Where are the churches?

[demgurl]

The people of New Orleans are in desperate shape and help does not seem to be forthcoming. At one point, in America, you could always count on the people in your country.

I want to know how many preachers/priests/ministers, this Sunday, will find themselves at the podium talking to their people about help. Will they tell their parishioners that now is the time to step up to the plate?

Think of how many churches there are in the US. Now think about the parishioners being asked to forgo the collection plate for the next month and put it all in the plate today. They could set up a contact center of sorts and adopt one family destroyed by the hurricane. They would have enough money to fly the family to where the church is located so that they can take care of them for the next month or two until the family gets back on their feet and figures out what they want to do.

All of the church folks would be asked to donate clothing - don't we all have some sitting, unused, at the back of our closet? I am sure something could be worked up for a place for the family to stay.

It could be a group effort where each church family could sign up for a day where they bring the NO folks a covered dish. I am sure most churches have enough members that this could provide food for a couple of months.

Where is the charity? Where is the love? This kind of operation could give more hope to these poor people than FEMA or even Red Cross could ever do.

How many of our church leaders will get up to the pulpit this weekend and demand the people take action to do unto others as you would have done unto you?

demgurl

[valerief]

1. Poor people of NO have no money to give to the churches

Why would the churches be interested in them now?

[babylonsister]

3. Please do a bit of research before vilifying churches

or poor people.

[valerief]

9. I think you missed my point

Please provide links for all the megachurches that offered to house the refugees.

Where's Robertson???

[wellstone_democrat]

21. a mega church near me is praying for BUSH* tonight!

we got the flyer on our door while we were delivering diapers to the local collection point. They are very very concerned at the "abuse" he's taken and in his "hour of need" they are putting the power of prayer behind him.


BTW, not a WORD about the victims of this storm. Not a word.

[valerief]

25. Arrrghh

Pardon me while I vomit.

[Township75]

6. While all of those South Americans and Africans are filthy rich...

and that is the only reason the church is down there.

You bring up a great point!

[leetrisck]

2. Churches are always first in line to help

they always have been and always will be. Thousands of Churches all across this Country set the ball rolling from the beginning and they're still on it.

[Lindsay]

4. Full disclosure: I am not a Christian.

But there are churches doing things - in Texas they're volunteering and bringing donations. I was at the Shreveport newspaper's website today for something unrelated to Katrina, and saw a front page article on a church that had set up a shelter.

I think we'll see the full gamut from true Christian charity to fundies blaming the evils of New Orleans for the whole thing.

[FreedomAngel82]

33. I agree

I think that we'll be seeing the true Christians and the Pharasiee's very soon.

[Township75]

5. Just got back from church

and they are collecting money not only to send down for relief but to setup housing in my area for displaced victums...also looking for old furniture that people don't want anymore to give to those people.

I think the churches are, and will continue to do an outstanding job as they always have.

[demgurl]

10. I understand churches are doing things but how many people are they.....

directly helping? What I was trying to put forth is that if every church adopted one family and took them in, there may not be a crisis after everyone gets out of what is left of the hurricane ravaged areas.

They can phone organizations like the Red Cross and find families to directly help.

At this point, I think lots of folks have the best of intentions but how much money will really go to directly help those poor people? I do not trust any organization any more. *'s regime is recommending donations to organizations that are basically in bed with the government. Real organizations are being turned away. At some point we all need to take the situation into our own personal hands and handle it ourselves.

I did not mean to come across as being harsh about churches. Lots of churches truly do help. A lot of them have good reputations. I think we could do a lot more to help them if we reach out and do the job ourselves. If the churches pass on the donations, goodness only know where the money may end up.

demgurl

[RevCheesehead]

13. 100% of donations go directly to relief with UMCOR

http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/ United Methodist Committee on Relief

(our church apportionments pay for the organizational costs)

[babylonsister]

23. Hey Rev, this needs its own thread-great info! nt

[Township75]

18. If you want an actual number, good luck..

i doubt anyone is getting that stat...but like I said, my church is gathering money to get at least one family a place to live and if they get enough$ they will go for 2.

call up some churches in your area and ask...I would be curious myself.

