Reedeemer Presbyterian Church - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Celebrating Christ, Serving New Orleans
Join with Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Pastor Ray Cannata and MNA as we continue the work of rebuilding the homes and lives of New Orleans. In August of 2005, hurricanes Katrina and Rita flooded 80% of New Orleans, destroying 172,000 of 215,000 homes. Thanks to many mission teams and volunteers across the nation, great strides have been taken in the past five years. Today there are still nearly 54,000 unoccupied homes. There is still a lot of work to be done to see this city rebuilt.

Project Overview
We hope to play a great part in the rebuilding of hurricane Katrina and Rita affected homes. We are also reaching out to our neighbors and communities in poverty stricken areas. Much of this work is construction related, from framing and carpentry, to drywall and painting. We have found it to be greatly helpful in this stage of the rebuilding to have teams with some construction knowledge. Whether one member of your team has general construction knowledge, or your whole team is people with a trade, this is a tremendous help. We do, however, also help with other non-construction related jobs. We have participated in neighborhood cleanups, worked with schools and worked on other beautification projects around the city. Different opportunities are available each week. If your team is flexible, we can use you!

Your Team’s Responsibilities
Redeemer has a very small staff, so mission teams have to be relatively self-sustaining. Teams are required to provide their own transportation to New Orleans, as well as transportation while in the city. Teams will also need to coordinate meals for themselves and be in charge of any evening entertainment. Groups can be no larger than 20 people.

What Redeemer Provides
Redeemer has two different housing facilities, our Redeemer House and the church office. Both are fully functional, equipped with showers, bathrooms, beds, air mattresses and linens, general furnishings and full kitchens. Our house sleeps 12 people while the office sleeps 8. Both locations will be available for your use during the week of your trip. We are also equipped with most tools necessary to complete the jobs we take on. There is also one full time staff member who will coordinate your trip, both as you prepare and while you are in the city.

Overall Costs
While we do not charge teams any fees but do incur costs to host our mission teams: Redeemer House and office utilities, tools, trailer, t-shirts, some building materials, bedding, laundry, toiletries, etc. We have calculated this cost to about $100/person per week. As a mission church that is not yet self-supporting for our normal operating expenses, we greatly appreciate any financial help the visiting teams can offer us to defray these expenses. We also welcome gifts to support our church work.
Additional costs that need to be taken into account are your transportation, meals and possibly job material expenses. While we do ask that homeowners provide materials, it is nice when teams account for unexpected materials expenses and can help with these costs for the homeowner. Overall, it is a very inexpensive mission trip!

The fees you pay are for the sole purpose of covering costs for the ministry or church with whom you are serving; MNA receives no income or financial benefit from the fees you pay.

A Typical Week Schedule
Sat.: Arrive and get settled.
Sun: Worship, sightsee, make sure the tools are secured and the sites located.
Mon-Fri: start with a devotional; work 8am-4pm
Thurs. 7pm: Party with the church.
Fri or Sat: Leave

Our Needs for the Rebuilding Efforts
1. VEHICLE: We are in need of a pickup truck. It would be driven by our relief coordinator and used to bring tools to and from the work site, provide transportation to meet with homeowners and help with bringing materials to our work sites. Preferably with an extended cab to transport volunteers and interns if necessary.
2. TOOLS: We are in need of large extension ladders, scaffolding, framing nailer.
3. SALARY: While we have been blessed with a relief coordinator, we can use assistance with raising support for his salary.
4. INTERNS: We are always looking for interns. Prayerfully consider joining us as an intern or supporting and encouraging a college student in your church to intern with us.

Support
We are a small mission church in need of long-term partnerships. If your church is looking for a long-term partnership with a church in the Gulf Region, here is a great opportunity. The need here is great and the opportunities are ongoing. Contact us to see how you can partner with us, now and for the future. New Orleans will require 5 to 10 years to rebuild, in the best-case scenario, and Redeemer is committed for the long haul.

More Information

For more information on sending a team to New Orleans, please visit our website (redeemernola.com) and find the disaster relief section under the “Ministries” tab. There will be a link to our FAQ page, which will provide more information on how to organize a trip and what it will look like to work with us. Thanks for your interest.

Need more information?

Contact Arklie Hooten ahooten@pcanet.org / 678-294-3011 or

Sherry Lanier

MNA ShortTerm Missions and Disaster Response Facilitator
678-294-3012
slanier@pcanet.org

Learn more about Redeemer at www.redeemernola.com

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