On Tuesday, March 22, 2022 an EF3 tornado left massive devastation in Arabi, LA.  La Vid Veradera “True Vine” Church is a total loss.  Pastors David & Leda Pagan felt impressed to cancel their Tuesday night prayer meeting due to the predicted severe weather.  We thank God for protecting this congregation.  They had recently completed a major renovation due to damages from Hurricane Ida.  We are thankful several churches have reached out and offered their facilities to continue to meet during the rebuilding process.

Video links:

• Fox16 Report 3.23.22: Louisiana church destroyed, altar remains standing
• Fox16 Report 3.25.22: ‘A miracle’ | Arabi church destroyed, congregation and altar unscathed

To help rebuild La Vid Verdadera “True Vine” Church, please give online or scan the QR Code.

Checks can be made payable to Church of God of Louisiana and mailed to the State Office: Church of God of Louisiana, 12005 Coursey Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70816. Thank you for your prayers and financial support.

Hurricane Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana, at 11:55 a.m. CT on August 29, 2021, as a Category 4 with winds of 150 mph. Fourteen churches were damaged by Hurricane Ida, three major.  We are thankful for the prayer and partnership of individuals, organizations, and churches.  Many Church of God Men & Women of Action Teams from all over the country provided untold hours of labor to several of our churches. Rio Missions in Townsend, TN sent a team to tear out the damage to the Faith Temple COG in Avondale and are in the process of completing repairs to the New Beginnings COG in Baker. Church members and our local Pastors have labored intensely from the aftermath of the hurricane, providing care, food, supplies, clean-up and construction labor. 

As of March 2022 all but four of our churches has been completed. New metal roofs have been installed on Friendswood COG church & parsonage in Houma, Bayouland Worship Center East in Dulac, New Covenant Church and parsonage in Roseland, and the Metairie COG.  Much blood, sweat and tears have been invested in these churches. The churches most heavily damaged are in hardest hit area of Houma. Current status of the incomplete churches:

1. Friendswood Church of God—Houma, LA | Pastor Kern Eschette

This is a large facility that suffered extensive damage. The roofs have been replaced; water & mold remediation has been completed. The HVAC system will have to be purchased and installed before interior construction can begin. The HVAC system is $165,000; waiting for FEMA approval.

2. Bayouland Worship Center—Dulac, LA | Pastor Jody Babin

Construction Checklist: Roof repair, carpeting and awning.

3. Bayouland Worship Center East—Chauvin, LA | Pastor Jody Babin

This church was heavily damaged; the second story was completely destroyed. The church was gutted and the second story rebuilt. The roof, interior and sheetrock has been complete.

Construction Checklist: Electrical work, carpet, painting and awning.

To donate to Hurricane Ida Disaster Relief Fund: https://engage.suran.com/cogla/s/give/new-gift

Hurricane Laura was a powerful category 4 hurricane that made landfall near Cameron, Louisiana, on August 27, 2020, accompanied by a catastrophic storm surge of up to 18 feet above ground level. An hour or two after landfall, the center passed very near Lake Charles, Louisiana, while Laura was still a very powerful category 4 hurricane. There was much devastation in the area that included two of our churches and pastors’ homes. 

Jubilee Family Worship Center and parsonage was completed with the help of God’s Pit Crew and Men & Women of Action. Pastor BJ Smith provided much of the labor along with other volunteers and teams. The church and parsonage are beautiful. Pastor Michael & Brandi Robinson are thankful for the hours of labor and resources provided. 

Grace Harbor Lighthouse in Lake Charles received a complete make-over by God’s Pit Crew. The church was gutted and rebuilt.  GPC provided all new furnishings throughout the entire building; it is absolutely stunning. Pastor Rick & Lisa Batchelor’s home was heavily damaged, losing a lot of their possessions. After more than a year they were able to move back in one room of their home while completing the construction.