[RevCheesehead]

7. ...

http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/
http://www.churchworldservice.org/
http://www.sojo.net/
http://www.ncccusa.org/

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=291x2158
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=291&topic_id=98&mesg_id=98

[tjdee]

8. Um, virtually all of them.....

Churches, as someone said above, are usually among the first to ask for help at times like this.

[demgurl]

40. I hope it is a 100%.

That would make me truly proud. Even if it is only 90%, that would be a great number. We all have to pull together and help at this juncture. I hope all of the church members step forward and heed the call.

demgurl

[MindPilot]

11. god punishes the poor -- with poverty

I'm sure there are already thousands of churches across the country collecting donations. Probably many others are opening their basements and meeting rooms to refugees because those congregants are just ordinary people who don't have a clue about Christianity.

REAL Christians like Jerry & Pat understand that god sent that hurricane to help their duly appointed boy-king escape from the satanic Cindy Sheehan.

Edited to ad: :sarcasm:

[BeTheChange]

12. We prepared thousands of meals.

The day after the hurricane struck our church was mobilizing.

www.irvingbible.org


Many other churches are doing the same.

Very good family friends, the Nielsen's of Christ in action ( http://www.christinaction.com ) mobilized immediately, as they always do and are now feeding thousands of people in Gulfport MS. They were the main food center at the Pentagon site after 9/11. Say what you will about Christians, but these people are true Christians, serving Christ's people... feeding his lambs spiritually and physically. If you are looking to donate to some people who will actually use your money and resources to help people, look them up.


We arent the enemy and many of us are doing everything we can to help. I guarantee you that our pastor will be speaking about this on Sunday.

[demgurl]

15. That is wonderful.

I guess, when I posted this, I was honestly thinking of my husband's Republican friends who is a pastor. I went on a wild rant about him today.

He is black and he voted for the RW because he does not believe in abortion. The reason I bring up he is black is because that was part of the rant I did. I screamed about how happy I hope he is since they RW does not condone abortions but what they are doing to these poor black people is tantamount (in my opinion) to adult and child abortions.

I know this man will keep on voting the RW ticket even though his own people have been neglected and killed. I doubt he will even bring up helping NO to his church members on Sunday. My rant was truly aimed at him. I am sorry I did not make that clear because there truly are Christian organizations out there who are helping.

It galls me that someone can say they are religious and not be phased at all by this abandoning of those who need help the most. How can you consider yourself religious and still endorse this regime?

demgurl

[BeTheChange]

27. My mother in law voted for Bush because of abortion.

She's been a mother for 40 years. Infact, she still has a 14 year old at home. I dont agree with her rationale or her vote.. but I know she isnt a bad woman and that even though she is basically a missionary, with nothing.. she would give you anything she could. It always makes me sad when someone is in need and she has nothing to offer them but sustanence, so she gets out her breadboard and starts to make bread.. real bread, not preservative filled crap like what they sell in grocery stores, or even most bakeries.. I wish her life was easier and she could give as much as is in her heart to give.

I guess my point is, everyone has their own life story that they base their decisions on. She feels like God made her to raise good children that would bring blessings to the world. She believes children are a blessing.. she has sacrificed everything for hers and so she voted for Bush because she thinks he is going to get abortion outlawed. I always am amazed, because on her walls you will see pictures of her with Joan Baez teaching resistance training, or at the free kitchen or clinic in the Haight feeding people, or bandaging them... that now this is her issue. Maybe the pastor you speak of knocked someone up when he was 18 and she had an abortion and the guilt has consumed him ever since to the point of irrational action... who knows why people do what they do.

People are waking up. My father in law is an Assembly of God pastor.. hippie that found God and then went to ORU, he was all for Bush.. until about 6 months into the Iraq war. Now, he is pretty antiBush, it is an amazing turn around.

We are never going to get people to open their mind my pointing figures. Instead, we should just try to inform them, challenge them and point out truth.

my .02

[demgurl]

31. I only attack him to my husband.

I agree that if I fully attacked him to his face then it would do nothing but alienate him further. I got his email from my husband and I have sent him things, about Bush, on a regular basis. I have heard nothing.

I have coerced my husband into talking to him about the bad things the regime is doing and my husband only gets greeted with, "Well, what are you doing about it?"

