Oak Grove Church, Drasco, Arkansas, August 2009

This was Oak Grove Youth Group's first visit to Power of Prayer Ministries and it was their first trip to the Gulf Coast. They really didn't know what to expect, knowing it was 4 years since Katrina.

Much to their surprise there is still much destruction as Waveland was center of ground zero of the storm. Trees are still left standing dead in their places by the thousands. Slabs still remain where houses once stood. And for the most part land is empty of residents who decided not to return leaving ugly overgrown shrubs and weeds where there once were beautiful manicured lawns. Our streets are still torn up from all of the heavy equipment and pot holes are tearing up our vehicles daily little by little. Our beach is also being reworked and much of it is torn up right now as well. So all in all, Waveland is still not a very desirable place.

But what is here are the lonely, the oppressed, the depressed and the lost. A mission-minded person's paradise. And this week, that's just what these young people were interested in doing, administering God's love, grace, mercy, and hope. They did this through loving acts of kindness shown by mowing, moving, cleaning, planting, painting and staining.

They also performed an amazing skit at Davis grocery in the Bayside community. They all sang and played praise music on the "cement stage" where they also painted 5 beautiful paintings depicting Jesus death on the cross for our sins. Make sure to check out the pictures on Flicker! They rented 2 large spacewalks, one obstacle course and one jumper with obstacles inside. The children from the community enjoyed these as well.

Thank you to Oak Grove Church. We hope to see you again some day.

Poplar Springs Baptist Church, Ringgold, GA, July 2009

Thank you Poplar Springs for this visit. As always seeking to do God's will. And we know God has surely blessed this week.

We see it in our community and in our own families. People searching, seeking, floundering, unsure of what they really want and what their real purpose in life might be. Looking for fulfillment in life by seeking things, pleasure, security, or other people to fill the void in their lives and give them the contentment and satisfaction they so long for. They are missing the very essence of life. What they are missing is JESUS.

Together with God's disciples that is the message we are striving to share with the world. Sharing the gospel message is what we as Jesus' disciples have been called to do; ministering together in the cause of Christ. That was what this week was about.

We thank these two families who came and served and we look forward to October and the church's next visit.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CHICKAMAUGA, GA June 2009

As you scroll across the pictures of the beautiful little faces of the children who were recipients of this wonderful groups efforts to have Backyard Bible Club in the extreme heat of this particular June, you can surely see God at work. I can't remember a June this hot and yet these wonderful servants brazed the heat each day to do His work with some of His most treasured, the children. And we say this with the utmost respect, not all of His workers were young, most were of good age. Which goes to show, whether young or old, all can be used of God if we are willing no matter what the circumstances!!

The others in the group, the highly skilled men and women of the construction type, were used by God with their talents and gifts in this area. So much work was done in one short week it was once again simply amazing what God can do.

Some of the work included working in a local church installing ceramic tile flooring. Installing insulation and sheetrock in the home of one of our Waveland residents whose home was completely washed away in the storm. Two of the men came back a couple of weeks later to complete the sheetrock finishing. The care shown was completely mind boggling to our resident who is ecstatic about the work that was done.

The group also helped another family who they had met the year after the storm while here working with Samaritan's Purse organization. The wife came to the camp and gave her story of what happened to she and her husband in the midst of Katrina as they both stayed and suffered serious injury's both physically and emotionally. But with God's help they are trying to overcome both.

This was the first time FBC of Chickamauga came to work with Power of Prayer Ministries. We surely hope they make this home for mission work in the Gulf Coast of MS. Thank you so much for all of the work you have done here.

Pleasantdale Baptist Church, MS, June 2009

Pleasantdale did it again. They came in for a few days and worked themselves silly in those few short days! We don't know how they do it except that they are young and full of energy and so willing to work hard for the Lord.

Some of the men worked on a home that is just now in the framing stage. They worked installing blocking inside the walls of the home and blessed the owner with the next phase of the work nesessary to continue framing.

The females did a variety of what they always do and seem to do really well. Clean yards, cut grass and this time they pressure washed a home and made it look new again. But most importantly they did this work with happiness and care that showed God's love come shining through for all to see and feel. It is work like this that continues to be such a shining light through the darkness to those who need it and helps us bond with the community people.

Poplar Springs Baptist Church, Ringgold, Georgia, April 2009

For many reasons we are so excited each time this wonderful group from GA comes down to Waveland. This was their sixth trip since Katrina!! They have made many lasting friendships and have added many new ones this time while serving the Lord in so many different ways. They are also a tremendous source of encouragement for us as we continue in the work the Lord has laid out for us to do.

They arrived on Saturday evening and wasted no time meeting the area people with whom they were going to work on Sunday. We listened to a wonderful testimony from a local store owner who had stayed for Katrina. God revealed Himself in so many ways to him after the storm that he came to know Him personally and has given his store grounds for His work. After attending church with them on Sunday, we took him up on his offer to use his land and had an egg hunt there for the community children. Many children came and were ministered to and one child gave her life to Jesus, Amen!! It was a fun-filled exciting day for the children as they learned about Jesus.

Later that day we gave our young neighbor a surprise party for her "sweet sixteenth" birthday. Besides the 28 people from GA and all of our family, her family and some of her friends came for a "sweet" time of food, fun and fellowship. By the look on her face she was very surprised! She also received many nice gifts from the group which really pleased her and made her very happy. This time of fellowship was a very neat way to encourage this young girl in her new walk with the Lord.

