Interview with Ricky Rigsby, a leader at Celebration Church

This year natural disasters seem to be coming even more strongly and frequently. Jesus warned us that this would happen in Matt 24 for example. The latest of these events is Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. G2g is partnering with Celebration Church in New Orleans to make a way for the body of Christ’s light to shine bright in darkness once again.

Aim of Base: We believe this is God’s time to rebuild the city from "The City That Care Forgot" to "The City That Cares for God". Celebration Church is one of the biggest humanitarian aid projects being proactive in this aim in the Metairie area

Who are you looking for to help?

Anyone & everyone!

 What things can people do to help?

• Come and volunteer or send teams to help! We will be hosting teams and individuals for even up to three years. Just pick a time that is best for you and come.

• Send donations of humanitarian aid. Such as water, non perishable foods, baby & medical supplies, and equipment.

• We are looking for Churches and/or individuals to adopt a member of staff by; paying their salary for up to a year, sending them personal finances, clothes and food. You can contact and encourage them from our website: www.celebrationchurch.org

• Give prayer support for our staff, and for the safety, provision and rebuilding of New Orleans.

• Come and volunteer or send teams to help! We will be hosting teams and individuals for even up to three years. Just pick a time that is best for you and come.

When people come to help, what will they be doing and what should they bring?

We suggest you bring sleeping bags, toiletries and anything you want for your individual personal needs as well as any equipment and products to help the community. We are providing preparing meals from food donated, places to sleep and shower for volunteers

We are rebuilding Churches and houses, ministering to and counselling people. Touching the lives of the community in any way we can.

What is the extent of the damage as you see it?

In the city of New Orleans, such as Jentilly, Lakeview and New Orleans east - there is just total devastation.

In areas such as Metairie, Kenner, and the River Perishes - there is moderate loss. People need help getting into their homes to be able to reach out and help others.

What was it like going back after the hurricane hit?

I had mixed emotions. It was great to see the people and know they were safe but it was heart wrenching to see the homes destroyed and know they had lost family members.

The truth is, for the first time in the history of the city, the Church of Jesus Christ, is on level playing field with the devil of the world in New Orleans. We can and will rebuild this city as "The City That Cares for God". But we need help!

 

I hear Pastors and leaders are leaving New Orleans with no intention of returning.

Many churches are discouraged. They have lost everything and didn’t have the insurance to cover the buildings for their loses. But with the help of the Church around the world, we can win this battle! We can win this city for Jesus and we will!

For hundreds of years people have said that New Orleans is the city where hell reigns. But we know that God loves the sinner but hates the sin and we know that God wants to siege this city. He wants to do in this city what He did in Nineva. We want to be part of that and we want you to be part of it!

How do you feel when you see the body of Christ running from it all?

It hurts my heart because I know that Jesus was not a quitter. He could have called a

legion of angels and taken Himself off that cross. He could have quit but He didn’t, because when He was on the cross, I was on His mind and heart and so were the people of New Orleans. And just as Jesus didn’t quit on us we can’t quit on them! I understand the

discouragement, but I am asking every Christian to hang in there and do what God called you to do and finish strong!

What is the atmosphere around there now?

The Christians here have hope, vision and planning. But in the city of New Orleans there is a spirit of defeat and oppression that needs to be broken by the power of Jesus.

What was it like having to leave?

We have ridden many hurricanes out in New Orleans and most of our people wouldn’t normally leave. We had no idea it was going to be that big. So our plan was to stay and create a safe haven in the Church. But on the Sunday when it was a category 5 we knew it was too dangerous so encouraged all of the people to get out.

We helped some of them find places to go so they would be safe. It was hard to leave because we didn’t know for sure that all our people were out but we couldn’t stay.

The Church took 5 - 7ft of water for 3 weeks, so if we had stayed we would have been some of the ones they would have had to rescue.

What did you lose?

The staff at our Church lost all our Bibles, libraries, work, and more. Many of the staff at

our Church lost all our Bibles, libraries, work, and more. Many of those things were very meaningful and it has been an emotional challenge. But the truth is we have our lives and families and we have our faith in the Lord so we are going to rebuild. Some things we can never replace

but they are just things. We are discouraged but not defeated. God is good. He will finish strong and so will we.

What about all those that died as a result of the hurricane?

The death toll still hasn’t stopped rising and that’s sad because many of those people are lost eternally but if we rekindle our passion for reaching this city we can make sure that in the future people are prepared.

Contact Person: Debbie Pell
Contact Number: 1-504-722-1128

Address: 2701 Transcontinental, Metairie

Website (to make donations): www.celebrationchurch.org

If you have been looking for a way to get in to New Orleans and partner with people

committed there for the long run, then please contact Debbie and go! This is the time for the Church to rebuild that city and not run from it. This is God’s opportunity for us to touch the people’s lives out there

 and show the world what we can do when the body of Christ is united!