This Page Is Used To Post Announcements And Bulletins Concerning The Lord's
Churches.
Information Such As Bible Conferences, Churches Seeking Pastors, Pastors
Available And Any Other Matters Relating To The Lord's New Testament Sovereign
Grace Baptist Churches Will Be Gladly Posted.
The Philadelphia Baptist Church of Decatur, Alabama and interim Pastor
Wm. Doyal Thomas will be hosting the Quarterly Fellowship on June 28th,
2008.
Scheduled
speakers are Elder Todd Bryant – Pastor of the Sovereign Grace Baptist
Church in Northport, Alabama and Brother Chris McCool – Member of the Sovereign
Grace Baptist Church in Columbus, Mississippi.
Services will begin at 10:00 AM.
The church will provide a lunch meal for all of our guests.
For further information you may contact Elder Wm. Doyal Thomas by phone:
256 773 1474 or e-mail coraltom@charter.net.
For a map to the church building and detailed driving instructions CLICK
HERE.
Elder Wayne Camp is updating the directory of Sovereign Grace Baptist Churches.
http://www.gpp-5grace.com/directory_churches.htm
Select
articles are being made available in Adobe PDF format. Click
Here to see whaat is currently available.
The Philadelphia Baptist Church of Decatur, Alabama has authorized a new
ministry. Christian Souls is
a new web site where young Christians can meet and discuss the glorious
doctrines of God's Sovereign Grace and other Biblical topics.
Brother Eric Gilbreath is laboring in this ministry which the Lord has
laid upon his heart.
Please stop by for a visit and also encourage your young people to do so.
The 'Message Of Grace' radio broadcast can be heard Sunday 7:00 - 7:30
AM (CST) on WERH 970 AM from Hamilton, Alabama.
CLICK
HERE for free cassette tapes of those broadcasts.
Select
'Message Of Grace' radio sermons as well as several sermons by Elder Wm.
Doyal Thomas and others are now available on CD format. Click
Here for more information.
The
Philadelphia Baptist Church of Decataur, Alabama has moved to a new location.
Click
Here for information and directions.
On Sunday December 2, 2007 Elder Wm. Doyal Thomas retired as pastor of
the Philadelphia Baptist Church of Decatur, Alabama.
Therefore the Philadelphia Baptist Church of Decatur, Alabama is seeking
the Lord’s direction in calling a pastor.
Sovereign Grace Baptist pastors who feel led of the Lord to consider this
pastorate may currently contact the church by:
e-mail - admin@pbcofdecaturalabama.org
phone - 931 293 4460
mail - Philadelphia Baptist Church
4301 Delina Road
Cornersville, TN 37047
The above contact information will be changed as the church appoints a
pulpit committee. Those changes will be made available at that time.
Elder Thomas has graciously agreed to assume the position of interim pastor
until that time when the Lord supplies a pastor for His church.
All the members of the Philadelphia Baptist Church covet your prayers as
we seek the Lord’s direction in this matter.
*****
The Charity Baptist Church of Gladstone, Michigan is in need of a pastor.
Contact Brother Mark Blau at (906) 474-6721.
*****
The Grace Baptist Church Of Hamilton (Fairfield Township), Ohio is in need
of a pastor. Contact Brother Gail Terrell, Jr at gbcpastorsearch@fuse.net
or 513.844.1800.
Update On this
work as of 04/5/06 
It is such a blessing to pastor a loving and caring church that is ready
to minister to those in need. The people of Elliott Baptist Church
have worked tirelessly for over six months meeting the needs of Katrina
victims.
Before the storm hit we had evacuees staying in our church building.
In the early days of just before and for three weeks after the storm we
fed from 80-120 meals twice a day. We have been blessed to place
hundreds of Bibles and thousands of Bible tracts in the hands of Katrina
victims. After most of the evacuees were able to go back to the coast,
many of them with no home to go to, we concentrated on sending truck loads
of food, clothing, and bedding to the coast. We literally were able
to send tons of food because of the faithfulness of God's people in caring
and giving. As people began to get into FEMA trailers we began to
send down more food but added household goods such as plates, glasses,
silverware, crock pots, toasters, pots and pans, etc. Now as some
of the people are able to get back into their storm ravaged homes, we are
helping them get furniture, washers and dryers, refrigerators, flooring
etc. We are helping as many families as we can with up to $2,000
per family in needed goods. There are thousands of people that need
help and we want to help them. At this time we have helped over 100
families with this phase of our ministry on the coast. Overall we
have spent over $280,000 in this relief effort. The good thing about
this is that all of the money is used to help those affected by the storm.
We know what needs to be done and desire to do it as long as we can.
Each week we have people from the Elliott Baptist Church who go to the
coast, meet with Katrina Victims and go with them to purchase what they
need. We do not pass out money, we find out what the need is and
go with them to take care of that need. Recently four of our ladies
went to the coast and delivered 164 pillows and 164 homemade pillowcases.
These went to children who had lost everything including their pillows
and pillowcases.
I must be truthful with you all, we are running out of funds. We
are not asking for funds we are just letting you know that a great need
exists and we will do what we can as long as the funds are available.
If God lays it upon the hearts of His people to continue to give to help
in this work, we will continue to faithfully get the job done. When
the funds run out we will take it that God is ready for this work to cease.
We have from the beginning said, "What God orders He will pay for."
Pray for us and pray for the thousands that still need help. Pray
for our workers that God will give them strength to carry on as long as
we can.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Cecil Fayard
Elliott Baptist Church
P. O. Box 595
Elliott, MS 38926
cecilafayard@msn.com
*****
Those
who wish to offer assistance to Katrina victims may consider this ministry
of the Elliot Baptist Church of Elliot, MS.
"Dear Fellow Pastors
and Churches,
As you know Hurricane
Katrina has had a tremendous effect upon the people of the Gulf Coast and
New Orleans. Our church, Elliott Baptist, has been housing hurricane
victims and providing meals for those at the church as well as those staying
at the Jameson Inn in Grenada, Mississippi. We are providing meals
for from 80-100 people twice a day. Many of these folks are from
the New Orleans area and do not have a home to go back to. We do
not know how long we will have to feed these folks but we plan to continue
until there is no longer a need. Some of the brethren have asked
what their churches could do. The greatest need right now is money
to provide meals and other essential items (toiletries etc). We have
an emergency fund and have been drawing from it since Monday August 29.
