Carrollton Avenue Church of Christ
Keeping Community

April 2006

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Sorry there’s been such a gap between letters, but we’ve been busy and part of that was me being dragged into the 21st century of technology (I’m helping with the website now).  I’ll try to do better from now on.  Carrollton has made lots of progress on many fronts in the past three months.  From staffing to reconstruction we’re moving forward. 

The biggest news for Carrollton as a family in March was the birth of a new brother in Christ.  God is good and may He establish a hedge of protection around Tyrone as he takes his first steps in the Way. Let us all be a blessing to him as mentors, brothers and sisters.

In the area of outreach, Charles Marsalis, who helped plant the Bywater Church of Christ, has joined with us as an outreach minister and is already visiting with folks we’ve helped through Operation Nehemiah.  We have support lined up for Charles through the end of this year and are beginning to seek congregations who will commit for 2007.  In addition to all of his other ministries, Charles and I will be sharing the pulpit on a regular basis since variety really is the “spice of life.” 

Tim Martin is partnering us and Hilltop Rescue as an outreach minister, coming all the way from California to help Carrollton and other area churches address the spiritual needs of our community.  Tim’s primary focus will be reaching out into the New Orleans area spreading the good news of the Kingdom of God. 

The building reconstruction is chugging along with most of the building rewired, bathrooms being laid out, and the main support walls in the hallway replaced.  A fair amount of the relief supplies has been either distributed or transferred to a warehouse so we have room to work.

I’d like to tell you that we have phone service or even an internet connection; but, we are assured that it is “coming soon.”  Short of everyone using their cell phones out by the street (the worst reception in the area seems to be inside the house), the best we can muster in communications at this point is snail mail.  Yes, we have mail service at the building and house now.  Yea!

Little by little we are, with God’s help and providence, putting things back together.  May God bless all of us with patience, strength, and endurance as we run the race before us.

Peace,

Kirk and Jenny