Amidst the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary president Chuck Kelley is reminding the church of the opportunity to both proclaim and minister. “We separated the two functions. Evangelism became proclamation and ministry became missions,” Kelley said in an interview with the Southern Baptist TEXAN. Kelley is reminding Southern Baptists and others in the church that the two must go hand-in-hand and Christians must provide tangible resources such as shelter, food and clothing for individuals in need. Through one program known as Mission Lab, churches have brought mission groups into the New Orleans area for a week-long ministry experience. Even before Hurricane Katrina, both teenagers and senior adults served among the homeless, alcoholics and impoverished citizens of New Orleans in recent years. (Baptist Press News)