This storm will have a greater long term effect than any in recent history.
If your church would like to help out it would be greatly appreciated.
Our address is:
Elliott Baptist Church
P.O. Box 595
Elliott, Mississippi 38926
Thank you for considering
this need. I only send this because of the calls that I have
received asking what can be done.
Yours in Christ,
Cecil Fayard
Pastor "
*****
Update On this work
as of 09-06-05
"We continue to feed right at 100 evacuees two meals a day. tonight we,
the ladies have cooked hamburger steak, lima beans, mashed potatoes and
gravy, rolls and sweet tea. These evacuees are truly thankful for all the
help they are getting. Most of the folks that the Lord sent our way are
from the New Orleans area and will be with us for weeks to come.
We are getting
to know many of them well and get many opportunities to sit down and talk
to them sharing the Gospel. Only eternity will tell how much good will
be done.
Our faithful church members are tired but happy as they provide meals and
necessities for the displaced.
Thursday we are
going to be headed to Ocean Springs to take a load of supplies. Many folks
are having to sleep on bare concrete and we will be taking sleeping mats,
bed clothes and pillows to help with this need. We are also carrying water,
food and baby supplies. Underclothes are a great need as well.
On Monday of next week we will be taking a semi tractor trailer load of
food to the Pascagoula, Moss Point, Hurley area of the Mississippi Gulf
Coast. Al Hankins, one of our men at Elliott is providing the truck and
driver.
We have also found
out that many small communities that were hard hit are getting very little
help.
We plan to continue
to feed and house people here and make trips to the coastal counties as
long as the need exists.
Today and I made
arrangements with Tim Golden, Spain's Grocery in Grenada, Mississippi,
to buy at cost pallet loads of food, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper
towel etc. We estimate that the load on Monday will cost about $6,000.00.
I wish that I had time to share with you that God is doing through His
churches that have helped us as we help others.
I will try to keep you updated as time permits.
Yours in Christ,
Brother Cecil
Fayard - Pastor
Elliott Baptist
Church
P.O. Box 595
Elliott, Mississippi
38926"
*****
Update On this work
as of 09-12-05
“Date: Sun, 11 Sep
2005
On Friday my daughter Karis, Brother T. Hill and myself made a trip south
of Elliott. Our first stop was Wiggins, MS where we brought much
needed supplies to the relatives of Missionary Eldwyn Rodgers. These folks
are out in the country and hard to reach, they were really glad to see
us. From Wiggins we headed on down to Hurley, MS there we delivered milk,
bread, canned goods, fruit, eggs, clothes, cleaning supplies etc. Then
it was a short ride down to Pascagoula. I grew up less than twenty miles
from this coastal town. The destruction is wide spread and the needs great.
We went down on the front beach where Senator Trent Lott's house once stood.
Nothing is left of it, it is literally a pile of boards and other material.
While in Pascagoula we took time to visit for a few moments with my son-in-laws
grandparents (he is in Iraq and concerned about them). They have lived
on the same street and in the same house for fifty-five years. Up until
Katrina they had never gotten any water into their house. These folks live
a good ways of the beach, yet they had a foot of water in the house. They
have already cleaned up and are living in the house, they have received
no government assistence and are not looking for any. Melvin's (my son-in-laws)
uncles who live closer to the beach had to put their wives up in the attic
as the water came in, the men barely kept their heads above water. We left
supplies in Pascagoula and then went over to the North Biloxi, D"Iberville
area. The home of my dad, the old home place, had been lifted up
out of it’s foundation and sat down on a fence. Everything in the
house is destroyed. We crossed the bayou that runs near the home place
and saw massive destruction. Homes that had made it through Hurricane Camille
in 1969 were washed away. Buildings that I thought would make it were wiped
away by Katrina's fury. It was getting dark and the curfew is 8:00 p.m.
so we went to Ocena Springs to leave supplies there. I looked at my watch
as I got into bed and it was 2:37 Saturday morning.
Tomorrow
we have three trucks going out. One to Hattiesburg with Army Major Brad
Case, a member of our church. He is taking food, water and medicine. The
next truck is the one going to Ocean Springs with 10 pallets of goods,
I will be going with this load along with a driver provided by Hankin Lumber
Co. On this truck will be 360 gallons of bleach, 1,700 bottles of water,
300 4 pks of toilet tissue, 1200 cans of canned meat, 360 bottles of 409
cleaner, 360 bottles of Pine Sol, 324 bottles of Clorox clean up, 336 rolls
of Brawny paper towels, 3,600 cans of vegtables. We are also taking medicine
and other needed supplies. The third truck is going into one of the worst
areas, Waveland, MS. Jack Blakely and Jerry Wilkinson will make this run.
They will carrying pitch forks, walky talkies for recovery workers, paper
plates, hand sanitizers, even some chairs as everything was washed away.
We are going
to be sending a portable kitchen down to the coast in the next few days.
Brother Waymon(Mo Suga) Scarberry and Herschel Christian will be feeding
houndreds of hot meals in Ocean Springs, Gulfport and Waveland.
Please pray
that God will give us the strength to keep everything moving and the wisdom
to get things to the places they are needed most. Thank you for your help
in the ongoing endeavor. We are still feeding evacuees, but not as many
as at first.
Yours in Christ,
Cecil Fayard -
Pastor
Elliott Baptist
Church
P.O. Box 595
Elliott, Mississippi
38926”
*****
Update On this work
as of 09-15-05
“Wednesday, September
14, 2005 10:52 PM
Tomorrow
two trucks are headed to Ocean Springs, Mississippi with supplies.
Brother Billy Holbrook pastor of the Salem Baptist Church, Willow Hill,
IL and Brother Robert Lawson a member at Independence Baptist Church in
Foristell, MO are on the coast and are a great help in relaying the ongoing
needs to us. We are far enough north to get supplies readily and far enough
south to truck the supplies down in one day.
Four of our
members will handle this trip, Charles and Brenda Vance and Daryl and Cynthia
Franklin. They will be carrying metal rakes, pitch forks, chainsaws,
2 extension ladders, two step ladders, 2 large shop-vacs to handle sheet
rock dust (we hope to take a large load of sheet rock down early next week,
maybe Monday as they cannot get sheet rock there), a large load of brooms
and mops, dust pans, 2 framing squares, 3 8 pt hand saws, 3 sets of saw
horses, eye drops, caladryl, neosporin, shaving cream, a washer and a dryer
to wash and dry the clothes the clothes of volunteers, bleach.