This is a man who emailed my husband insisting the earth is not as old as it is and used dinosaur fossils to "prove" this. My husband asked for a link so he could refute the information and as it turns out, the people saying this got the information from a children's book. Yes, I said a children's book. When my husband wrote with contradictory information, the preacher passed it on to someone else. This stranger then wrote to my husband attacking his stance and information!

I do want to win this person over, if for no other reason than he leads a lot of people and when you guide that many people you owe it to them to have all of the facts. He does not and does not want to hear them. I will keep sending my emails and perhaps they will keep being greeted with silence. Perhaps, though, one day he may change his mind.

demgurl

[BeTheChange]

37. There will always be Pharisees.. dont let them get to you..

My father in law has a tape from when he was young and he attended a Jim Jones revival.. He stood up in the middle of the service and called Jim Jones out. Told him that he wasnt a man of God and that he was a man of the Devil. The tent got quiet, everyone held their breath to see what Jim would do while my fil let him have it.

Jim got quiet for a minute, from accounts his whole face changed from anger into serenity and then he told my father in law that he was welcome to leave. Remember, this is a time when Jim had armed men at the entrances and exits and wasnt scared of using them to "escort" folks out. We believe he was saved by something greater then himself.

My fil took his long haired bare foot butt out of there, one of the last to walk out of Jonestown.

Im a big fan of calling people out. If I saw Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, or Oral Roberts I would do the same.

[demgurl]

39. Wow, that is a truly amazing story.

I am glad your father-in-law was able to make it out. Things do happen for the best sometimes.

Keep calling people out. I admire you for it.

demgurl

[BeTheChange]

16. Here are tangible, real, visual images so you can see what some people...

are doing. Again, Christ in action. There are also images of the Gulfport area.

http://www.christinaction.com/images/images_CIA/Hurricane_Katrina_Final.ppt

[Wcross]

14. Church youth group around here gave up a trip to donate.

I am agnostic- I just don't care one way or the other. I guess that makes me shallow but it works for me.

I did see a story on local news that featured some kids in a church youth group (10-15 y/o's) giving up a trip to kings Island in Ohio and using the money they had paid for food/formula/diapers.

I don't have a dog in this fight but the churches stepped up long before boy George did.

[alittlelark]

17. I listened to an Archbisop a day or so ago saying ALL their churches

are being opened up to survivors. I cannot tell you exactly where I heard it. It makes sense though... Catholics have been focused on the poor (easily converted) for a long time. They also have a pretty good racial equality history and routinely get arrested at SOA events.

PS - Mardi Gras is a Catholic thing.

[demgurl]

19. I am so glad to hear all about these churches.

It gives me some hope.

demgurl

[zippy890]

20. Where are the SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCHES?

*crickets chirping*

[sandnsea]

22. Southern Baptist Convention

I've read several accounts of them helping. The churches ARE helping, they always help, that's the origin of faith-based monies actually. They do lousy in some areas, mental health comes to mind, but they are the first to help in many instances.

[wellstone_democrat]

32. the mega SB near me is praying for Bush* tonight

neighborhood was papered with flyers today. Seems the poor man is "under seige"

I feared my calm husband would have a stroke when he read that. No mention of the poor victims in NO or anywhere else. Just their hero---they violated every election law as well last fall. I'm still awaiting the FEC investigation to my complaint

(crickets continue to chirp awaiting that)

[Silverhair]

38. The Southern Baptist Church in my town is sponsoring some families.

They have arrived this weekend. I haven't met them so I don't have any details.

I know of other churches that are actively doing something. None of them are running to the MSM to make any big announcements about it.

Also, the Salvation Army, which is a church, is very active in NOLA disaster relief.

Since you are probably anti-Christian, you would not be in a network where you would hear about it.

[demgurl]

41. It does my heart good to hear that.

The news emphasizes bad churches but do they really get the news out about how many people are willing to help? I think not. I hope everyone who helps is blessed with even more good fortune.

demgurl

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

24. Where's Patwah? His organization is high on the donation list

Is he waiting for the waters to part before he arrives to begin the laying on of hands? Or are his eyes just screwed too tightly shut to see what is going on?



