RAVEN UPDATE 10/11/05

It is a good time to be serving the Lord Jesus in New Orleans! PTL The new distribution center at 2001 Airline Drive is up and running now. This location is truly a work of people coming together and "networking" for the Kingdom of God.

Denny Nissley of Christ in Action (Manasseh, Virginia) has come and set up a 150x77 "Big Top" where the hot meals can be served on sight to those not able to prepare hot meals themselves. This is also where thousands of meals are boxed and distributed to various satelite locations including the devestated St. Bernard Parish and Chalmette in New Orleans East.

Also, the PRC (Pastoral Response Committee) has purchased (2) 40x80 tents that our team helped set up today that will serve as the distribution points for the food, clothing, water, and ice being given away.

Addtionally, Lance Rowe of My Brother's Keeper Ministries, has set up a "tabernacle" were teams will be coming in to conduct around-the-clock intercessory prayer. As you can see this is quickly becoming quite a center of activity.

The biggest part of our California Team left today (there are three remaining). It was so hard to see them go--we just fell in love with them all and can't wait to see them again soon Many "thank you's" to Hope Chapel in Santa Rosa, CA and the Mission Church of Vacaville, CA for sending such dedicated, hard working, Jesus loving people to come and lend such a hand. We truly could not have asked for a greater group of people to come. We are expecting many of this team to return for our Raven New Orleans Mardi Gras Outreac (Feburary 24-28,2006) and we would love to have YOU here too!

We also have a GREAT team in right now from TEXAS! More specifically from Borger, Texas (Grace Fellowship Church). This too are some dear, hard-working people of God who have such servants hearts.

Bro. Ricky Betts from GRace had called me a few weeks back and set this up and has been such a blessing and help in the community. The Calif. Team and the Borger, Texas team have worked with us in getting a Christian School cleaned up, wired, sheetrocked as well as our guys hanging sheetrock and cleaning bathrooms at a Chrsitian daycare so that they could reopen as well.

Tomorrow we will be takign a team to our friend, Pastor Steven Smith's church, Faith Christian Family Church, to help unload a truck contining roofing materials to redo there roof that was torn off by Katrina.

We also hated to see our dear friends from Fairfield, Texas leave. Brother Barry Capps and those guys are always SUCH A TREMENDOUS BLESSING to us BOTH spiritually AND pracitcally as well.

Melanie and I have been criss-crossing downtown New Orleans looking for a place to set up a distribution/ministry center near the French Quarter and housing projects (where our hearts are!). We have located a couple of locations that could very well work so that we can help the local people with food, clothing, etc in the daytime and have continuous services at night. We are EXPECTANT of the great things that God is about to do here in New Orleans.

I want to stress---THIS is all the "calm before the storm" in relationship to what is happening in New Orleans. Most do not even realize it, but the majority of the residents of New Orleans "proper" have not yet returned because they still have not restored power and potable water to the city yet.

What you are seeing and hearing about in regards to help, assistance, resources, and financial aide has been sent to the "suburbs" of New Orleans with New Orleans being pretty much passed over as of yet. IN the next week to (10) days New Orleans is going to literally EXPLODE with activity as people return to: come home, access their damage, salvage belongings, etc...

Most will be shocked at what they see and find here in the City. We plan on being a ray of hope in the midst of so much wide spread hoplessness and depression.

We have a 40x80 tent coming in this Thursday that we will be setting up as a ministry outpost just as soon as we can secure a piece of property to use. We are digging our heels in as our "Mayor" looks to "jump-start" te city by having all the bourbon St bars opened and is even proposing to establish a Canal Street Gambling District where there will be full-blown Las Vegas style casinos operating in the hotels with 500 or more rooms. PRAY AGAINST THIS WICKED IDEA!

The local "RAVEN TEAM" ministry families are doing great.

Pastor Troy & Melanie are busy about the Father's business and Kayla is pumped about being back in school. Jered is at his uncle's hous in Texas until the end of the month.

Pastor Alex & Holly Hill just got Hope and Judah in school this week and the kids are really enjoying it already. Josiah is awesome! This whole family has really just hung tight in a tough situation and Holly has been a great blessing as we have come together for devotion and worship times.

Thomas & Doree Derrick are such a blessing to us. They are such hard workers and don't know the word "quit." Clarrissa and Alyssia are in school and Isaiah is his normal precious self! (I am biased!)

Todd and Christy Bohn are FINALLY back from Texas (PRAISE GOD) and we are so glad that they are back. We missed them so much while they were gone. Justin and Amanda are back with them too and Amanda joined Kayla back at school when they returned.

We really need your help NOW more than ever. We are gearing up for an enourmous PUSH upon New Orleans and would so appreciate it if you would spread the news to PRAY FOR US to your churches, home groups, co-workers, family , etc.. You cannot know how far your prayers go in KEEPING US GOING FOR JESUS!

You generous financial gifts are also VERY needed and VERY appreciated right now too as we gear up for a major offensive against the powers of darkness. You can still give securely online by clicking the "Make A Donation" iconand following the instructions of by mailing your gift to:

Raven Outreach
P.O. Box 113196
Metairie, LA 70009

PLEASE NOTE MY 'BRAND NEW' PHONE NUMBER 504-202-0939 (cell)

Blessings,

Pastor Troy D. Bohn
"Pastor of Disaster"