USA (MNN) — While officials continue to count the cost of Hurricane Katrina, ministry leaders are wondering what the cost will be in several areas. Young Life is just one such group.
Young Life’s Mississippi Valley Director John Evans says his region, which includes Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, has been affected by the hurricane.
“We’ve had five or six staff (members) that have been displaced, so their lives are in absolute turmoil. And, we’re trying to figure out how to support them and make sure that they figure out the next step for them.”
Evans says it’s also affected the schools in which they work. “Nearly every city we have has a bunch of new folks in the community. So, one of the things there is going to be great opportunity. There (are) a whole lot of kids that have been displaced. We’re just trying to figure out how to reach out to a lot of those kids as best we can.”
It’s being done at the grassroots level. Evans says, “Our folks in Shreveport, for example, they are trying to get the kids who have been regularly involved in Young Life in the last couple of years, they’re encouraging going with those kids to the shelters to try to reach out.”
Another huge concern is how to fund Young Life’s work in the region. “There will be significant loss in terms of funds that will be diverted. We want the funds to go to where people need it, we just got to try to figure out how to make sure our people are supported.”
That’s key, because Evans believes this is an important time for outreach. “Great things will come out of terribly difficult things. So, we’re counting on the fact that we will have great opportunity share Christ with kids over the next year or two.”
If you’d like to support Young Life’s program in the Mississippi Valley, click on the link above.
