Ellington

A team of 21 people from Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church will head out to Madisonville, La., May 2 to help rebuild parts of a fellow church devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

This trip will be the sixth one in about four years for the church to make to the Louisiana area since the hurricane.

“There's still so much need there,” said pastor Sammy Simmons. “This church has been trying to get into a new building for some time now, and it is our pleasure to do all that we can to help.”

Past trips to Louisiana took members to New Orleans proper, so this will be their first visit to Historic St. James Baptist Church in Madisonville. Mt. Pisgah members got the opportunity through the North American Mission Board.

“The week before Hurricane Katrina hit, (St. James) took out a loan to build this building,” Simmons explained. “When the price of materials and labor went sky high, they were unable to afford both the materials and the labor. Three years ago they put up the shell and are still trying to finish the insides.”

He said that it’s a joy for he and the group from Mt. Pisgah to help them get into their new building so they can continue to grow and reach out to the community.

Most of the work involved will be putting up sheet rock in the building’s main areas such as the gym, multi-purpose room and the sanctuary.

“It’s a pretty big job,” Simmons said. “We’ve got people from all backgrounds, some with experience and some without, but all are just ready and willing to help.”

One of Simmons’ goals it to take every church member on a mission trip and with three planned for this year alone, he said Mt. Pisgah members will have plenty of opportunity.

“I believe that God has called believers to be more than just sanctified spectators,” he said. “He wants us to be mobilized missionaries for him. I hope that when we come back, it will create in all of us a desire to serve others and give us a heart for missions past this week.”

The Mt. Pisgah team leaves for Louisiana May 2 and returns May 7.