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Louisiana Churches: Pummeled, Yet Prayerful

The call at Bush United Methodist Church in Bush, LA: PRAY. Photo: Ann Walle/CWS

September 3, 2005

BUSH, LA – As Church World Service (CWS) Executive Director Rev. John L. McCullough traveled across Louisiana after leaving Baton Rouge and meetings with the Louisiana Interchurch Council, he witnessed Hurricane Katrina's destruction of churches themselves.

The United Methodist Church on Route 41 in Bush, Louisiana, Rev. Karl Wood, Pastor, has a tree across its roof. The playground in back is completely wrecked, pummeled by a huge trunk lying across its play equipment in what was the Helen C. Wood “Mawmaw Helen” Memorial Playground.

The sign in front held one word: "PRAY."

The Evans Creek Baptist Church on Route 41 is in part smashed by a tree across the left side of its long roof.

The sign of another church carried another message: "No Service Sunday." Perhaps its pastor was searching for family. Or missing himself.

John McCullough inspects playground damage

John McCullough inspects damage at the United Methodist Church in Bush, LA -- the "MawMaw Helen" Woods Playground. Photo: Ann Walle/CWS

On Thursday, at the request of Christian Methodist Episcopal Bishop Thomas Hoyt, McCullough spoke with Rev. H. Leon Williams of CME Reeves Temple. "We have 40 people sheltered at our church," Williams reported. "We're giving them breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have no money – we're trying to help navigate federal assistance. We know others are doing this too, and we appreciate the prayers and assistance. The churches will need help."

McCullough, CWS Emergency Response Associate Director Linda Reed Brown, and CWS Communications Director Ann Walle met in Baton Rouge on Thursday (Sept 1) with Louisiana religious leaders and others. McCullough said, "Cooperation among different faith groups must be an imperative in the response to Hurricane Katrina."

In a meeting convened by the Louisiana Interchurch Conference in Baton Rouge, McCullough stressed that cooperation and not competition among faith groups "will help consolidate their role as advocates for survivors who are coping with an unimaginable disaster in destruction and scope.

"This is not just an urban story; it’s a rural story," said McCullough during a meeting attended by members and pastors of independent churches in Louisiana and representatives of the Presbyterian Church (USA), United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), and the Christian Church (Disciples).

Father Dan Kurtz, head of the Conference, noted that individuals are making important decisions on their future, and need their pastors' counseling. At the same time, their pastors are going through the same process. Kurtz affirmed the efforts of CWS in places such as Florida after Hurricane Isabel and its way of "making the role of the churches visible."

Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526;

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