These supplies are mainly for the workers who are helping people get back
in their homes. As I was typing this report Brother Holbrook sent
in another list of needed supplies and we will begin to fill it tomorrow.
Some may be wondering about the sheet rock, let me give an explanation,
many people who got saltwater into their houses did not have flood insurance
so the water damage from the storm surge will not be covered. All
of the sheet rock will have to be torn out of those homes and replaced.
Many people just cannot afford this so we will help as much as we can through
God's churches. We are specifically trying to find and help those
of the household of faith.
On Friday my daughter Karis, Laurie Blakely and Phyllis Blakely are going
down to Pascagoula , it is possible that a few others will go with them.
They are taking cleaning supplies and have a couple of houses that they
will be helping people clean. Following them will be two of our men
Curry Little and Michael Jacks they will be taking two refrigerators (I
still call them ice boxes) purchased for two needy families by a church
in KY.
Our cooking
crew leaves in the morning at 1:00 a.m. Pray for them as they drive
through the night so they can set up and feed hot meals to folks Thursday-Saturday.
They will come in on Saturday night and go back on Monday.
There are many other avenues of ministry that are opening to us and I will
share some of those in our next report.
Yours in Christ,
Cecil Fayard -
Pastor
Elliott Baptist
Church
P.O. Box 595
Elliott, Mississippi
38926”
*****
Update On this work
as of 09-19-05
Below is a report from
Pastor Billy Holbrook who is in Ocean Springs, MS working in connection
with the Elliot Baptist Church of Elliot, MS in continuing relief efforts
for hurricane victims.
Brother Fayard;
I am writing this note just to fill you in on what's going on here at the
Independent B.C. in Ocean Springs. I don't really know where to begin because
there is so much that I could say. This I do know and have to say.. there
are a lot of people being helped by this ministry that are in desperate
need. I didn't know if you knew how this was operating or not so I will
fill you in. People come to the outside door where we have a lady there
that finds out what their needs are, how big the family is, the age of
the children etc... Then we go where the supplies are stored and we fill
a cart up for them full of food, cleaning supplies, toiletries, baby food,
diapers, paper products to eat with and any personal items that they may
mention. The reason they do it this way is because they know that you will
have people who take advantage of the situation and will load up on certain
things and thereby take away from others. The first day they started this
they let people come in and get what they wanted but there were some that
obviously took what they didn't need. The system they now have, I believe
keeps the greedy people away. Greedy people don't want others doing the
shopping for them and those in need don't mind that it's done this way
at all because they are thankful to have their needs met. As people come
they have to give name and address when they mark off what they need and
that is entered into the computer. If the same people come back 2 days
later wanting the same supplies then we know who they are and they are
asked if there are certain needs that they had that we didn't meet when
they were just here. I have seen a few people who have sought to take advantage
of this good ministry but as I have heard it said, "Hard times bring out
the best and worse in people."
I want to mention some of the best that I have seen and heard. As I fill
these orders for people I try to talk to them for a little while and find
out a little bit about them and their situation so that I may meet special
needs of theirs that maybe they don't know that we are able to take care
of. If we don't have time to witness to people they always receive a bible
and some tracts. I met one of the sweetest elderly gentlemen that you have
ever met. He was country to the bone, with cowboy hat and all. His wife
is at home and confined to the bed and his house was shaken up pretty bad.
When I asked him what he needed all he said was "fruit." I said "that is
all?" He told me how that he could live if he only had fruit and the doctor
told him he needed plenty of it. We had the big industrial size cans of
fruit. So you can guess what I gave him several of. I thought he was going
to cry on me right there.
More good people...
One lady was out front in the parking lot where we have all the clothes
and water that people could possibly need. My brother in-law Robert seen
her getting a case of water and he asked her if she wanted more and she
said that she didn't want to take from those who "really need it." Her
stepmother was killed in the storm and most of her family lost all that
they had. I met her and you could see the tiredness and fatigue all over
her.
One man who was in his forties or fifties (young like you) who was just
as nice of a man that you would want to meet was getting supplies for several
different homes. One of them being a lady who's husband had died, ( I don't
know when ) and she had three 5 year old boys that she had adopted and
one 13 year old girl that was her own. It was the lady that was helping
him to adopt a child at the moment. She had lost nearly everything.
I had put a notebook outside for people to write in yesterday if they wanted
to say something to the churches that were helping them and this is what
some of them said...
"Our deepest appreciation for your kindness, generosity and thoughtfulness
during this needy time. My family has never had to ask for anything and
this has been a much trying time for everyone. Thank you from the bottom
of our hearts! The Smith Family"
"Its people like yall that get us through a castastropy like this. It is
our gratitude toward yall for all yall do. I hope there is more people
like yall out there. Yall are all we have. Thanks so much and God Bless.
The Godfelter and Hutchenson family."
"...my 90 year old mother and my brother and I lost our home and all of
our belongings. I have 7 brothers and sisters and all of them lost their
homes except one. Mary Smarr"
I really do wonder if people that are not from around here fully understand
all of the different situations that have placed people in need. You have
some that may not have lost their homes but have lost their jobs. You have
some that are having to take care of several families in their own home
because they have lost theirs. You have people that don't have money to
but the things that they can get here because the insurance companies aren't
paying because they didn't have "flood" insurance and they have lost the
contents of their house including appliances, furniture, carpet and their
walls. We have given two of the microwaves away. One to a man that was
taking care of his two daughters. All of their appliances were ruined and
this whole time he has been cooking on a fire but he had electricity so
we gave him one. The other one actually went to the National Guard. They
had power but needed something to heat their food up so they could at least
have a warm meal. Those working with the Red Cross are impressed with the
way things are being accomplished here. I could go on and on about the
good being done not just physically but spiritually, for people seem so
willing to talk about spiritual things now, that is a fresh change. The
elderly man I mentioned earlier stated that the "Almighty" with this hurricane
is "cleansing souls."
May you, Elliott Baptist Church, and all the churches that are sending
money know that there are many people being helped. May God have mercy
on us all and help us to love others and extend to them a love that maybe
they have never experienced before.