Monday began some very difficult work on our family property. We are so excited and appreciative of the groups hard work to clear the land in the woods and blaze a trail that downed trees had destroyed after Katrina. For three days the group worked to clear a path 7/10ths of a mile long with the help of our neighbor and his working machine! This trail allows us to access a part of our land we have not seen for years. It will be used for our neighbors to enjoy as well as volunteers who come to serve here. We thank you for this wonderful ministry!

Also, we had repair work to our shower house done by an able bodied craftsman and his helpers. Hurricane Gustav had damaged a tree that fell on part of our building and destroyed some of our siding. They were able to repair the building and add a gutter to prevent water damage to the front of the building and the sidewalk leading up to the shower house. Then the entire sidewalk was removed, dirt was added by our youngest helpers who shoveled and moved wheelbarrow loads of dirt to lift our sidewalk and level it as well. It is beautiful and our little missionaries learned how to have a servant's heart while working hard for Him! And after almost 4 years our pump house finally received its siding and two coats of paint!! Wow, what a difference all of this makes to the camp.

Many in the group worked on the local church we attended on Sunday. They painted the interior hallway and doors of the classroom area. This church has a large ministry with the children in the community picking them up on a bus every Sunday. The area that was painted is heavily used by the children. The pastor was encouraged by the group on Sunday in church and again in the afternoon with the egg hunt that he and his wife attended. They were excited that this event led them to meet more locals they did not know.

Many area people were ministered to as well this week. One family whose home was destroyed both by Katrina and flooded again by Gustav, had the bottom of their home gutted of the last of the inside walls and fixtures. These people are so grateful for this work because they are exhausted with all they have been through these past few years they can barely exist. Dirt was moved and spread for another elderly couple. Weeds were pulled for yet another elderly lady. Baseboards were set and cleaned for another neighbor. The Waveland police and fire department were visited and given gifts for all they've done and endured these past years and they were taken away by the thoughtfulness of these volunteers representing Jesus. One man with whom we've worked for about a year is so close to finally moving into his new home built mainly by volunteers. This group was able to put the final touches on his home preparing for move in by cleaning the home of dust and dirt. The owner was very appreciative.

And last but not at all least, 28 area people were fed this week by these wonderful people!! Wow! Through food and fellowship God was indeed lifted up, honored and praised. We are encouraged and thankful for this past week and look forward to their 7th visit!!

Oak Hill Baptist Church, Pontotoc, MS

There are no words that can fully describe the amazing and miraculous events that happened this past weekend. Among many wonderful happenings, we saw how God used 38 people to touch an entire community because they did seek Him and did not let the enemy have his way.

We knew wonderful and mighty things were going to happen through this group on "Day in the Park" day, March 14th, that they have been planning since last year. We knew because of who they are, servants with a loving and giving spirit willing to serve no matter the cost and we knew because of Whose they are, God's children who have the power within to fight the enemy and win and they did.

We also knew because just about everything that could go wrong, did go wrong even before they arrived. Besides things at the camp breaking and causing much trouble, the rain came in torrents and along with the rain more gnats than we could possibly ever describe. All this and even a last minute change of venue could not stop God working mightily throughout the day and into the night to produce one of the most spirit-filled events this community has seen in a very long time.

The area community in which they worked is a much neglected part of our county. Most people are very poor. Drugs, alcohol, stabbings and shootings are common place. The only church has 15 adult members, yet this community is one of the largest populated in the area. They were very hard hit by Katrina, literally everyone suffering severe flooding and damage, adding to the already depressed living conditions.

On Saturday the group set up tents and held Bible and craft classes for children, youth and adults. They set up in a park next to a grocery store at the front of the community. There were more than 40 children alone who attended. Surprising were the amount of teens and adults who also attended even with the rain and gnats. Everyone was very attentive to the Word of God showing their hunger for Him. And they were also very hungry for the attention that the volunteers gave showing Jesus' love for them. After the classes they were fed lunch. Game time was interrupted by the rain so everyone waited for the evening meal and concert.

With the rain coming down in torrents it was time to move to the only church in the area. There the group of volunteers fed many people a wonderful evening meal before entering the small church to hear the Fishers of Men gospel singing group perform their wonderful music. God has also gifted the musicians with sharing their own personal testimonies from their hearts that further leads everyone into worship of our Lord and Savior.

On Saturday night, the church was filled with the singers, the volunteers, the church members, the people from the area and the Holy Spirit who filled the place with His presence. We worshiped, prayed and many gave testimonies giving glory, honor and praise to Jesus. And three people prayed to receive Christ as Savior!! Hallelujah!!!!
What a night. One we will never forget.

We also want to give praise to the Lord for four special men who worked in the rain and gnats digging a much needed water line. This work was so important to us and we are indebted to them. Also, there were many in the group who worked on Saturday putting up a pavilion at the church. All in all, much was accomplished for His Kingdom in just one weekend! The group is planning to come back in the fall and we are so grateful for them. We know God will richly bless you Oak Hill.

Tucker Swamp Baptist Church, Zuni, Virginia

This highly skilled group returned this year to bless yet another family with their talents. Last year they came with two contractors who were able to frame two homes. This year one of the contractors returned and had the help of his capable church family and Pastor Bill to help in the project. They took on a rather large house that was built 14 feet high up on concrete pilings. The family, James and Marque and their two teenage sons, watched in amazement as this group of men framed the home in less than a week. They are so grateful to have this help and see and feel the love of Jesus this group demonstrated as they worked.

