January '17 Update

Greetings from Lake Providence!

The last few months have been eventful in East Carroll Parish. The community gathered together on multiple occasions for the Thanksgiving Service and the Community Choir’s Christmas program. Both events were lovely and made for a great way to usher in the holidays. TFH-LA also hosted a small Christmas party for the Art Club students at General Trass. The students were greatly appreciative to be able to share a meal together in the run up to exams and the Christmas break.

The GED course at Louisiana Delta Community College is picking up steam as word spreads through the community that this opportunity is available. The number of students with whom I’ve been able to work through this partnership has grown from five in the first week to almost twenty within the early weeks of January. Please continue to pray for these women and men as they work very hard and study to earn their degree.  

Also, Louisiana Economic Development (LED) has launched an initiative in the Northeastern Louisiana parishes to help them become “Louisiana Development Ready Communities.” I’m working with other community members through the mayor’s office to complete a strategic plan that will earn the town of Lake Providence this designation through LED. The goal is to develop the plan so as to be purposeful about the many facets that contribute to the health and flourishing of the Lake Providence community.

Lastly, it was a joy to attend the Martin Luther King, Jr., service at Progressive Chapel Baptist Church on January 16. Progressive Chapel graciously worked with TFH-LA and Woodland Baptist Church of Louisville, Kentucky, over the summer, letting us use their facilities for the day camp hosted by Woodland. The community listened to guest choirs, a guest speaker, and many different youth representatives.

Please continue to pray for the mission and ministries of the many different leaders and agencies in Lake Providence and East Carroll Parish, including our own. Obstacles and challenges are present, but there continues to be a willingness of spirit to work hard and remain dedicated to loving our neighbors and lifting up one another.