In His Service,
Brother Billy Holbrook
*****
Cleanup Crew Report
09-19-05
Here are some individual
reports from a group at Elliott Baptist that went to bring appliances and
help in the cleaning effort. The ladies left at 6 am and cleaned
up a house in Pascagoula and then waited for the appliances to arrive and
visited with others in the area to see where the biggest need is. We are
planning to put together cleaning supply buckets Wednesday night before
church to bring door to door as many people are standing in line for hours
to get a broom and mop.
Curry Little
Cheerfully
we set out Friday, September 15, 2005 to deliver some appliance to the
gulf coast. As we traveled further south from Elliott, the more solemn
our countenances became, as we were not expecting to see such wind damage
in central Mississippi.
When we
arrived at Grace Baptist Church, Ocean Springs, Mississippi, we were approached
by 2 men wringing-wet with sweat from head to toe. We were delighted to
meet Brother Billy Holbrook and Brother Robert Lawson. May I say
it was humbling to see these men working so hard and willing to do more
and more. The work set up at Grace Church in nothing short of impressive,
and the work there is being carried out very scrupulously, of which I am
personally grateful. Praise God! Great physical needs are met
and still the ministry of the Word continues.
After dropping
a dryer at the church, we went to the Steven's house and had a chance to
speak for a moment with two people truly in love with out Lord. From
the Steven's house we traveled to Pascagoula Mississippi to bring refrigerator's
to Melvin's families' homes. We recevieved the same reaction to our arrival
as that of Ed McMahon delivering the million dollar sweepstakes.
Steve got in the truck with us to deliver the last appliance and directed
us down to the coastline. It seemed almost that a work crew had dismantled
the homes.
We could
report much more. The supplies seem to be used as fast as they are delivered,
but God is able to supply above all that we ask or think.
Lorie Blakely (ladies
cleanup crew)
I
left the church with Phyllis Blakely, Pat Miller and Karis Pope to go to
the coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Curry Little and
Michael Jacks were to follow with 2 refrigerators and other appliances.
When we arrived we helped with clean up at one house and then went down
the street to another. We presented Martha with a wreath and she
thanked her for it and said it was the only pretty thing that she had.
She is living in a camper trailer parked in the driveway. She told
us that she had been cleaning all day for her company. The first
two nights her husband, her and her 16 year old son slept in the bed of
Steve's pickup. Martha told us the dew should come down on them in
the early morning. That was as close to being homeless as they have ever
been.
She
offered us a cold drink. I can't tell you how that felt, knowing that this
woman had taken 25 years of her life to the street curb and was offering
us a cool drink. When the refrigerator arrived she could hardly contain
herself. After it was installed, we decided to go to eat, as they
had been eating MRE's for weeks. We found one place open - Hardee's.
There was a line almost out the door, and it took an hour to get a simple
burger. But God provided and though we all ordered the same thing, when
we got them we each had what we liked (Karis's had no mayo and mine had
no cheese). It was as if God had even hand fixed our sandwiches.
I
haven't mentioned how bad the love bugs were, but we stopped and cleaned
them off several times. As we were coming back through Jackson ,
Karis was having a difficult time seeing to drive so she began pulling
off to clean the windshield. It started to rain, and by the time we pulled
in to clean it the rain had completely washed it. Karis said the Lord had
washed it Himself.
Pat Miller (ladies
cleanup crew)
The trip
to the war zone will always be in my heart and on my mind. The survivors
walked around dazed. The major action that touched my heart was a
man who fixed old army trucks, on that night, when the water started
rising he knew the people on his street would drown if not evacuated. He
went down the street in his big truck and got people out of their houses
and headed for higher ground. When the truck stalled, he took the
people to a black lady's house where land was dry and they stayed for six
hours. He saved 13 lives that night.
Two other
couples realized the water was rising so the women and three dogs were
put in the attic with a shotgun in case there was a need to shoot a hole
in the roof and escape. The men stayed down in the house and the
water rose to their necks before receding.
To apply
for help these people stand in line for 10 hours and are then asked to
come back the next day and wait again. We passed a line of cars 2 miles
long waiting for help for their families. Maybe it takes a Hurricane
to help prioritize. May God bless you all.
Phyllis Blakely
(ladies cleanup crew)
From the
moment I talked to Karis on Sunday night until we arrived at the church
on the following Saturday, I knew it was God's plan for me to go to the
coast on this mission trip. I believe all four of us knew we had
been put together with individual instructions from our Commander in Chief.
After we
had prayer we hit the road. In Hattiesburg we touched base with my son
Damon and left him some Bibles to distribute. When we went to Melvin's
uncle's house with grandma and helped clean, in the middle of total chaos,
Melvin's uncle was praising God. Grandma was working right along
with us and she shared how she had been healed of cancer. Right after
the hurricane as she was cleaning so hard to get her house in order she
had had to be taken to the emergency room for heat exhaustion.
The gifts
we brought were received with appreciation and love. And the resilience
of the people we met was a blessing. I love the ladies that God put
me with on this mission trip, and I appreciate the churches sponsoring
us.
Karis Pope (ladies
cleanup crew)
All I can
say is a big thank you to all the churches that are helping us in this
ministry. Nothing meant more to my husband in Iraq than to know that his
church and other's like it had taken the time and money to help his family
in their time of need. He truly could not focus on his duties for worrying
about his family on the coast. It eases my mind as you may imagine to know
that his mind is at ease, and he can focus on his tasks. The refrigerators
bought with money from independent Baptist churches meant the world to
his family and to him as well. Thanks again from all the Pope's.
*****
Update On this
work as of 09-22-05
So much has been happening that It is hard to keep up keep up with it all.
