall here in Rochester at The Journey. This weekend was exciting, with the carwash on Saturday and a full auditorium on Sunday. Our attendance set an all-time high of 118, and new people continue to check us out. God is good, and I am humbled as the Lord moves.

Today was a good day. We took a few moments in the beginnings of each service to remember our country and 9/11, thanking God for our servicemen, including our soldiers, police, and firefighters.

The worship was also good in both services, and to me, the worship sets the stage for the delivery of the Word of God. If people take time to worship, than there is a freshness from the Bible - literally a manifestation of the song where God "opens the eyes of our hearts" - and we are able to hear the Spirit as we read the Word. Worship does that - worship opens the channels in our hearts to the voice and working of the Holy Spirit. Let me encourage you to keep going!

Today I spoke on the 1st two titles of Jesus Christ at the 2nd Coming - Faithful and True and an Unknown Name. I was so excited to deliver this message because of what these titles mean to us, and I felt the response was good. I hope that the Word is not just received and forgotten, but that our people will receive it and meditate on it.

This week, we will be sending $655 more to the hurricane relief to our sister church and relief center, Central Baptist Church in Pasadena, TX. As we continue to prepare for the 40 Days of Purpose, my heart is getting more and more excited to think about what God is going to do!

Benefit Car Wash for Hurricane Katrina Relief

The Journey got together today and held a benefit car wash from 10am to 1pm (see pics below) to give money to a sister church of ours that is right in the thick of hurricane relief in Houston. Due to the hard work & generosity of our church members and the generosity of our fellow citizens in the Rochester area, we were able to raise $650 dollars.

For the first hour, it seemed we could hardly get anyone to pull into our lot - I was nervous. But after 11am, the cars started pouring in. Thanks to all of you who maintained good attitudes and just "washed your hearts out!"

I am so thankful for each and every man, woman, teen, and child who contributed. I remind you of the Bible passage in Matthew 25:37-40 "Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'

To The Journey - you might not ever see the results on earth of your generosity, but you will receive a reward from God Himself. Know that the Lord considers the service done for those who are hurting and hungry and needy is service done for Him. I sincerely thank you. God bless you. - Pastor

Kriss sprays down a car, while Ben looks to re-sud his sponge. 

We couldn't believe the amount of cars that kept pulling into our lot - the crew gets busy with this dirty car. 

Barb gets ready to lend a helping hand while this car gets a spray down. 

Kyle (left) was king of the power sprayer while Ben (purple) and Kriss and Chuck wash this minivan. 

The kids were a huge help all day, making sure that every nook and cranny was clean. 

Dave Gibson gets the job done on this minivan.