Join us as we travel to New Orleans, March 31-April 4 2012 for a missions experience. While in New Orleans, RHCC will partner with Harbor Community Church and other community organizations and ministries. In addition, you will have an opportunity to experience and better understand New Orleanian culture through this missional experience.

Who will we be working with?

Harbor Community Church-Harbor Community Church is a six year old church plant that began ministering in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. In the short history of Harbor, they have seen amazing growth as they have created an environment where broken people and those far from God come together to engage in worship, small groups and service.

Beacon of Hope- Beacon of Hope provides a model for recovery in neighborhoods devastated by Hurricane Katrina as well as other areas affected by disaster. Beacon of Hope empowers residents to facilitate their own recovery while providing a hub of resident driven activities and a safe environment to create the synergy essential for restoring viable neighborhoods and improve the overall quality of life for residents. Since Katrina, with the help from over 20,000 visiting volunteers that have dedicated themselves to cleaning neighborhoods and assisting homeowners, Beacon of Hope Resource Center has, replanted over 25 miles of green space, assisted over 1700 homeowners with rebuild projects and founded 22 Beacon locations in 16 New Orleans neighborhoods.

Community Center of St. Bernard- Even though it has now been more than 6 years since Hurricane Katrina hit on August 29, 2005, the devastation in St Bernard Parish remains overwhelming. Entire blocks of homes and businesses still stand empty and derelict, marked for destruction. There are no hospitals here now, and the population is only about half of what it was before the disaster. Yet the rate of child abuse in St Bernard Parish is up by 150% compared to pre-Katrina values, and the rate of elder abuse and neglect has risen by an incredible 335%.  As they undertake one of the most daunting disaster recovery efforts this nation has ever seen, the people of St. Bernard have very practical needs. They need laundry facilities so they can keep themselves and their children clean. They need phones so they can maintain contact with family members scattered across the country. They need internet connections so they can find information about rebuilding their businesses and their homes. They need a centralized location for services so they can receive donated supplies and assistance easily and with dignity. And they need a place to come together to enjoy a hot, nutritious meal and share their ongoing frustrations and successes with their neighbors. The Community Center of St Bernard is dedicated to providing hurricane survivors with the recovery resources they need in a safe and all-inclusive setting.

New Orleans Mission-The New Orleans Mission provides shelter and food for the homeless population of New Orleans.

Where will we be staying?

Oak Park Baptist Church-Oak Park Baptist Church has housing facilities for volunteer groups. The facilities include dormitory style housing with bunk beds, showers, common areas and a playground.

How much does it cost?

$269.00-Adult Participants (All inclusive with the exception of travel meals and one meal while in NOLA)

$100 deposit due February 19

Balance due March 11

Make Checks payable to JMI and write “New Orleans Mission Trip” in memo line

Questions or more information:

Jason Hale

jason@rollinghillscommunity.org

615-861-3663

Posted in New OrleansTags: New Orleans | by Jason Hale No Comments

“New Orleans for me was…”

Recently a group from Rolling Hills returned from a missional experience in New Orleans. Team members were asked to reflect on what the trip meant to them by answering the open ended question:

“New Orleans for me was…”

-“A turning-point for me between a really difficult time in my life the past few years and a new hope for the future.  I love serving God by serving His people so it focused me once again on that part of my life allowing me to forget the past and move on toward the future.”

-“just what I needed to re-energize my walk with Jesus”

-“An awakening and thought-provoking experience, with unforeseen blessings coming down on me like an unexpected rain storm, challenges that required me to stretch spiritually, mentally, and relationally, and a peace that comes from further emptying me of me and allowing Christ to come in and make me more like him.”

-“A great experience in serving and seeing what God can do with us when we make ourselves available.”

-“A great mission experience. New Orleans helped open my eyes to a natural disaster and the long lasting impact that can have on a city, and on a culture. It really has defined the city and winning the Super Bowl has been one of the things to help the city come back. It is now a place where the people who live there are determined to make it better. With everything I know about recovering after a crisis in my life – I really relate to this city. I have had storms that seem like I can’t get over, but you do, not with time but with hard work. It’s a beautiful picture of real live and Harbor Community Church really meeting people where they are in life and bringing Christ to them.”

-“An eye opening learning experience about a very misunderstood city”

-“Sobering…I didn’t realize that five years later the need for help would be as large. A growth experience and exciting to be able to see God move.”

While in New Orleans 37 individuals from our church worked in a variety of places from the New Orleans Mission, Covenant House, Global Maritime Ministry Center and Harbor Community Church. Thanks for your prayers and support of our team.

Posted in NOLA 2010 by Jason Hale No Comments