Tuesday morning Charles Vance and Eugene Lancaster, two of our faithful
men here at Elliott, took a large load of sheet rock to the coast, Brother
Mark Campbell, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Salyersville, KY, along
with one of his men, followed with a load of needed supplies collected
by their church. While these two loads were headed to Ocean Springs,
a tractor trailer load was taken to Hancock County which was severely hit
by the storm. This load had 15 pallets of water, a pallet of pampers,
a pallet of canned meat, hand cleaners, plates, bleach, toilet paper, cups
etc. Also on Tuesday Brother T. Hill took a load of pitch forks,
rakes, peas, tuna, canned sausage, hammers, ramen, bread, peanut butter,
jelly, fruit juices etc. On Wednesday night our church ladies met and prepared
one hundred cleaning buckets to be given out door to door on our devastated
Mississippi coast, each bucket has Pine Sol, gloves, hand soap, dishwashing
soap, sponges, a dust pan, 409, and a Gospel tract. We are also sending
a mop and a broom to go with each bucket. This morning Calvin Shaefer
delivered a large load of goods, 1,400 gallons of bleach, 340 bottles of
Pine Sol, 324 bottles of 409, thousands of trash bags, 300 boxes of laundry
detergent, a large supply of gloves, 340 bottles of Joy to wash dishes
etc. While our ladies were preparing the buckets our Sunday School Superintendent
Craig Morgan and one of our good men Roger Goss, were headed back to Elliott
having delivered a washer, dryer, stove and hot water heater to a preacher
in Ocean Springs who had gotten four feet of water in his home. These
men also carried a large load of sheet rock, soap, shampoo, hand cleaners
etc.
I would like also share parts of a report given to me by our dear friend
Waymon Scarberry, who headed up our feeding team.
"During the Elliott
Baptist Feeding Program, our team fed approximately 8,543 meals and gave
food to prepare about 8,600 meals ... for a total of 17,000 meals.
The total cost of the feeding program was $10,805.50. That relates
to $1.26 a meal. Dr. Lester Spell [Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture]
donated 4,000 lb. of Mississippi farm raised catfish that stretched our
feeding capacity and reduced our meal costs.
On our first day
around 2:00 p.m. an older man from the Waveland area, appearing to be around
75 and Jewish, stood back for a while and finally asked for one or two
pieces of bread. He said he hated to ask, but he was so hungry and
hadn't eaten in three or four days. We explained that there was spaghetti,
bread, water, and other items for a complete meal. The man said,
'But I may not qualify.' After choking back our tears we explained
all he had to do to qualify for our table was to be a creature of
God. We got him a meal to eat and made sure he had a meal to go.
These are part of the memories and horrors that will stay with me.
In Christ's Love,
Waymon Scarberry, Deeds not Words"
I hope that this update will help you understand what we are doing.
Yours in Christ,
Cecil Fayard - Pastor
Elliott Baptist Church
P.O. Box 595
Elliott, Mississippi 38926
*****
Update On this work
as of 10-01-05
"Great is the Lord
and greatly to be praised..."
"On Saturday, September 24, we sent down to the coast a much needed supply
of prescription medicine. Doctors and nurses from Duke University
contacted us about medical needs in the hard hit Long Beach, Mississippi
area. They had no way of getting these prescription drugs as the
Pharmacies there are destroyed. Because of the generosity of a local
pharmacist we were able to get medicine at wholesale. The total cost
to us for this shipment was just over $3,600.
On Tuesday, September 27 Charles and Brenda Vance hit the road at 3:15
a.m. with a large truck load of much needed supplies. Included on
this truck were: 1,440 cans of sweet peas, 360 28 oz. cans of baked beans.
720 cans of pork and beans, 1,440 cans of green beans, 1,200 cans of Treet
canned meat and 480 cans of tuna.
Also on that truck we had:
large amounts of plastic spoons, forks and knives, canned pasta, beef stew
and soup, many cases of Pot Tarts, cases of non refrigerated milk, hair
spray, shaving cream, deodorant, cold and allergy medicine, a large number
of tarps (many sent to us by the Twinbrook Hills Baptist Church, Hamilton,
Ohio), bread, brooms, mops, pots, pans, large metal spoons for cooking,
sweet potatoes, sugar and much more.
On Thursday we loaded up our 15 passenger church van and a pick up truck
and headed to Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. We had nine workers when
we left the church and picked up two more in Gulfport (the Ben Campbell's
from Carmichael, CA). Two of our deacons made this trip with us,
Wayne Edwards and Roger Waters, we met Roger's son Shane (also a member
at Elliott who is serving with the Mississippi National Guard) in
Bay Saint Louis. Our mission for the day was to clean out the home
of 78 year old Edith Tabor, Mrs. Tabor rode the storm out in Eupora, MS
(near Elliott) and did not go back to her home until Thursday. Her
home had not been opened until we got there. The water reached nearly
to the ceiling, the sewer backed up and spilled out all over the house
mixing with the mud that the storm surge brought in. We shoveled
out mud and sewage for hours. All of her furniture had to be taken
out and thrown away, all of her pictures were ruined, all of her important
papers destroyed. Every once in a while she would say to one of our
team as we carried things out, "Maybe I can save that" and we would have
to say, "Mrs. Tabor it is ruined , mildewed, and you will never get the
smell out." It was so sad to see her face as we piled all of her earthly
possessions on the side of the road. We also pulled out mildewed
sheet rock, leaving the home just a shell of a house. One of our
men, Andrew McCormick, stuck a rusty nail deep into his hand and
had to get a tetanus shot.
On the way home we stopped in Saucier, MS and ate supper with the Mississippi
Department of Transportation and the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
Yesterday we delivered 1,008 KJV Bibles that will be handed out on the
coast. Every cleaning bucket that we hand out has a Bible in
it.
Today we sent Waymon Scarberry back down to cook hot meals for the residents
of the coast. Many of them, like Mrs. Tabor, still have no gas or
electricity a month after the storm. We expect to feed 1,200 people
per day at Pass Christian, MS.
As pastor of the Elliott Baptsit Church I want to thank each and every
one of you who helped us in this worthy effort.
Yours in Christ,
Cecil Fayard
P.O. Box 595
Elliott, Mississippi 38926”
*****
Update On this
work as of 10-13-05
"Although the Media coverage of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina
is not what it was in the days and weeks after the storm hit, the needs
are basically the same. People are still homeless, many thousands
are still out of work. Folks who before the storm were living in
two and three hundred thousand dollar homes are in the same food lines
with those who lived in 30-75 thousand dollar homes. Our efforts
have not decreased, if anything we have intensified our work.
