Louisiana AG Churches Impacted by Historic Flooding
Intense and extended rains have led to historic flooding in Louisiana, which have resulted in at least six deaths, thousands of homes and businesses flooded, more than 20,000 rescues, up to 10,000 people in shelters, and motorists stranded on highways as at least six Louisiana rivers have hit record levels.
According to Kristy Jones, assistant to Assemblies of God Louisiana District Superintendent Scott Holmes, so far four AG churches have reported flood damage, all in the Baton Rouge section of Louisiana.
The churches reporting flooding, include: Faith Worship Center in Baton Rouge (Pastor Rick Sullivan), First Assembly of God in Walker (Pastor Kevin Malcomb) and the Celebration Church in Denham Springs and in Springfield (Pastor Carl Kelly).
“We have two campuses,” Kelly explains. “We had up to three feet of water in the Denham Springs campus church and we still have 12 to 14 inches of water in the auditorium of the Springfield campus — and the water is still coming in Springfield.”
Kelly says that the Denham campus opened on Easter and was in midst of renovations, but fortunately that campus had flood insurance. The same cannot be said about the Springfield campus. “We’re [Springfield campus] not in a flood zone, the bank did not require it [insurance] for our mortgage . . . we didn’t even think to get it because it never flooded here before.”
Kelly says he’s not sure where they will be able to hold services this weekend or how many people could even attend as so many in their congregations have been displaced by the flooding. “Now we get to live the Scripture, ‘Cast your care upon Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7),’” Kelly says. “We’re just going to lean on Him and His promises.”
Convoy of Hope has already arrived and set up a distribution site at Bethany church in Baton Rouge, a location that is currently not threatened by flooding, where they are passing out food, water, cleaning supplies, and hygiene kits.
The district is also continuing to look for ways to assist. “We have set up a relief fund for pastors and churches and have opened the district campgrounds in Woodworth for evacuees,” Jones says.