At its first anniversary, Operation NOAH Rebuild has topped more than 10,000 volunteers and 200 professions of faith in helping New Orleans-area residents recover from the impact of Hurricane Katrina.
The initiative moves into its second year with the announcement of a project coordinator and with the expectation of outdistancing the first year on all fronts.
David Maxwell, recently named NOAH project coordinator, left a Louisiana pastorate to join NOAH in November 2006 as a construction coordinator.
“I left the pastorate, but I didn’t leave the ministry,” said Maxwell. “This is a tremendous mission field, and it is right in our backyard.”
When NOAH crossed the one-year mark on May 1, it reported that 10,338 volunteers were mobilized on 671 teams, and 203 professions of faith were recorded.
“When a homeowner sees volunteers day after day, group after group, working long hours in his home, he wants to know why, and he is open to the gospel,” Maxwell said.
NOAH is a partnership of the North American Mission Board, Louisiana Baptist Convention and New Orleans-area Baptist associations and churches. The two-year initiative has a goal of rebuilding 1,000 homes and 20 churches through the mobilization of volunteers from across the nation and Canada.
“That goal is very attainable,” said Steve Gahagan, NOAH construction manager. “I have no doubt NOAH will touch that many homes, whether it is a complete rebuild or filling a work order such as roofing or drywalling the home.”
NOAH’s work focuses on electrical and plumbing rough-in, roofing, insulation and drywall installation, and fills various other job orders as skilled workers are available.
“We need volunteers now more than ever,” Gahagan said. “We are gearing up, not slowing down.”
The amount of work they will be able to accomplish during the coming year is directly related to the number of volunteers who are willing to come, Maxwell said. More importantly, he and Gahagan said the organization’s success depends first and foremost on prayer.
“We have a golden opportunity to share the gospel and glorify God,” Maxwell said. “We need your prayers.”