Personal From Ministerial and Member Services

Our pastor for the New Orleans area, Skeets Mez, has been keeping me informed about how Hurricane Ida has affected our members. It was difficult to reach a few of them immediately after the storm, but now all members have been accounted for and are safe.

Mr. Mez writes, “There has been damage to some members’ homes; a big tree limb poked a hole in one member’s roof. The whole roof will need to be replaced due to many shingles being blown off. They are without power, and a backup generator suddenly quit producing electricity so they lost all the food in their refrigerator and freezer.

“Another couple attending with us from Houma, Louisiana, suffered quite a bit of property damage, but did not have water damage to their home. They evacuated due to no water or electricity with temperatures near 100 degrees. They know God protected them, since the neighbor across the street had their roof destroyed. Most other members evacuated before the storm, although it took 9–12 hours to make a 4-hour trip. This saga is far from over, considering the extent of the damage to the electric grid.”

We will certainly offer help to our members and see that their needs are met. Please remember in your thoughts and prayers not only our members who were affected by this catastrophic hurricane, but their neighbors and others in the area who are suffering loss of varying degrees.

Let Us Keep the Feast . . . and Also Remember Those Among Us

With the Feast of Trumpets less than a week away now, we begin God’s fall Holy Day season in the Northern Hemisphere. We are quite excited about keeping the Feast days and worshipping God the Father and Jesus Christ. Of course, this should be our main emphasis during this season: to worship, to show love, respect, honor and a proper fear of God as we observe these commanded assemblies. We keep the Feast days with God’s vision of His coming Kingdom and a beautiful future in mind for all people.

We also, rightly so, look forward to spending time with family and friends, and to fellowship with close friends who are members of the Body of Christ. Nevertheless, let us also remember the stranger, the poor, the fatherless, the widow, the widower and the lonely this Festival season.

Many congregations provide gift baskets for those who are not able to attend the Feast in person due to illness or advanced age. Many of us send cards of encouragement to these same people from our respective Feast sites. These expressions of love and concern, over many years, have encouraged countless brethren.

God places a great deal of emphasis upon remembering those who have very little family and are often left alone to cope with life’s difficulties. Meeting on the Feast days is a golden opportunity for all of us to take the time to be aware of those who may be lonely. Someone may be greatly encouraged and edified when you take the time to show you care. Let us all be diligent to see that no one is forgotten in God’s family during these Feast days. We realize that no one really is alone, as God knows all, sees all and loves all. However, God also wants us, as His children, to be mindful of others.

Please be mindful of those who don’t seem to have a lot of family and friends to share the Feast with; have conversations with them to see how they are doing. Perhaps include them in a meal with your family. Of course, we should be respectful of each person’s personal space, especially with the pandemic still affecting many people, but please do not assume that everyone is doing fine. Perhaps your concern and willingness to engage with others will make their Feast much more enjoyable and may help them rejoice in knowing that others are concerned and care about them.

If everyone would simply reach out to those who may be lonely and appear somewhat isolated and include them in fellowship, it is unlikely that anyone would feel forgotten and alone during the observance of these days that picture God’s family, abundance, peace and unity.

Let us all remember the poor, the stranger, the fatherless and the lonely among us!

May you all have a very inspiring Sabbath and Feast of Trumpets!