A terrible event happened this week, but God miraculously intervened and saved this man's life. One of the volunteers, Craig, was working on the top of the framed house, when he lost his footing and fell 26 feet to the ground below. Fear grasped the workers as they helplessly watched him fall to the ground and hit his head upon impact. Although his injury was serious, a compound fracture of his femur bone, we all knew it could have been fatal had it not been for God. Praise Him, Praise Him. That is what we all have been doing. What a tremendous miracle was witnessed by everyone. Craig was brought to the hospital by ambulance and had surgery on his leg. His head was fine! He is doing well and the doctors say he should be back to work in two months. What an awesome God we serve!!!

The group also painted and ministered this week at the home of our neighbors, Mike and Geri. It is always a blessing to have something more done for us that we don't have to do considering all we've been through. The three ladies took care of all of the meals, shopping and cleaning for the crew this week and brought lunch daily to the job site. They did an awesome job of meal planning so the men could continue working.

A huge thank you to this group for all of their service this week and for feeding us and some of the others in the area. We know God will surely bless you for all you've done. We hope to see you again next year.

The Rock Church

These volunteers have continued to come and minister to the people on the Gulf Coast since Katrina. This was their second visit to P.O.P. We were happy to meet the new folks and also Pastor Ricky who was able to come for a couple of days.

Don’t be fooled by the pictures!! Yes, we enjoyed a lot of food, fun and fellowship while serving our Lord together but this team blessed a lot of families with a lot of hard work this week including our own.

One of our major projects has been the ongoing ministry we have with the Butler family. The team of volunteers helped him by installing siding to his home as well as completing the framing, caulking and painting of his interior windows. Some of his baseboards were also cut and installed. This work has helped the family get closer to their “move in” date of February 16th. They are ever so grateful for the sacrifice this group made with their talents, time, care and concern shown to them while they were here this week.

This group also worked on Woody‘s home, a man to whom God led us in January of last year when we framed his home with a team from VA. Since that time Woody has also been blessed to receive lots of help completing his beautiful home. This team caulked the siding and windows of the exterior of the home. They also spray painted the home it’s beautiful green color! Woody is also very appreciative of all of the hard work and sacrifice. He will also be able to move into his new home soon!

Another couple God has us ministering to since the storm are our neighbors on the lake, Brian and Jan. Their home had extensive damage from the flood surge but still had it’s basic structure remaining. This team was able to help them by installing railing around their porch missing since the storm. In a storage room under the house they installed a very large storage shelf and another shelf beneath it Brian calls his “workbench”. The couple are always amazed that people would do so much for them and they too have seen the love of Jesus pour through the hearts of the volunteers.

Our camp facility was once again blessed by the work of this team. Last year they installed porcelain tile in our kitchen / dining area which has been an unbelievable blessing to us and all who have come since. This time they painted our two restrooms and one of the bunk rooms. WOW! It brightened up the areas and gave it a fresh, clean look that is able to be wiped down and cleaned and also added an air of cheeriness to the spaces. P.O.P. is so thankful for this work!!

Last but not least, we have been so, so honored this week to have the same wonderful father and son team who worked on our camp floor to install ceramic tile in our tub area and shower stall. They also completed Monica’s tub surround and step. Words cannot express our gratitude for all of the outpouring of love, sacrifice and care this group of people have shown to our family. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We love you.

Sheetrock Solution

This young man, Richard King, came as a blessing to the Butler family and right before Christmas. Richard had come here the year after Katrina and worked with one of the first families we helped right down the street from the camp. He worked installing and finishing sheetrock. He still had a heart for the people on the coast who lost everything to the hurricane. So, this year he wanted to come back and give of himself once again.

He came to us this time hoping to volunteer before looking for work in the area. Little did he know that the Butler's home was in the sheetrock stage on the interior and it fit right in for him to volunteer to do this work. He worked for 3 weeks on the home taping, sanding and finishing the sheetrock. The Butler's are very excited that he stayed this long working as a volunteer for them. Thank you Richie for hearing from God to come here and do this valuable work. We know you will be richly blessed for giving of yourself for 3 long weeks!!

First Baptist Church Saltillo

These wonderful people gave up their Thanksgiving and the time to be with their families to come down here and volunteer their labor to install sheetrock for a family we have been working with since March.

They were able to complete all of the sheetrock installation and now all we need to do is complete the taping, floating and finishing.

We are so grateful for their sacrifices and for their understanding that our work is still ongoing and more critical than ever because we have fewer volunteers coming now.

Building relationships with the area people who need Jesus and are unchurched is what our ministry is all about. Allowing others to see a difference in us and through us while performing services for them is key to leading them to Christ.
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We thank all of the groups who have sacrificed their time, labor and money and have continued to come this year in spite of the high gas prices we saw and the state of the economy that is the worst we've seen in many years. God is well pleased with His servants.

Please be in prayer with us that we will be able to continue on until God closes our doors reaching new people for Him in the coming years. Also, please pray for those folks whom you have met and worked with this year who need Jesus.

We pray that each of you has a wonderful and joyful CHRISTmas and a very Happy New Year!!

County Line Baptist Church

Thank you to the faithful men of Countyline Baptist Church who have committed themselves to continued service to the Lord by coming and working here on the Gulf Coast time after time. God is pleased, we are grateful and the family who they helped are very blessed indeed.

This church bought sheetrock, brought it down from Pontotoc County and installed it in the home we have been working on. They were able to install about half of the ceiling work and some of the walls in the home.

We are thankful that through this ministry we are able to continue building our relationship with this dear family as we help them rebuild and hopefully soon be able to move into their new home.