Our hot food program led by Waymon Scarberry continues to feed thousands
all along the Gulf Coast. Here is what Waymon reports to date,
"Thank you for allowing me the honor and privilege of feeding Katrina victims
on the Gulf Coast for Elliott Baptist Church. We are still feeding 1,400-1,600
meals per day to people on the beach at Pass Christian. My records indicate
that Elliott Baptist Church has prepared around 26,000 meals, and has shared
food for an additional 25,000-30,000 meals. The cost of this program
has been approximately $13,068. Our number of meals was stretched
with other donations of food. I feel excited and overwhelmed about the
future of our nation to see the outpouring of charity from churches all
over the country."
We do not at this point see any end to this ministry of feeding folks.
I do want to say that Bibles are provided to those who receive physical
food so that the spiritual need may also have nourishment. The food
ministry team of Elliott Baptist consists of Waymon Scarberry, Herschel
Christian, Lee Taylor, Mike Bowles, Billy Lewis, Glenn Alexander, Melissa
S. Harbit and Karis Fayard Pope.
On Thursday of last week our house cleaning crew headed back to Bay Saint
Louis, MS. Daryl and Cynthia Franklin and Roger Waters from Elliott
met Mark and Debbie Clark from Ohio at the home of Edith Tabor to continue
the task of tearing our sheet rock, insulation and shoveling mud and sewage.
Mrs. Tabor is grateful for the two crews who have worked hard to get her
home ready for rebuilding.
The canned food and cleaning supply ministry is continuing at full speed
ahead. We are determined to keep up the work as long as the need
exists and the funds are available. Last Friday my daughter Karis
and I took 12,000 pounds of food and supplies to Ocean Springs, MS.
On this truck we had 1,920 10 oz. cans of Chicken Noodle soup, 480 48 oz.
bottles of Pine Sol, 1,440 15 oz. cans of corn, 1,440 15 oz. cans of sweet
peas, 1,440 15 oz. cans of green beans, 48 heavy duty brooms, 48
cotton mops, 2,400 5 oz. cans of Vienna sausage, 960 15 oz. cans of Chef
Boyardee ravioli, 240 15 oz. cans of Chef Boyardee pasta, 1,440 15 oz.
cans of pork and beans and 1,920 12 oz. cans of Armour Treet canned meat.
The wholesale cost of this order was $8,540.74.
Yesterday we received a call from an evacuee who had lived in the Fort
Bayou area of Ocean Springs, MS. Her home was gutted by the storm surge
of Katrina. She is a young woman who is staying with a friend in
Grenada, MS. This young lady with a tear in her voice asked for just
one thing, a baby crib for her child. I sent my wife to Wal-Mart
where she met Daphne Lemon and bought her a crib, sheets and other baby
crib items. We are glad that we are able to help others because of
the support of the Lord's churches.
We are beginning to help more and more people with appliances, building
supplies and furniture. So far we have spent over $70,000 in the
Katrina relief effort.
On Tuesday Tincy Gant and Bill Deemers took a pick up and trailer load
of supplies to the coast. They carried two freezers, a clothes dryer
and a 40 gallon hot water heater. They also delivered potatoes, over
300 gallons of bleach, Joy soap, 409 cleanser, Pine Sol and a good number
of mops and brooms. We also send down a large number of cleaning
buckets filled with cleaning supplies and Bibles and tracts.
There is so much to be done. Pray that God will continue to give
strength and wisdom as we seek to help those who are not able to help themselves.
Yours in Christ,
Cecil Fayard
P.O. Box 595
Elliott, Mississippi 38926”
*****
Update On this work
as of 10-31-05
"It would be an impossibility for me to recount all that has gone on in
the past two weeks as we seek to help the victims of Hurricanes Katrina
and Rita. Our work goes on as funds are provided by the Lord's churches.
As of today
we have expended right at $90,000.00 in relief. That sounds like
a lot but it only a drop in the bucket when you consider the need.
Recently Donald Parker and I took a tractor trailer load to Ocean Springs,
Mississippi. The cost of this load was $11,653.06. Included
on this truck were 360 18 oz. jars of peanut butter, 1,920 packs of Ramen
noodles, 1,200 cans of spaghetti with meat balls, 1,200 cans of ravioli,
3,456 bottle so water, 2,400 6 oz cans of tuna, 720 packs of macaroni and
cheese. 360 32 oz jars of grape jelly, 1,000 18 oz bottles of Ajax
antibacterial soap, 5,280 15 oz cans of green beans, corn, sweet peas and
baked beans. 600 24 packs of garbage bags, 1,440 22 oz bottles of
Formula 409 spray cleaner and 360 48 oz bottles of Pine Sol. Again
we are grateful to Spain's Grocery in Grenada , MS for letting us have
these items at wholesale price.
On Monday
and Tuesday of last week my wife Denise and daughter Karis made a trip
to Slidell, Louisiana, there they met pastor Bob Osbourne of the Antioch
Baptist Church of Picayune, MS. Brother Bob had several people who
had lost there appliances because of Katrina. We ere able to purchase
3 washers, three dryers, one refrigerator and two freezers for them, we
also delivered 144 Bibles to be distributed by pastor Bob.
Because your help we have been able to purchase Hymnals for a Baptist Mission
in Gulfport, Mississippi. Pastor Lynn Chapuis and congregation lost
all of there song books because of Katrina. They are thrilled to
have 50 new hymnals to use in worshipping our Lord Jesus Christ.
On Thursday of last week Wayne Edwards, Roger Waters, Jack Blakely, Steve
Marter, Jeremy McCormisk and myself went down to Bay Saint Louis, Pass
Christian and Waveland, MS. When we got into Bay Saint Louis we saw some
teenage girls holding a sign saying free food. I told the men that
these folks wanted to feed workers as well as victims so after we got gas
for our power washer we went back to get a hot meal that sure beat the
canned sausage we had, When I got out the van a young lady ran over
and gave me a big hug and asked if I remembered her. Well it turned out
that Charles and Brenda Vance and I had delivered Bibles to her and her
husband to distribute on the coast weeks before when UPS deliveries were
non existent. We enjoyed renewed fellowship and got a chance to meet her
pastor Tim Parker. I asked Brother Parker if there was anything that he
needed and he said that he needed 100 pounds of red beans so they could
cook them on Saturday for dinners for Katrina victims. I felt led
to call a friend in Grenada and I told him what Pastor Parker needed, he
said he would get busy and call me back. In about an hour he called
back and said that there was a 100 pound bag of red beans sitting in Pass
Christian about 15 miles from where we were. Now you need to understand
that not one business is in operation in Pass Christian, the Post Office,
Fire Dept. and Police Dept. are all operating out of tents. Friends
God had a 100 pound bag of red beans in a trailer on the beach at Pass
Christian. I believe He had it there so that Brother Parker and his people
could provide meals for hurricane victims. Our main objective was to finish
cleaning up the home of 79 year old Edith Tabor. We brought down a power
washer and after we had cleaned out the remaining mud, and furnishings
we power cleaned her home, she is a very grateful lady.
