Our Family in Christ-New Orleans Family Serve 2011

After driving 1800 miles, we arrived in New Orleans safely Saturday afternoon. Thank you for your prayers for our safe travel. They were answered. We left a day early this year so we could worship with our family in Christ at House of Hope Fellowship in the 9th Ward. House of Hope's Pastor, Gerald Burton, used to hold church at Stewart's diner, where we serve the annual Thanksgiving Meal. Pastor Gerald is Kim Stewart's nephew, and he has moved the church to its own building in the 9th ward.

We pulled the "Family Serve" RV onto the lot adjacent to the church and served the members and guests pancakes and fixin's. Yes, folks Doug's "pancake breakfast" was a hit again. (Many of you know that "Pancake Breakfast" is Doug's code word, for "let's break bread with our neighbors and serve others!") This breakfast gave us a chance to get to know the church members better. After breakfast, we praised, worshiped, and heard a powerful word from Pastor Gerald. Pastor Gerald preached on the Fragility of Family--Psalm 68. He encouraged us to reconcile with our family members, especially NOW. He talked about how the family is under attack and when we were "poorer" materially, we tended to stick together as a family. But, now that we may be more comfortable, we may rely less on our family. He noted that a lot of families are in chaos with outside forces and busyness negatively eroding our family foundation. AMEN! God's Word says he sets the lonely in families and every one should be invited, and we need to leave our differences at the door. He left us with this question: Is it time for you to reconcile with someone in your family? Call them. Do it now. Don't Wait. And, how about inviting someone new into your family? Maybe for Thanksgiving dinner.

As we chatted with Pastor Gerald after, we shared what the Lord has put on each of our hearts with regards to what is ahead in New Orleans/California. Our family has been praying intentionally for the last two months for this trip--we have been praying for something BIG (i.e. something that we could not have thought of!) Well, the Lord does not disappoint. We told him that we are here with YOUR support and that the body of Christ transcends the distance between California and New Orleans. The ground is fertile here and the Spirit is mobilizing us. Stay tuned.

What's next? Pastor Gerald has been serving regularly at the New Orleans Rescue Mission. And, the meal at House of Hope on Tuesday will be an outreach to the New Orleans Rescue Mission. They will be bringing men staying at the New Orleans Rescue Mission to eat with the congregation. Will you please pray for the Lord to work in the lives of the guests, for the guests to be accepted into the family of Christ at House of Hope, and for hope in Christ for burdened hearts.

Love and Miss you all,

McCain Family

Here is Jack playing worship with House of Hope Worship team!