Thank you also, Countyline, for bringing new folks and introducing them to the much needed work that is here and will be for a long time to come. Thank you church for your generosity and love that you have shown to the people of the Gulf Coast. You are very much appreciated.

Power of Prayer Ministries Celebration

We want to let you know of a wonderful Celebration of God's work here on the Gulf Coast that took place on October 11, 2008. The people of Oak Hill Baptist Church worked for many months to pull together this awesome event held at the Pontotoc County Agri-Center in Pontotoc, MS.

The event was to thank those from this area who have worked with us for the past 3 years to help rebuild the homes and lives of those devastated by Hurricane Katrina. It was also to let people know that the work is far from over and still very much in need of volunteers and it is estimated the work here will be ongoing for the next 6 to 10 years.

It was extraordinary to see all of the efforts of these faithful people in everything that was done. The first thing was the food. Awesome!! A giant trailer with the biggest cooker we've ever seen in our lives cooking the most food we've ever seen cooked at one time (we think over 30 Boston Butt pork roasts!!). It was sooooo good. And it was free to anyone and everyone who came!

And all of the people who helped with all of the activities. The pictures of the past 3 years of work at Power of Prayer was put onto two TV's set up for groups to see as they came in. A video of testimonies of some of those who have been helped through these past 3 years was playing on an enormous big screen in the arena. And one of the families on the video came in person to the celebration to honor those who have sacrificed so much to come and help from Pontotoc.

Workers were everywhere. There were people cooking and serving food, helping with people signing in, selling T-shirts and helping with donations, decorating the stage, printing up information sheets on P.O.P. for distribution, and people who made signs. Thank you to everyone who helped in any way.

We were thrilled to be able to see so many of the people from this wonderful north MS county of Pontotoc who helped us get started and have continued to help us through these 3 years. We enjoyed meeting with you in your "neck of the woods". We love all of you dearly. Thank you again for your times of service. We look forward to working with you in the future!!

And of course, the music was unbeatable. First there was a very beautiful and unusual performance put on by members of Oak Hill. It was in the dark with black lights and just their hands that sported white gloves were visible and they "signed" with their gloved hands to some very touching songs. Very impressive indeed!!

And those wonderful guys of Fishers of Men with their big booming outstanding voices always giving God honor and glory. It was great to meet you on your turf and meet your wifes and families. And to hear your joyous singing once again. And we look forward to next year!! Thank you so much for your sacrifices.

We want to thank the local radio station who broadcast the information and the local newspaper who had an article about the event and P.O.P. Ministries.

We also appreciated hearing from our speakers. And it was a pleasure to have with us our friends and helpers from the start, Kim Faulkner and Barry Boyd.

Barry presented Power of Prayer Ministries with a beautiful etching of an eagle and a dead tree. Very significant to us. While praying about whether to begin P.O.P.out in our back field of dead trees, God sent a bald eagle right overhead. He circled us for a while, then disappeared. It was very touching for God to do this, because before the storm we had a family of four eagles living behind the swamp from us. We would see them nearly every day and sometimes they would fly really low over us in the woods. One day before the storm, Linda was by herself on the boardwalk Dave built for her and she saw a shadow cast on the walk. When she looked up there was one of the eagles so low she could almost reach up and touch him. We worried that the storm had killed the eagles or sent them away because we did not see any living bird after the storm for months. But this day, when he circled us out in the back field where we sat, we knew this was somehow a sign from God that we should indeed begin P.O.P. and that we would "soar" as the eagle if we did. We have not seen an eagle again until October of this year while we were praying with a group from Florida out on our front drive, 3 years later exactly!!

We truly feel that is what has happened these past 3 years. God has allowed us to "ride on His wings" to see many blessings and miracles of what He can do with complete destruction of lives and things. It has been nothing short of pure joy for us to be a tiny part of His plan and we are humbled and honored that He choose us to do it. Thank you, Jesus. We wouldn't trade it for anything else. We have seen God's glory manifested in ways we would have never seen without this storm. We have gained entry into homes and into the lives of people we would have never met and ministered in ways we never dreamed possible. We have heard stories that were unbelievable of survival and of God's grace. Many have given God honor and praise for their being saved from certain death. And just about everyone has given God praise for you, His volunteers. A huge turn around from the signs on the roadway we saw when we first arrived back, "Christians go home".

So, thanks again for the wonderful celebration. We pray to be able to continue the work God has started for His glory and we are thankful that we have you to join us in that journey.

Bell Shoals Baptist Church, Brandon, Florida

This group came from Tampa, FL area. They stayed two weeks from Sept. 20th through October 3rd. Some in the group came the second week only.

As we have found out after 3 years of ministry helping people, God has a way of changing plans at the last minute no matter how well we plan. Well, this past two weeks were one of those. Hurricane Gustav did more damage here than he should have considering he didn't even hit directly. But we had a strong easterly storm surge as he passed really close to our shoreline and that caused many in the area to suffer flooding.

One family who lives near the camp and lost everything to Katrina were one of the families who had flooding in Gustav. So as an emergency measure, we had to help them clean up the debris and flooded mess. This took lots of man power, many long hours and a fire that was ongoing for days. They were so grateful. And once again we heard the thankfulness and relief when they stated that they were so down and ready to give up when we arrived. But the group gave them so much hope and encouragement to continue on and get things done.

Another family who we have been helping for about 2 years had totally exhausted their funds, so one member of this group donated paint for the couple to be able to have their home completed on the outside. Something they didn't think would happen for a long, long time to come. Then the group painted the entire home. It was beautiful and the family was so happy. They also installed ceramic floor tile and finished the sheetrock in a bathroom. They are praising God for all He has done for them!!

