CMA To Aid in Massive New Orleans Outreach, Help Requested

On Friday, December 16, through Sunday, December 18, 2005, the National Children's Ministries Agency (CMA) will join with Hosanna Fellowship (AG) in Marrero, Louisiana, to minister to tens of thousands of hurricane victims and provide them with a Christmas to remember.

Located just across the Mississippi River from New Orleans, Hosanna Fellowship is hosting the "Imagine Christmas - fun, excitement, hope!" celebration. The church hopes to minister to as many as ten thousand guests each day with special events, activities and gifts.

The national Children's Ministries Agency will be coming alongside the church to coordinate all the children's activities at this outreach.

According to CMA staff members who traveled to the New Orleans area to meet with church officials, this one-time "party" city is now open to the gospel message like never before. However, for such a massive undertaking, CMA is asking for help.

"We need a minimum of 100 children's pastors and leaders," says CMA Director David Boyd, "as well as children's ministry teams who can bring carnival-type activities, sidewalk Sunday School trucks or trailers with PA systems, generators, canopy-type tents, Christmas ornaments for decoration and 'Bags of Blessings' [see http://4kids.ag.org/news/bagsofblessing.cfm for details] filled with items for children."

Although, there are a limited number of trailers available for workers, Boyd says that participants should plan on providing their own transportation, meals and lodging. "Such horrific destruction [occurred in New Orleans]," Boyd states. "TV cannot describe the smells and sites that stretch for miles and miles."

But, Boyd adds, with so much destruction, many individuals and families in the area have few activities from which to choose. "What better time for us to show them the true meaning of Christmas," Boyd states.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Carolyn Burwell at CMA

1-417-862-2781 or send an e-mail.

Dan Van Veen