HOPE worldwide put out the call for volunteers. Disciples from the International Churches of Christ came from Hawaii to New York and Chicago to Houston. Some stayed after the recent International Singles Conference in Dallas and some returned who had served at the 2008 International Campus Ministry Conference in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

My heart is inspired and challenged by what I am seeing in Baton Rouge. HOPE worldwide was immediately on the scene following Hurricane Gustav because they have continually served in Louisiana since Hurrican Katrina three years ago. Hundreds of disciples from the Dallas and San Antonio Churches served in evacuee shelters in their cities. Here are some stories of the servants in Baton Rouge which was hard hit by the 100 mile an hour winds and torrential rains.

Ben Boado, New Orleans Church, symbolizes the hearts of our young disciples today. During Hurricane Katrina he served as a volunteer for the evacuation center in Houston while he was a student at the University of Houston. Tom Brown's challenge at the 2006 International Campus Ministry Conference in LA moved Ben's heart and he moved to New Orleans after graduation to help the church and to rebuild the city as a structural engineer. When he had to evacuate New Orleans for Gustav, he came to Baton Rouge to help.

Leslie Moore, Chicago Church of Christ, Moji Owolabi, Kauai Church of Christ and Kathy Garrett, New York City Church of Christ heard the appeal at the International Singles Conference (ISC), changed their plans, served in the Dallas shelter and then came to Baton Rouge to help. They are seen in this photo being thanked by Randy Jordan, CEO of HOPE worldwide.

Tricia Ramsey, South Florida Church of Christ, wanted to help after hearing the appeal at the ISC last weekend, but had to return to work. She purchased another airline ticket to spend this weekend serving in Baton Rouge.

Lauren Andreu, Jacksonville Church of Christ, was baptized into Christ on August 10 and drove with two other disciples to serve. What a way to start your new life!

Sara Young, Tallahassee, Florida, Capital City Church of Christ, won the PGA National Collegiate Minority Golf Championship earlier this year as a junior at Florida State University. But she loves volunteering for HOPE worldwide and has a sweet swing stacking tree limbs.

Caleb Hunt, Morris, Illinois, is not a member of the ICOC, but has a heart to serve and was referred to the HOPEww website. He jumped in his truck and drove to Baton Rouge to help.

Eddie Breaux, The Greater Houston Church fled Hurricane Katrina with his family from New Orleans to Houston where they now live. He returned to help those who evacuated Hurricane Gustav.

Campus Ministry, The Greater Houston Church, brought 14 people to Baton Rouge to serve for the weekend. David Peach, campus minister, said the students were eager to help. Many showed up in the familiar HOPEww / ICMC blue shirts from the July 4th service day in the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans.

HOPE worldwide provides the leadership, shelter and food for volunteers through a grant from ExxonMobil, the largest private employer in Baton Rouge. Click here for a report from Randy Jordan, HOPEww CEO.

The International Churches of Christ are the largest source of volunteers for HOPEww programs around the world. One of the ExxonMobil staff commented how impressed she was with the joy and diversity of this group of volunteers in Baton Rouge.

Pray now for:

• more volunteers to serve after the media attention left the story.
• those in the path of Hurricane Ike that is now a Category 4 storm and headed for the Bahamas and the Gulf.
• Hurricane Ike to lessen
• the 2 million displaced due to flooding in India
• those who lost loved ones, homes and services in the Caribbean
• those still without power and services in the Gulf Coast

More volunteers are needed. And Hurricane Ike is on its way. Click here to volunteer and/or donate: www.hopeww.org

Click here for an update on the church in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Click here for a report from a disciple volunteer.