This group was also able to complete some critical work on our own home that we have been waiting for since Katrina. One of the things they did was the outside trim on our windows that was missing and wind and rain was getting in. One of the volunteers used his skill to stucco around the windows and we are so very grateful and blessed for this work. Another item we had been needing was the gapping hole under our tub to be trimmed. One volunteer is a wood "expert" and he created and completed the wood trim. Once again we are so grateful and blessed to have these experts bless us with their work.

Another family was blessed by the group this week. A young family needed to have their trim work complete and didn't know how to do it themselves. God opened the door for us to go into the home. The young man wanted to know how much it was going to cost. We assured him it was not going to cost him anything. He really couldn't understand so he asked if he could make a donation. Again he was told no. Now he was really wondering. God then opened the door for seeds to be planted as the group got an opportunity to explain why they didn't want his money and how the work was for God.

God used the group for odds and ends as well this week. Grass cutting for the elderly and changing a flat tire. All things that show we are ready and willing to do anything for Him!

The camp also got some facelifting. One man in the group painted and cleaned the main front doors and frames and now our entryway is complete and beautiful. Another person in the group made shelves and hangers for the bunkrooms. We are thankful for the work that is done on our camp to keep it in good condition and comfortable for groups to come and enjoy while they do God's work.

We are thankful for the two weeks these people came and served and we look forward to their return next year!!

Hurricane Gustav

We want to thank everyone for your concern and prayers during our very nerve racking time we just had with Hurricane Gustav. God has decided to spare our home and the camp for now and we are ever so grateful. We came very close to flooding (our neighbors one street over had over 5 feet of water under their home and lost a car as well). The water came up from the lake located in the back of our property and flooded our back field but did not come up as far as the camp. Some tree limbs are down and one pecan tree is leaning over but other than that everything is fine.

We returned home today from evacuating and only had time this afternoon to assess some of the damage on some of the homes of people we have been helping and ministering to. We are sorry to say that the home of Joe and Cynthia Butler received 3 feet of water and they once again have lost everything to flooding. (He cannot get insurance because he lives within 1500 feet of the water). They just had gotten a new bedroom set for their son that some of you helped them put together. They are trying to be strong, but I know they are hurting wondering why this had to happen to them again so soon.

There are many others who have been flooded. We will go out tomorrow and visit more people and give you an update if we find others that you would know who are in need.

We know P.O.P. ministry is continuing to be used by God. Everyone was petrified as Gustav approached and everyone we know who stayed for Katrina left this time. We are praying that as more storms come it will be a time of awareness once again that God is mighty and He has and will continue to use disasters to get the attention of men and nations. And that life is about Him and for His glory.

Thank you once again for your love and prayers. We ask you to pray for us as "Ike" comes next. We also ask you to pray for our newly formed Bible study here in our home on Sunday nights.

PS check out our pictures on Flickr. We will be adding some as we go out and about.

Second Baptist Church, Bowling Green, MO

This group came July 26th and left August 2nd and it is the third trip for some in this group to P.O.P. Many others have been coming since right after the storm hit until now - almost 3 years later. We are so grateful for groups like these who recognize the need and see the opportunity for evangelism through the tragedy named Katrina.

They blessed several families this week with their skills working on their homes. Two families received electrical work. Another family had some heavy duty rough-in plumbing work done and also some hardi-plank installed. All of this physical work led to a wonderful time of spiritual enrichment for this family.

A husband and wife team were involved in visiting and evangelizing the area residents and also led a movie night with free meal and drinks. Everyone enjoyed this time of fellowship with the volunteers.

Also, the camp received some beautification by two wonderful teen girls who were excited to revisit the camp again this year. They painted the outside entryway surrounding the front doors which gave the camp a facelift. They also painted the interior doors and door frames which was also a huge improvement to the inside of our camp.

We are also grateful to the group for sacrificing one of their men to helping us finish some interior work on our home. We are very appreciative of the help we received that puts us ever closer to our own home being complete.

Thank you Second Baptist for another great year. We are ever so grateful for your love and support. May it continue to bring glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Lee Road Baptist Church, Taylors, SC

This group from Lee Road Baptist Church arrived on Sunday, July 13th and left on Saturday, the 19th giving them 5 full days in which they worked in many capacities.

The men stayed together and worked as a team to complete two “Hardi-Plank” siding houses begun by other teams earlier. The hard part was left on both of these two homes; the high part of the second story and the eaves. One man in particular in their group was the most experienced and he did most of the precarious and dangerous work on the tip top area of the two story home. However, all of the members of the group including 3 teenage boys and a younger brother worked hard to complete this project. The owners were in tears and very grateful as they saw their home completed on the outside, waiting almost 3 years to see it finished!

The interior of this home needed a staircase completed. The framing was completed by a trim crew from this same group of men and this work helped to complete the first floor interior of the home. The family was also very appreciative of this expert work that the homeowner simply couldn’t do for himself and couldn’t afford to hire out to professionals.

The crew then moved on to a single story dwelling and a home that we began from the foundation. Once again, the Hardi plank siding needed completion on the upper part of the home. The men accomplished this and also hung the undersiding on the front and back porches of the home.

The final days the team moved on to our third home. It was the home that received 32 feet of flood water. It is also a two story structure. The temporary vinyl siding was removed on the first floor and hardi plank was begun. One of the men set up jacks for other crews coming behind them to be able to install the siding on the second story. The homeowner was very happy to have this work begun on his home and a system put in place and left to assist future volunteers with installation of the siding.

