On Monday, September 12, Tim Phillips, former pastor at Ebenezer,  and his wife Anna traveled to Moss Point, Mississippi to deliver supplies to the Helena ARP Church. New Albany area churches (Cleveland Street, Ebenezer, Hopewell, and New Albany) donated such items as canned goods, bottled water, paper products, and the like. The Phillips met up with Kevin Carroll, the pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church in Mize, Mississippi. Kevin also brought a truck bed load of goods, most of which was bottled water.  ARP Churches from across the Synod have also helped with relief efforts on the Coast.

The Helena ARP Church withstood considerable roof damage from Hurricane Katrina. There was a major leak in the ceiling in the sanctuary, but otherwise the church was graciously spared. I do not say those last comments lightly: just a few miles away, in Pascagoula, entire blocks of homes were completely leveled by what was described as a 55 foot storm surge.

 Photographs of the Helena Church are below. They were truly blessed to still have their building left intact. Katrina left considerable devastation in the surrounding area.  Continue to pray for the Helena Church and, indeed, the entire Mississippi gulf coast as they continue to rebuild lives and property.