Gulf Coast Churches Look to Resurrection, Hope after Death, Despair
Megachurches are set to draw tens of thousands of people this weekend beginning Good Friday and churches across the nation anticipate higher attendance as is typical every year during one of the most celebrated times in Christendom.
Megachurches are set to draw tens of thousands of people this weekend beginning Good Friday and churches across the nation anticipate higher attendance as is typical every year during one of the most celebrated times in Christendom. In the meantime, believers in the Gulf Coast are seeing a new light of death and resurrection this Easter.
"This is a season of renewal, a time for giving thanks and praise and for remembering that hope overcomes despair," said President George W. Bush in his Easter 2006 message.
Despair struck communities in the Gulf Coast when Katrina hit, and recovery is going "very slowly," according to Joe McKeever, director of missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. Aid workers are looking at decades before towns are rebuilt to normalcy. Despite the mass rubble and waterlogged homes, the traditions of Easter are keeping eggs still boiled and dyed for the affected families.
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One Southern Baptist church in New Orleans has a "real nice tent" for its Easter celebration. Edgewater Baptist Church, a three-story building, stood in around 10 feet of water when the hurricanes struck. The church set up a tent on the property in February from which worship services with some 40 people were held weekly ever since.
"We've been trying to focus the entire time on what God is trying to do new in our own lives, our church and our city," said Kevin Lee, pastor/teacher of Edgewater, reflecting on Easter.
"God takes tragic events, things that the world sees as ugly and He makes [them] into beautiful things. We're looking for Him to bring something beautiful out of the storm."
Bush spoke along the same lines in his Easter message, stating, "His promise of new life gives hope and confidence to His followers."
A church less affected by the storms is offering the community a large Easter outreach. Following a successful Christmas event that drew over 12,000 people from the affected areas, Hosanna Church in Marrero, La., will host an Easter Eggstravaganza this weekend, inviting families from all around the city.
"We continue to offer hope even as we continue on into the Easter season," said Christopher Strok, director of Children's Ministries at Hosanna. "I think that's the one thing we're really trying to get across to offer something that's positive."
Edgewater will also host the traditional egg hunt for children.
"With everything that has happened around here, Easter is really the perfect time to talk about and share with these kids going from death to new life, showing through Christ that in that same way he was able to conquer death and destruction, we will be able to overcome," said Strok.
Before the storm, Hosanna had an average attendance of more than 200. The numbers plummeted after Katrina made landfall to 60 congregants. Attendance has now shot up to 280 people through the outreach events that have offered hope to a displaced community.
"People say they're praying for us," said McKeever, who will be attending an interdenominational Easter sunrise service. But more than small prayers, he has asked people to "pray big," saying Christ died for the city and asking the Lord to take it back.
