New Orleans Style Church

Sunday, April 6, 2008

It’s been a while. I apologize; I had an incredibly busy week.

On with New Orleans stories.

Carver Desire Street Baptist Church. What an absolutely encouraging, exciting, fun place. My mission group of 15 headed out to our church. We were in a neighborhood that looked completely deserted, yet on one street corner was a small pink building that was pumping with life.

We walked in, the only white people in the entire church, and I just had a feeling it was going to be awesome. I wanted to put on one of the beautiful hats all the ladies had on! Everyone was chatting, laughing, and smiling with one another.

It was a packed house, probably around 150 people there. I was so curious to where all these people lived and how far they traveled to get to this church.

Then the service started. Song after song after song filled the room. There was a young man on the drums, an older gentleman with snakeskin boots on the bass, and a man on an electric keyboard. The men’s choir was singing today. It consisted of about 12 men and one boy about 7 years old.

So at one point one speaker, I’m not sure if he was the preacher or deacon or what, he said he asked the keyboardist about 10 minutes before the service to play just any song for the service today. The keyboardist announced he hadn’t ever played or sang this song, but felt like God was urging him to sing it…and let me tell you…it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. I got chill pumps on the first note that came out of his mouth. He really relied on God and God fully prepared him.

Then finally the sermon started. I honestly don’t remember what passage he preached on, all I know is in the span of about 2 minutes, the preacher went from speaking to dancing, praising God, lifting his hands, and speaking with God.

It was awesome. It was so exciting to see the excitement he had for the word of God. One quote we just loved from the sermon:

“He might not come when you want him, but God is always on time!”

At the very end of the service they had an altar call for anyone to make decisions or take prayer requests. Well, the little boy who sang in the men’s choir decided to accept Jesus. The preacher asked him several questions in front of the congregation and that little boy was sharp!

Then the prayer requests started. There were about 4 individuals with requests. It was so heart-warming to see the family and community of Christians who were there for each other and accountable to one another. The young drummer said he was getting into trouble with his parents. Now the preacher didn’t sugarcoat anything, he was honest and told the boy that it was up to him to make the right decisions. Love it. A woman announced she just had cancer. Our favorite quote, possibly of the entire trip, came out of this…

“If you can have it, God can heal it!”

That’s how the service ended, the bishop yelling this out after his prayer and the congregation went crazy! It was so fun.

But the moment of the service that really impacted me was the last prayer request/praise. The man described his previous situation: he was rebuilding his home after Katrina a year or so ago. Two men were helping him in the rebuilding, but they actually took his money and left during the middle of the job leaving the man with no money and half a home. Several months later another man offered to help the man for a very generous price. Somehow the homeowner was able to gradually pay this man with money he didn’t know where was coming from and he invited him to church. They are now friends. So, several years later his house is finally being completed.

This man was so thankful for this second man that came by to help with his home. Honestly, if it was me, I would be so frustrated, mad, angry, and sad at this situation. Losing my home twice and losing money, but this man was giving praise because he felt so blessed. He said he was blessed. Wow. Really?

How dare I ever forget how blessed I am. I often find myself trying to feel sorry for myself because I don’t have certain things. How dare I. It was encouraging to hear this man’s story of how God has used his brokenness to ultimately bless him and others, including me with this story.

The service ended, about 2 and a half hours later (although I didn’t look at my watch once) and I could have stayed there for another if my stomach was roaring with hunger.

Here is the church:

Here is our group after the service:

Here is one example of what houses looked like around the church: