The mission strategy of “getting plugged into the world” at Northside Baptist Church, Greenwood, has members putting their faith into action in an Acts 1:8 focus that includes a partnership in New Orleans.
Jessica Powell, a nursing major at Lander University, volunteers her spring break time to help a New Orleans family find hope.“Instead of looking for ways to get people involved in the church, we began a few years ago to look for ways we could get involved in the world as ministers and missionaries,” pastor Jeff Lethco said.
Since September 2006, five teams from Northside have worked with Operation NOAH (New Orleans Area Homes) Rebuild, the initiative of the North American Mission Board and Louisiana Baptists that is mobilizing a volunteer workforce to rebuild homes and share the gospel. Twenty-three members participated in a recent trip to New Orleans.
“Working with NOAH is a great opportunity, especially for first-time mission trip participants,” Lethco said. “A lot of people can participate, it’s safe and cost-effective, and you leave with a sense of accomplishment because the need here is so great.”
The church’s investment in Operation NOAH goes deeper than its commitment to sending teams on a regular basis.
Northside members Steve and Dianne Gahagan left their church, a newly constructed dream home, family and secure jobs in 2006 to take on administrative positions with Operation NOAH. As construction manager, Gahagan leads the NOAH team toward a two-year goal of rebuilding 1,000 homes, or 1 percent of the estimated 100,000 New Orleans homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
“Every person led to Christ by a volunteer is a reminder of why we are here,” Gahagan said. “If we can rebuild one home or change one life, our time has been well-spent.”
Gahagan said God has used his 20 years of experience in private contracting, Habitat for Humanity and World Changers to prepare him for the work of coordinating thousands of NOAH volunteers. World Changers is NAMB’s construction and community project program for youth and college students.
Dianne’s 16 years in accounting, management and service as a chief financial officer were preparation for her role as NOAH office manager. Her staff coordinates details of volunteers’ assignments, linking homeowners to needed resources.
“Seeing the difference God is making in the lives of the volunteers and giving hope back to a discouraged homeowner makes this job very fulfilling,” Dianne said.
Lethco said the Gahagans have always been open to going wherever God leads, adding that their willingness to give up a beautiful home on 30 acres of land to live in a mobile home exemplifies the missionary spirit and lifestyle evangelism his church emphasizes.
Team members Jonathan Rutland and Stan Ligon said they have come to understand the importance of living out one’s faith through actions.
Ligon said he came to faith in Christ four years ago as Christian friends walked with him through a life crisis. Ligon said God has given him an opportunity to care for others in crisis and to encourage them that “nothing is insurmountable to God.”
Rutland, a 20-year-old college student and a new Christian, said that God will use unexpected events to give Christians the opportunity to show his love. Rutland told of a chance meeting on the street with a person in need, giving them the opportunity to share a meal and plant the seed of the gospel.
“We believe that a big part of winning people to Christ is winning their friendship,” Lethco said. “If, in our short time here, we can show people that Baptists care, then someone can come along behind us, build on that and lead them to the Lord.”