Today Bill and Wendy Deemers are in Waveland, MS delivering supplies
to needy families there. They took a trailer with a washer, refrigerator,
freezer, pots, pans, plates, a large amount of canned vegetables
and fruits.
I plan to be on the coast for Thanksgiving feeding as many Thanksgiving
meals as we can.
Please continue to pray for Elliott Baptist Church as we seek to help the
hurricane victims.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Cecil Fayard
Elliott Baptist Church
P.O. Box 595
Elliott, MS 38926"
******
Update On this work
as of 11-18-05
Since our last report a number of trips have been made to the coast.
One of these was with an eighteen wheeler loaded with 580 sheets of 4x12
ft., 1/2 inch sheet rock. Sheet rock is one of the most needed and
hardest to find building materials on the coast at this time. We
have another load scheduled to go early next week. It will have 50
sheets of 4x8 ft., 1/2 in., 40 sheets of 4x12 ft., 1/2 in., 25 sheets of
4x8 ft., 5/8 in. and 9 sheets of 4x8 1/2 in., green for bathroom reconstruction.
We continue to send down truck loads of canned soups, beans, peas, fruits
etc. A recent trip was a pickup loaded with crock pots, toasters,
toaster ovens, microwaves, pots and pans etc. These are much needed
as folks begin to move into the FEMA trailers. These trailers are
small camper types and we get the small appliances that fit well in them.
We are excited about being able to help the thousands of Katrina victims
on the coast through our Lord's churches. Over 100,000 hot meals
have been served by our faithful cook Waymon (Mo Suga) Scarberry and his
faithful helpers.
We have a big project that we are thrilled about at this time. Our
good friends at Grace Independent Baptist in Ocean Springs, Mississippi
called us about helping them with a Thanksgiving meal basket for folks
in FEMA trailers. In addition to the hot meals we will be helping
to serve in Pass Christian, MS Thanksgiving day, will be providing, through
your help, 100 spiral cut honey hams, 100 cans of cranberry sauce, 100
cans of canned yams, 100 cans of whole kernel yellow corn, 100 cans of
English peas, 100 cans of green beans, 100 boxes of corn bread stuffing
(southern folks love corn bread dressing) and 100 pecan pies. We
will take these items down of Monday so that they can be distributed on
Tuesday and Wednesday.
The work is far from over. There are still thousands of people without
homes and jobs. The devastation is beyond description. With
your help we plan to keep up the work along the coast as long as the need
exists.
Along with the food and supplies we continue to send Bibles and tracts
to be placed in the hands of these people. Many are in need physically
and spiritually. Pray for us as we labor on the coast.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Cecil Fayard
Elliott Baptist Church
P.O. Box 595
566 Nat G. Troutt Road
Elliott, Mississippi 38926
*****
Update On this work
as of 12-07-05
During Thanksgiving week, I was able to be on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
and help with needs there. Brother Ray Angus met me at my dad's place
and helped me with clean up on the property. My dad is pretty well
settled into his FEMA trailer after we had to help him get a new water
well drilled. The old well was drawing salt water out of the nearby
St. Martin Bayou. On Thanksgiving day, I had the privilege of preaching
at East Howard Baptist Church in Biloxi, MS. The church, though in need
itself, provided hundreds of free meals for the surrounding community.
This is the church where I was saved and where I was later licensed to
preach the Gospel. This church had two walls knocked out by Katrina
and had twelve feet of water throughout the building. We are in the
process of helping these folks in every way we can. The entire neighborhood
around the church is wiped out, yet the people are optimistic about the
future and services are being held. The Elliott Baptist Church is
in the process of getting our fifteen passenger van to them as there's
was completely submerged during Katrina. I want to report that all
one hundred Thanksgiving baskets with ham, cranberry sauce, cornbread dressing
and all the trimmings were distributed along the coast.
At this time, we are involved in our biggest project to date, that of helping
as many people as we can to get their homes back in shape. Right
now, we have committed to help fifty families in the Ocean Springs, Gautier,
St. Martin area with up to $2,000 in appliances, flooring, sheet rock,
etc. We are also helping people in the same way in Biloxi, Pass Christian,
Bay St. Louis and Waveland. As you can see, this will be at least
a $100,000 project. We have already spent over $130,000 in Katrina
relief, but we believe that God wants us to keep helping those in need.
Every family that we help gets a Bible, tracts, and Gospel booklets. This
week will be a busy one for our church family as they commit themselves
to this work. Charles and Brenda Vance went last Thursday and are
again on the coast today. Yesterday, 12/6/05, Richard and Margaret
Cooper worked all day meeting needs of coast families and tomorrow Wayne
and Dorothy Edwards along with their grand daughter Haley Morgan are going
down to help the needy. On Friday, Bill Deemers, one of our newest
members, will be in Pascagoula, Gautier, and Ocean Springs area for an
extended stay with the Corp of Engineers. He will be taking down
a big load of supplies and will be helping get sheet rock to folks in need.
While in the Waveland-Bay St. Louis area, Bill will relay to us the things
that are needed, and we will get them to him to distribute.
The following report by Charles and Brenda Vance will give you an idea
of what our folks are doing in helping others on the coast. "On Thursday,
November 29, we went to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, more specifically the
Ocean Springs area. We met with several people who needed help after
losing everything they owned in Hurricane Katrina. We paid $1,975.00
for carpet for one family, paid $2,000 on cabinets for another family,
bought inside doors and windows for $1,500 for another family, and bought
a washer, dryer, refrigerator and freezer for $1,400 for a family and sent
four families to Grace Independent Baptist Church to get sheet rock that
we had previously shipped in and stored there. In all, over $7,000
was spent from funds donated to Elliott Baptist Church."
