Immediately following the devastation of hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the surrounding area, the hearts and prayers of members and friends of Bloomington Living Hope Lutheran Church went out to those who were affected by that storm. But it didn't stop there. Efforts were organized to provide clothing, money, furniture, and manual labor to assist in cleanup and reconstruction efforts. Our attention was directed to members and neighbors of our sister church in New Orleans, Crown of Life Lutheran Church.
At the suggestion of Pastor Dave Sternhagen and his leaders at Crown of Life, we adopted a Crown of Life family, the Jefferson family. The Jeffersons lost their home, their jobs and everything they owned to Katrina. Their story of separation during the Katrina storm, their survival, their reunion and their faith has warmed our hearts. The Jeffersons relocated to Biloxi, Mississippi to live with other family members, but soon found themselves without a home again because of Hurricane Rita. Many of our members and friends have subsequently helped the Jefferson family restore their lives, their home and their church. We recently received the following from our friends, the Jefferson family...
Dear friends at Bloomington Living Hope,
I talked about you all in church recently during "pledge Sunday". I always tell others about you and your church. I spoke about how blessed we were to have such a wonderful new "Church Family"!
It was, and still is amazing how you and your church came to our rescue. I haven't met most of you, but feel a tremendous love for all of you. I only hope that I can give to others like you all have given, in prayers and gifts, for my family and others here in New Orleans.
My family and I are very blessed. We are all healthy! Our youngest son Kyle graduated this year. Kimberly continues to go to school and work, and Edward Jr. and Edward Sr. are doing well also. I am still working and have recently completed this school year. I was glad to be back teaching again. I taught music and reading to over 600 students this year. I will take a short break after this week.
Our love, and many blessings,
Katherine Jefferson
We now have many new friends from Crown of Life in New Orleans, most of whom we have never met, but representing all of them, Chris Driesbach visit and sang for us last year. He will be with us again in August 2007. Here is what Chris has to say…
My name is Chris Driesbach.
I’m the musician at Crown of Life WELS in New Orleans, and during the last 11 months I’ve been on many “Thank You” trips, playing concerts at over 100 churches in 23 states from Seattle, Washington to Tucson, Arizona to Eagle River, Wisconsin to Atlanta, Georgia. There is no charge for my performances and my CDs are free. I gratefully accept lodging with a church member if offered. My concerts last about an hour and ten minutes and feature a PowerPoint presentation of the story of Katrina and the rebuilding of our church. My songs are all original Christian music and I tell the story of our church and my own journey to faith.
Crown of Life was almost destroyed in late August 2005 when flooding caused by hurricane Katrina put 4 feet of water in our church, fellowship hall, and the parsonage. I was one of the first to get into our property after the water went down and I have to say I really thought that as a church we were finished. I was so wrong! God’s love has poured over our church through the overwhelming kindness of individuals, churches, and the synod. Our members’ homes are being worked on by the Kingdom Workers Faith in Action group. Many students have come here to do the dirty, dangerous work of gutting flooded homes. The Builders for Christ have restored our buildings. Our church was rededicated October 29, 2006. Ample funds have been generously donated to pay for it all. I wish I could tell you what it's like for us to have been recipients of all this care and love. Completely amazing, awesome, and impossible to comprehend.
I moved to New Orleans in October of 2000, and have been a member of Crown of Life since then and the church musician for most of that time. I’ve been writing Christian songs for the last 3 years, including a song about my personal experience with hurricane Katrina. I now have my first Christian CD called “After the Storm.” My second CD “Movin’ On” with 10 new original Christian songs will be available late June 2007.
I played music professionally for 30 years on the west coast. I was an atheist until age 33, and after that sort of a new-age spiritualist. I became a WELS Lutheran and a Christian at the same time in 1995. Faith Lutheran and Pastor James Oldfield in Anchorage, Alaska were my first church and pastor. I was given the gift of faith by the spirit working though God’s Word. Pastor Oldfield read to me out of the bible when I asked him all the questions I could think of. We went through a 22-week bible study course together, and my life completely changed, of course!
I lost all my musical equipment in the flood following the storm, but generous WELS members have given money to replace it, and I've got some really wonderful new gear. I have a deep desire to go play for and say thanks to the nice people who've helped us so much, and have touched me so wonderfully, to meet them and worship with them. I’ve long dreamed of a career as a Christian songwriter and performer and my prayer is that this will be a beginning of a new job working for my God.
My contact information is: Chris Driesbach, PO Box 641605, Kenner, LA 70064 504-352-2044 hichrisd@gmail.com www.lutheransonline.com/chrisdriesbach.
Come see and hear Chris as he joins us again on August 2, 2007 for our Family Corn Roast Benefit. This event is being held at Bloomington Lutheran Church to benefit Owen Olson and his family. All friends, neighbors and members of BLLH are invited to join this fun time and welcome back Chris Driesbach.