Louisiana 2004-2005

Hurricane Katrina

In August 2004, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. New Orleans due to the collapse of the levee system received the most damage from Katrina. Other regions in Louisiana were affected by this hurricane in addition to New Orleans.

After the water subsided what was left was huge devastation and death. Most of the Lower 9th Ward was crushed under the shear weight of the waters pounding force. Thousands of homes in Louisiana were destroyed or severely damaged. Thousands of people were homeless

Rev. John Forry traveled to New Orleans after Katrina with a humanitarian agency from Canada. While the group was serving the people in Louisiana; Hurricane Rita hit. This hurricane affected other districts in Western Louisiana, and added additional damage and crisis to the state. After a week and a few days of serving in Louisiana the humanitarian agency headed back to Canada. After prayer John felt Jesus calling him to stay and continue to serve the people in Baker, Louisiana.

John worked as a security guard at a shelter located in Baker Louisiana, which was run by Miracle Place Church. This church emanated with the love of Jesus. John lived in this church while the shelter was running there. After the displaced people found other residence in the Baker Trailer Village, John served Pastor Ricky Sinclair and Paul Pierce at the church.

Pastor Ricky is an awesome man of God and has great love for the hurting people in our world. He opened up his home to John who saw first hand how the Sinclair family live out real passionate love for each other and God. If you would like to know more about this awesome servant of Jesus check out his book Miracle at Large.

Pastor John and April Mayers are doing great thing alongside other staff in the church in helping individuals go all the way with Jesus. The program they run and was planted by pastor Ricky Sinclair is called the All the Way House. John and April Mayers poor their hearts out to these men recovering from drug and alcohol abuse. Rev. John Forry oversaw a prayer meeting that was held once a week for these men and saw first hand how much the All the Way House was causing life long changes in these men's lives. Check out this ministries web page www.allthewayhouse.org

Working with Pastor Devon and Georgia O'Neal in Zion City with an inner city youth program located in Louisiana was a great learning experience for John. The kids were great and Rev. Johns heart was broken when he saw first hand what a fatherless generation really looked like. Please pray for this ministries protection and ongoing success in reaching these vulnerable children with the love of Jesus.

The last three months John lived in Louisiana, he lived at Pastor David Hayes home. Pastor David is another individual who showed John the love of Jesus in real and dynamic ways. John saw first hand the love pastor David had for his own two children and the Youth of America.

Miracle Place Church is an awesome part of the Body of Christ and is doing great things in Baker, Louisiana. I am honoured to have spent my time serving along side these brothers and sisters in Jesus. If you have a chance check out the churches web site www.miracleplacechurch.org