As pastor of Elliott Baptist, I want to say thank you to all of the churches
and individuals who have made this work possible. "To God be the
glory, great things He hath done."
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Cecil Fayard
Elliott Baptist Church
P.O. Box 595
Elliott, MS 38925
cecilafayard@msn.com
*****
Update On this work
as of 01/06/06
Katrina Update
January 6, 2006
Here are some words of thanks from some of the Hurricane Katrina Victims
who we have worked with over the last few months. Each has their
own story and much more to say we are sure, but we knew that you all would
love to just get an inkling of how much all of them appreciate all that
the churches of like faith and practice have done to help them in the months
following Katrina. We are continuing our work on the coast even as
this is being typed with one of our church families serving in Gautier,
and of course, a faithful servant of our Lord, Waymon Scarberry is continuing
to work in Pass Christian, MS where he has served over 200,000 meals to
hurricane victims.
Stephanie Hodges
of Gautier, MS, "Thank you so much for the generous gift you gave to
us. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper drove all the way down to take us shopping
at Lowes. I realize it was a long trip and a tiring one at that. It is
difficult to express how truly grateful we are, and what a huge impact
it has made in our home."
Linda Stone of
Guatier, MS, "I still have not received one cent from Fema yet, but
I am still pursuing that option again. Although I have good credit I have
been denied a loan through the SBA because due to high medical bills, they
did not think I had enough repay ability. It is almost overwhelming at
times. The one thing that my insurance will not pay for is my water heater
for some reason and now my adjuster is telling me that they will probably
not cover the stove either because it is damaged by "wind driven water."
My house was not flooded, but a large tree fell on it and that is how so
much water got into the house. Whether your church can help me or not,
it helped me just to get this off my shoulders." (Since receiving
this letter EBC, with your help, has purchased and installed a water heater
and stove for Ms. Stone, as well as, repairing her back door.)
Amy & Troy
Barrios of Luling, LA, "Although I didn't personally get to experience
all the wonderful things that your church did for the evacuees, I felt
that I needed to send a donation. My family is still talking about how
much your church did. They said that they all gained about 5 lbs. from
all of the delicious food that you prepared . . . Thank you for everything
that you did for my family and all the other families in need."
The Members of
Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Gulfport, MS, " Please pray
for us and all the Gulf Coast as we recover - we are thankful to God for
using you to bless us and so many others. In His providential care, He
has seen fit to send a storm and to send those with helping hands. His
ways are indeed unsearchable."
Sue and Ray Vaughan
of Biloxi, MS, "Thank you for your kind words of encouragement, hard
work, giving of your time and money and your prayers to help us through
this most difficult time. Your generosity has confirmed our belief that
God does provide for us ... Please keep us in your prayers as we begin
this long road to recovery."
Richard and Carolyn
Rasmussen Gautier, MS, "Richard and I can not express in words our
gratitude for your gracious gift - we have been so fortunate since Katrina
to have seen the good in people. Sometimes in our everyday life we lose
sight of the finer things such as friendship - we are both blessed to have
loving old friends, and many new loving friends to help us recover ..."
Kay Sheffield
of Ocean Springs, MS, "I teach special needs children at Vancleave
Lower Elementary School and my husband is retired. We had no flood insurance
and lost everything to the storm - Through Christian friends and our family
we are slowly rebuilding our lives. Your support and generous gift will
always be remembered. The family of Christ has given us the hope and strength
to move forward - God Bless all of you."
Steve and Cindy
Walters of Ocean Springs, MS, "No words can express how much
Steve and I appreciate the gift of appliances that you purchased for us.
It is people like you all that make it easier to cope with Hurricane Katrina.
You are definitely the light at the end of a very long tunnel."
Shirley and Neil
Sheffield of Ocean Springs, MS, "Thanks so much for our new appliance
and the sheet rock. We lost everything to the storm, but through the grace
of God and the help and support of our family and Christian friends we
are slowly putting our lives back together. We will always remember and
be thankful. God bless each of you."
Vicky Farmer
of the Antioch Baptist Church in Picayune, MS, "This is to thank
you for your kindness in the gift of my washer and dryer. May you and your
church be blessed many times over."
Geneva and Paul
Floege, "We appreciate you and your congregation so very much for what
you're doing for Katrina survivors ... May God abundantly bless all of
you."
Dolly Thompson
of Ocean Spring, MS, "Ephesians 1:16 'I cease not to give thanks
for you, making mention of you in my prayers;' I ask God's richest blessings
on all of you for your wonderful kindness. The gift of the major appliances
I needed is such a blessing. The Norrises were so kind and just terrific."
The Employees
and Families of the Waveland Water and Sewer Department, "Dear Bill,
Wendy and all, Just wanted to tell you that we appreciate your caring about
us more than words can say."
Kieran, Mitch
and Madelyn Ginesi of Slidell, LA, "We received the items and we are
so thankful ... You may really never know just how much you have blessed
out lives. We thank you with all we have in out hearts. We have come
to know the kindness and generosity of so many .. God has worked through
all of you to bless our lives and we will never forget ...We are all settled
in Pearl River with Chris' friend, all four of us are sleeping in one bedroom,
but we are happy to have a roof over our heads and we are thankful that
we are not sleeping in tents, like some are. We have not received
any insurance money yet, and we are just waiting patiently for the funds
we need to begin rebuilding out home; we are still waiting patiently for
a FEMA trailer. Each and every day is a new challenge, but our faith brings
us through ... Thank you again for everything."
Antioch Baptist
Church in Picayune, MS, "We would like to thank you for the appliances
you purchased for some of our members who had losses due to Hurricane
Katrina and for the freezer for the church. Be assured we will use it in
the service of the Lord."
Forgive us for not
having sent out an update in awhile, the past month has been the busiest
yet. We have had three to five teams a week on the coast helping
families in need. Just Wednesday we purchased a semi trailer load,
544 sheets, of sheet rock for $8,498.30. When the treasurer came
in Wednesday night I told her what I had done and she said that she had
received $8,000.00 in the mail. God is so good. As long as
the funds are available we will continue this ministry.
Yours in Christ,
Cecil Fayard
Pastor
Elliott Baptist
Chrudh
P.O. Box 595
Elliott, Mississippi
38926
cecilafayard@msn.com
admin@pbcofdecaturalabama.org
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