"Please, Lord, don't let 'em look my way..."

[JerseygirlCT]

26. In many cases, on the front lines well before ARC even gets there

The churches are in it up to their eyeballs. And, in fact, many of them spend all the time like that, dealing with root causes of this catastrophe, like poverty.

And I'd venture the vast majority of church leaders will call their congregations to action this weekend.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

28. This is about the third such thread I've seen! AARRRGH!

Even the news reports are telling about displaced people being put up in churches, including fundamentalist churches.

All the major national denominations are funneling funds to their local organizations to carry out relief efforts. They will be working on reconstruction and relief long after CNN and the Red Cross have moved on.

My particular parish sponsors a "work mission" every summer. I'm almost 100% certain that next summer's mission will be to the Gulf Coast, because there will still be plenty of work to do.

[demgurl]

I am sorry, I am nopt trying to blame churches....

in fact, if you look at one of my earlier posts, in this thread, you will see it was truly more about my husband's preacher friend and how frustrated I am at him. I should not be taking it out on all churches. I really am sorry.

demgurl

[demgurl]

29. I am sorry, I am nopt trying to blame churches....

in fact, if you look at one of my earlier posts, in this thread, you will see it was truly more about my husband's preacher friend and how frustrated I am at him. I should not be taking it out on all churches. I really am sorry.

demgurl

[Winston702]

30. Here is the Charity - Here is the Love (One example)

http://www.crwrc.org

This is even the relief assocciated with that evil evangelical college * spoke at this spring.

[demgurl]

43. Thank you. eom

[undeterred]

34. Do a little research before you rant.

Hide thread.

[demgurl]

42. It was not really a rant....

If you read it, it was more of a suggestion of how I felt churches could do real good for these people and I wondered how many would be doing such things. I did not say they wouldn't. Perhaps preconceived notions of church haters attacking crept into the reading of my post?

I never meant for it to be an attack. I honestly wondered how many would be stepping forward and doing this. Some people replied and told me about their church or churches they knew about. I wanted information and they gave it to me.

I may not be a religious person but I am certainly spiritual in nature. I am sorry if it came across as a rant or an attack. It was not meant as either.

demgurl

[undeterred]

44. Tomorrow will be the first Sunday since the hurricane hit

so I expect there will be a lot of churches doing good works for the hurricane victims tomorrow.

[FreedomAngel82]

35. Here's something to remember

Real Christians don't go around and be loud mouths like Pat Robertson and his ilk. I'm sure there are churches all around doing something and trying to help. In the Bible it's clear how we should do that. Don't let your right hand see what your left hand is doing. Don't be out in the streets being like the hypocrites etc. The real churches and real Christians do their relief more quiet and not in the media and whatnot. They let people know they're doing something so you can donate but you don't hear them go around and be loud mouths about it. As I mentioned in my other post here in this thread I think in the next few weeks we'll be seeing who the real Christians are. People like Pat Robertson and blaming everything on sin and saying God is smitting people or the people who aren't putting blame anywhere and just wanting to help. Check out website's of local churches and see if they have anything mentioned on there about relief and helping.

[demgurl]

36. Angel, I totally agree with you.

I know there are great folks and these people need no press to do good. Jesus would never have sought press and neither do they. There are good religious people out there.

Besides my husband's friend, perhaps I am depressed over my area. I am in NC. I am sure a lot of people will remember my state for their churches - two in particular.

One church kicked out the members who had voted for Kerry. Yeah, they were Christian all right.

The other church had a sign outside of their church asking if they flushed one Koran, why can't they flush them all?

The only preacher I personally know down here is my husband's friend and he, of course, is a Republican.

I was schooled in an all girl catholic school from Kindergarten until grade 12. We were taught the basics of giving but never did they truly teach us to put it into action. We never participated in projects that would help others. We did not do fund raisers for people who were in need. Not one single thing in 13 years. I think a lot of these people are the same way. They were taught the ideas but it never made it through to the actions.

When I see these religious people acting this way, it makes me sad. People who teach hate can never truly know the true feeling of helping another human being. Just as people turn to religion to find that something missing from their life, people who hate will also feel that void. They will never be fulfilled.

demgurl