After these 5 full days in mid-July heat and high humidity, these South Carolinians were exhausted and ready to depart. But they must feel they have become Hardi-plank siding experts working on 3 homes requiring this work!! Thank you so much!!

The second team of this group included 3 ladies who worked all week at the Gulf Coast Community Ministries in Gulfport a mission of our church, 1st Bapist Church, Gulfport. One of the ladies is an Optician and gave her time and talents this week to help open a Vision Clinic in the mission with a retired Ophthalmologist who also volunteered his time each morning to give eye exams to the needy. Two other ladies from Lee Road assisted in the mission work at the Clinic this week.

The ladies were astonished to see how many truly needy people there are here on the Coast in the aftermath of Katrina, many of them homeless. They gave out 175 pairs of reading glasses to the needy this week and gave out 50 Vision Service Plan Gift Certificates for free prescription glasses. It broke their hearts as they literally had to turn people away due to lack of time only one week allowed and they wished they could stay on longer!! Many, many people were witnessed to by this team as they all wore salvation bracelets and were able to share what they meant. Many people requested prayer and all were so grateful for the entire vision ministry.

We were very blessed and thankful for this past week. We are praying that more of you will come and volunteer in this very needy area. As you can see, no matter what your skill God can and will use you if you are willing.

Friendship Baptist Church, Smithland, Kentucky

It is truly amazing all of the ways God uses what we consider troubles and delays to bless us and others. This was the first trip for this group from the Paducah Kentucky area down to the Gulf Coast to help with the Katrina rebuild. On the way they had not one, but two blowouts delaying them many hours. But God used both times to teach them many wonderful life lessons in how He works good for those who are obedient servants and soon they were on their way arriving in time to meet the family they were to serve this week. They came on June 23rd and left the morning of the 28th.

The group’s project for the week was to build a stairway and porch landing for a family whose home had 32 feet of flood water and were left with very little. They worked together as a team and completed the porch and stairs in a little more than 2 days! This family is so grateful to finally be able to access their home on stairs instead of an extension ladder. The volunteers also put together a desk / bunk bed set for their sons and performed various other tasks for the family. Lifelong bonding between the family and the group happened this week, one of the greatest blessings God gives us through this work.

The group also worked on our camp installing wood on the front surrounding our doors where black paper has been since the conversion of our barn into a volunteer “camp”. We are so thankful to them for this work! They also built a ramp into our pond so that our family and future volunteers can fish and feed Allie. It is beautiful! We are thankful for this work as well and we know it will provide many hours of fun and recreation for many, many people.

They also helped with our ongoing ministry of taking care of the elderly in our neighborhood. They manicured the lawn for one of our dear ladies who suffered terribly as a result of the storm. And they also fed our family as well as the people they were helping this week. We are praising God for groups like these who follow God’s lead to come and help us in an area that many around the country think is “back to normal”. Nothing could be further from the truth and now this group can also spread the word of the work needed here. Thanks to all who came and served.

Pleasantdale Baptist Church, Pontotoc, MS

Most of the groups who come down lately have been “regulars” to our work. This group is no exception. This has been the third trip for Pleasantdale. We are so grateful for faithful servants to God’s work here in Waveland. The ones who have been here before recognize the need because they see it first hand. And year after year they see the slow progress that is being made to rebuild. It is such a struggle for most of the people here.

This group came all the way down here to work for two days. The men of the group worked continually on Joe and Cindy’s home to complete the rough in electrical system. They are so thankful to have this work done. They had 32 feet of water destroy their home. Rebuilding is difficult due to very strict building codes now in effect since Katrina, triple costs of insurance and other government enforcements hard to comply with for most people. But through it all, God is there for them sending volunteers to help in His name.

The ladies of the group did yard work. Working on a yard that we thought impossible to deal with!! Never have we seen such a sight. Hundreds of plants in containers, there since before Katrina woven together with very high grass and weeds scattered throughout the entire front and back yard. It is truly impossible for this elderly lady stoke victim to contend with. But not for our fearless crew! They tackled this yard with vigor and determination to at least cut paths through this maze of plants so Ms. Betty could walk and enjoy what is left of her beloved plants. They did a very fine job and she was so pleased she gave them plants as “pay”.

An unusual request was answered by our group as well. A neighbor of Ms. Betty asked that they weed her little flower garden. She even provided them with a “hoe” and gloves to perform the job. She was tickled to have this done for her and they were tickled by her kindness and sense of humor!!

They also cut the yard of one of our elderly neighbors we minister to on a regular basis. Thank you gang for coming down and working so hard in so little time. The rain held them up on the second day, otherwise, they would have done more.

This group also took time late in the evening to enjoy learning to “skin board”. Thanks to our young neighbor for sharing his skill with our groups so that they can enjoy the beach and water. We are also thankful that Brandon has a good friend in the Lord, Noah, who comes with his parents on these mission trips and that they have bonded and hopefully will be lifelong friends. They enjoyed swimming together and playing games.

County Line Baptist Church, Randolph, MS

This week, June 1 - 7, was the fourth trip to Power of Prayer Ministries for this hard working group of volunteers from Randolph, MS. The first trip for the youth of the church. The young people of the church work very hard as well!! Many lives were touched this week as they worked with the area people then invited them to camp to share and enjoy their company.

