wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Can a small, failing church take on Ike and win?

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This story available online:

www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2009/09032<http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2009/09032

Can a small, failing church take on Ike and win?

Clothing ministry revitalizes Texas congregation in
hurricane's aftermath

by Mike Allison Member, LaMarque Presbyterian Church
Reprinted with permission from Presbyterian Neighbor News,
Sun Edition

LAMARQUE, TX - At LaMarque Presbyterian Church, we think we
can!

Although once a flourishing church with lots of members and
youth at church every Sunday, LaMarque Church became one of
the run-of-the-mill failing PC(USA) churches. Now things
are changing.

>Radically.

At the outset of the 2008, we made a tough decision. Should
we sell and relocate, change our schedule, or something
else?

At a prayerful retreat, we decided to stay focused on our
community and see where God was leading us in this
troubling time. Our mostly Anglo, somewhat Hispanic/African
American congregation no longer matched our community, so
we made the commitment to become a multicultural church and
began working in our community.

After a garage sale or two, we found we were being led to
open a clothing ministry. We launched The Clothes Line and
began distributing clothing to our community's neediest
people.

Then along came Hurricane Ike. By the beginning of December
2008, we were ministering to 75 families, many of whom had
been nearly wiped out by the storm.

Now we have a clear focus for this new ministry. We have
tripled the space for The Clothes Line and are
concentrating on obtaining clothing for this growing
outreach. We trust our partners in southeast Texas will
help us gather more clothing for the expected 150 or more
families that will be coming to our door every month.

Please call (409) 935-4418 to find out how you can help.

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