Some of the work and fun this week were of the rare and unusual kind not as yet done here at POP. One of them was the laying out and planting of hundreds of daylilies donated by one of their church members who grows the daylilies as a hobby. Along the sidewalks leading up to the camp and our shower house we cleared long beds for the lilies, then after the plantings, a watering system was installed. Mulch was then added and the final touch was the lighting system! What a beautiful addition to our camp this donation has made!! God has got to be pleased with such a sight. His wonderful creations in every possible color and style lining the path for all to see and enjoy. WOW!! A big thank you to all who came and participated in this truly amazing work and a million thanks to Billy for his wonderful donation of the lilies.

And as if this donation of lilies weren’t enough, Mr. Billy and the hard working youth of the church also cleared a bed along the driveway of one of our neighbors to plant more of the beautiful lilies he brought especially for them!

This group also worked hard in the hot sun this week cutting grass for some of our elderly neighbors POP ministers to on a regular basis and a new contact that we made. They were very grateful for this tremendous help. One lady came to the camp for the first time to have dinner with the group. She was delighted to have been invited and to visit with the young people because she has no living relatives. We are thankful that God has put us in touch with this lady through the servanthood of this group. We will surely continue to keep in touch with Ms. Shirley.

All of this hard work led up to special times of fun. One thing we did was have a “tea party” for the youth in appreciation of working the flower beds. Our neighbor Aimee, who was the recipient of the donation as well, helped to serve the youth. First only the girls joined in, however, the boys couldn’t stand it and they soon joined in to enjoy the tea and fun! They also enjoyed going to the beach and learning to “skin board” by one of our teenage neighbors. He invited them to swim in his pool which they also enjoyed. We know God is happy when we serve Him together working hard for others and then having fun together in His name afterward!!

Covenant Presbyterian, Ligonier, Pennsylvania

This was the second trip for this wonderful church group coming farther by car, we believe, than any other group staying at P.O.P. From Ligonier to Waveland is 1081 miles! Wow, thank you volunteers for making that long trip with gas prices higher than ever to help the people of the Gulf Coast. God is good and we are grateful that He has touched your hearts to serve Him in this place. We look forward to your return!!

God was once again very busy this week guiding and leading us in helping those He chooses. We were able to continue helping our neighbor down the street complete more of the tasks on his home. The group finished hanging the remaining 30 sheets of Sheetrock in his home. The ladies were able to help him with two very tedious tasks. One was insulating all of the pipes under his home. This required stooping (or sitting) underneath the house and wrapping the pipes with the insulation and duck tape. The other task was to paint all of the porch rails for the back porch and stairs. Both of these jobs were very time consuming and the homeowner was so excited and blessed to have all of these projects done for him. His home is beautiful!

Next, the group went to our ongoing project of the home we have started from ground up. They were able to install more of the hardi-plank siding and that portion of the home is nearly complete. We also helped the owner install his exterior doors and his home is now closed in and able to be locked.

This week God led us to meet a new family who are also in desperate need. A family of four whose home had 32 feet of water. The entire second story of the home was washed away and disappeared into the Gulf. The bottom floor was left standing but had extensive damage. The homeowner has not had any help since the storm. He says he signed up with many organizations, but no one came to help. We are the first people God has chosen in the almost 3 years since the storm to help this family. We feel this is very significant and we take the task seriously. They are remodeling the first floor and rebuilding the second floor. They are also in serious financial trouble as the husband was injured and lost his job.

The group helped the owners paint and clean on the first level of the home as well as correct some electrical work. They also installed windows and a door on the second level. This was critical to keep out any more rain water that is damaging the bottom level.

We are grateful for the opportunities God gave us this week, especially the new family that we feel so commited to helping. Thank you gang for having a heart for this ministry and listening to God to come and serve Him here. We are ever so thankful for you!!!

The Rock Church, North Carolina

We are so grateful that God has led us into fellowship with The Rock Church. They have been working in this area since the storm many times with Samaritan's Purse in Kiln. Since Samaritan's Purse has had to leave this area, a neighbor whose home The Rock Church helped rebuild, asked us if they could come to P.O.P. to stay while working on her brother's home. The timing was right and we know this will be a long lasting relationship!

After having car trouble, they had to travel until 5:30 a.m. to get here. Tired and exhausted, these servants began their 4 days of work full steam ahead. They began on our neighbor's home, bringing with them a trailer load of vinyl siding he had purchased in their area at a bargain price. In just two days they had completed the 2100 square foot home and then also completed the detached garage. They also began working on installing sheetrock in his home. They were able to complete the ceilings and began work on the walls.

Next, they tackled a major project for P.O.P. and one that has been needed since our beginning - a floor for our kitchen and dining area. What a tremendous blessing for the many volunteers who will come and serve here in the years to come. God, in His timing, provided the long awaited labor and material for the porcelain tile. Not only will we now be able to keep the area clean, but it is so beautiful, making the area much more functional and comfortable. Be sure to look at the flicker sets for the pictures.

They were also able to make new friends in the neighborhood. For one of our elderly neighbors, they cut her entire lawn. They were also able to visit with her, hearing her story of barely surviving the storm. They have made lasting friends. Another neighbor called to say their lawn mower had been stolen. The group went to their aid and cut their lawn as well also making friendships as they served. We were also able to introduce them to another couple in our neighborhood who weathered the storm and barely survived. Their home is almost complete and they will soon be able to move out of the Fema trailer they have lived in since the storm.

We are so grateful God has put us together with The Rock Church. We feel this relationship is just the beginning and part of the grand plan God has in store for P.O.P. Each group has contributed in their own way to the work that God has begun here. We look forward to working with you in the future.

Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Indiana

We want to welcome these volunteers from Indiana who worked with us this week on the two homes we are continuing in Waveland and Hancock County. This is the third trip they have made to help in the rebuilding efforts here on the Gulf Coast. The first two trips were to Harrison County. They have now felt led to begin working in Hancock County, ground zero of Katrina.

This week they got a lot accomplished on both of the homes. For the Waveland home, they installed beautiful hard wood floors. They did an awesome job and the owner, who is a local pastor, is excited about having his floors put down. Not an easy job, but what a blessing this has been.

On the other home in the county, they performed many various tasks. One of them was the rough in plumbing. A volunteer who has worked in plumbing for 50 years did this job! Another job was installing hardi plank siding on the front of the home. This was the first time this group worked with hardi plank, but did an outstanding job and they were happy to have learned a new craft. The rest of the hurricane clips were installed by an energetic young man on a ladder. He completed the task and we can now close in the porch ceiling.

Electrical was also installed and roughed in by another volunteer from this group. He also helped with the air and heat system installation. This was completed this week and the owner can now call for inspection. The group also finished installing shingles on the roof and installed vented ridge caps. They braced the rest of the roofing as well. Another group of young people helped with the cleanup of the home. The owner is so pleased and delighted with all of the work that was done this week and has been done for him since the beginning. Another awesome blessing showing God's love for another victim of Katrina.

Although this group did not stay at the P.O.P. camp, we hope to work with them again in the future and we want to thank them so much for their contribution to God's work here in Hancock county.

Poplar Springs Baptist Church, Georgia

This was the 4th trip of Poplar Springs Baptist Church volunteers from Ringgold, GA. This group performed many different tasks for a lot of people. They were also able to fellowship with many of the friends they have made during the previous volunteer trips and made new friends as well.


Some of the projects they worked on was yard work which included cutting grass and weed eating, debris removal, and spreading dirt. For one neighbor around the corner from the camp they leveled the foundation soil under his home so that he could make a level path to an elevator that he will install. Because the soil had hardened this was a very tough job and a huge blessing to the family.


This group also worked on many homes in the area. They painted a neighbor's house and by the looks of it had fun while doing it! They began installing hardi-plank siding on the house we are building from ground up. For our neighbors on the lake they installed some insulation and spread waterproofing on their deck. And for still another family they performed plumbing work on a bathroom.


Other projects this week included organizing a tool closet and removing trash for another volunteer organization. They also emptied a concession stand at St. Rose Church and school.


Thanks to those of you who worked hard on landscaping for the ministry grounds! Landscaping timbers were laid and leveled. It is beautiful. Also to those of you who cut and cleared around our pond and cut our entire grounds. We also appreciate those of you who cleaned our cars, and our neighbor's truck.


Some of the fun activities while ministering included space walk jumping, watching and feeding "Allie", singing and listening to a neighbor play and sing Christian music on his guitar, basketball, and fun at the beach.


You ministered in so many ways. One special time we had this week was when we visited a very special lady in our neighborhood, Ms. Betty Smith. She was very ill, but welcomed everyone from the group inside where we talked and prayed with her. The group also cut some bushes off of her fence and out of Betty's way so she could see down the street from the porch she loves so very much. They also installed some vinyl siding on her home. One young girl from the group was very touched with Betty and went back on several occasions to help with Betty's therapy and hand fed her. We are sad to say that Betty passed away on Friday, April 4th at 7:13 p.m. She will be sadly missed by those of us who loved her here at P.O.P.

Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah, TN

This was the second trip to P.O.P. for this group of wonderful volunteers who came from Savannah, TN to serve this week. They performed many different tasks and served many people.

One of the projects they tackled was the roof of one of the houses that we began from ground up. They installed a drip edge, the fascia and began installing shingles on the roof. They did a fine job of working on the roof and it won't take long for the next group of volunteers to complete it. No one who worked on the roof was a professional, but no one could tell from the expert job that was done!

A major project that this team performed this week was the clearing of storm debris from the neighborhood around the camp which had not been completely cleaned since Katrina. The lot in front of the camp was especially loaded down with debris. Thousands upon thousands of tin cans as well as odds and ends there since the storm had to be hauled away. One was our own pump house that had floated there with the tidal surge and had to be broken apart and carried bit by bit to the trailer. They hauled 5 trailer loads of debris to the dump!!

Another project they worked on was for a neighbor to the camp. They painted his garage outside and inside and also painted some doors. The completed work will allow him to work on vehicles and equipment once again as he did before the storm. This same group also painted on another home of a local pastor in the area. They painted on the inside of the home. They did an awesome job of painting this week.

For another elderly couple they cleaned their lot and that of their son who lives next door and filled a dumpster to the rim with debris from the storm. Then they tilled an area for them to be able to plant a few vegetables. The couple were thrilled with all of the work and the yard is beautiful.

This group also cut and cleaned a few yards this week. One was for an elderly lady who was coming home from the hospital critically ill and would be under hospice care. She said when she got out of the ambulance she was so surprised to see her yard so beautiful, mowed and manicured and it was a blessing for her to see and enjoy. How wonderful to serve in this way.

This team also tackled an unusual task. The removal of a grape arbor that had been growing and entangled for about 50 years. The storm had taken it's toll on the vines and it needed to be removed. They first had to remove all of the wire and pipes that held up the grapes. Then they hooked a chain to our truck and pulled the vines up and then by hand they dug the beams out of the ground. We thank you team for this hard but necessary work.

Thank you team for coming to this area once again this year and serving the Lord with us showing this area the love of Jesus. We hope to see you again next year.