MNA ShortTerm Missions

• DONATE to MNA ShortTerm Missions
• Brochure
• Events & Conferences
• Ministry Opportunities
• Volunteer Registration
• Prayer Letter

Lagniappe Presbyterian Church - Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Participate in the restoration of the Mississippi Gulf Coast through the declaration and demonstration of the love of God shown us through Christ Jesus.

Come alongside Lagniappe Presbyterian Church (LPC) and Mission to North America to unconditionally represent the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and deed in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

The engine of LPC has two cylinders: declaration and demonstration. We are committed to teaching the truth and accompanying that declaration with the unassailable apologetic of life. We seek to live the Gospel in such a profound way that the theology of the Gospel makes sense because it has been seen in our lives! Everything that is done will filter through this mission: if it embodies BOTH declaration AND demonstration then and only then can that program, idea, ministry or outreach be considered!

“LPC was not conceived as the result of Hurricane Katrina. It was conceived out of the mercy and love of God shown to men long before the wind and waves of Katrina came ashore.” – Jean Larroux

Project Overview
The projects are deep commitments with LPC to physical and spiritual renewal. The sheds and homes are built onsite for one reason: to spend time with the family. Our intention is to diagnose further need and to engage needs that are both physical and spiritual in nature. Lagniappe Presbyterian Church Mission is open to receive mission teams from groups at almost any time. Relief work on the coast is continuing. There is still not ONE grocery store open in Bay St. Louis as of August 2006. We need who have home repair and rebuilding skills, as well as those who lack those skills but are willing to work hard at whatever needs to be done. Teams planning trips to the Gulf Coast who are unskilled are STRONGLY encouraged to find a local contractor or building materials warehouse such as Home Depot or Lowe's, that offer FREE clinics on Saturdays on drywall, roofing, insulation, tiling and siding. Team leaders might even consider talking to store managers and setting up such seminars for their teams.

“Were planting a church here now, because the hurt is now”

Purpose for Lagniappe Presbyterian
To begin a PCA church planting movement of physical and spiritual restoration directed at target communities in distress led by indigenous pastors.

LPC will not be content with simply planting one Gospel outpost in one devastated area. It is our hope and dream that mercy will give birth to mercy. Success at LPC will be measured by her members giving themselves away to others in need. God will continue to sovereignly provide opportunities and we must continue to humanly respond to those divine appointments which He will set. Our dream is to see indigenous pastoral leadership challenged to return to needy cities in which they already have strategic connections.

Living Arrangements
An 11,000 square foot building houses showers, a kitchen and worship facilities. There are a number of bunk houses, which can house up to 290 volunteers on the property. Bunkhouses are gender-specific.

Group Aspects
Our capacity is 290 people. The numbers will have some flexibility based on how many are men and how many women, but the entire facility could be booked if needed. We DO NOT allow individuals to stay at the LPC facility who are not with a specified team. If an individual wants to come and work he or she should form a team and book that team for a trip.

Interns
The LPC approach to volunteer internships is somewhat unique. It would be better described as a ‘draft’ rather than a ‘hiring.’ In the professional sports arena key players are ‘drafted’ based on skills, gifts and abilities rather than being ‘paired’ with tasks. LPC seeks to utilize the unique skills, gifts and abilities of interns in ways that complement our existing needs. For that reason, no standard job description exists for interns. Intern applicants are asked to consider our mission & vision, our philosophy of ministry, our approach to ministry and our present task needs.

All interns must raise support for salary from outside sources through personal and church sponsorships. Housing and meals are provided to interns through the program. Interns are responsible to provide their own health insurance.

Typical Schedule

Monday through Friday:
6:30- 7:00 Prayer
6:30- 7:30 Breakfast
7:30 Pull out for Work Sites
10:00 Water Break
12:00-1:00 Lunch (made in advance)
2:30 Break
4:00-4:30 Clean up work site
6:00-7:00 Dinner
7:00-8:00 Prayer/Devotionals

Each group will identify a location on campus for debriefing and devotions. During this time we ask that groups respect this hour with quiet i.e. no basketball, etc.

9:00 Quiet in Bunkhouses

A 7-session devotional guide is provided to each team leader and participant. We would encourage teams to appoint a 'chaplain' for leading that devotional time. 7-8 p.m. is designated as a time for 'quiet' at the LPC facility- no basketball, etc. We want the facility to be used by teams at that time for their devotions.

The Lord's Day at Lagniappe is unlike any other day. We serve breakfast at 8:30 a.m. followed by corporate worship (chapel service) at 9:30 a.m. We then serve a family-style lunch for everyone in the cafeteria at Noon. Our normal practice is to do our group orientation in-between at 11 a.m.

Cost
The cost associated with the trip is based on the cost of housing/food/facilities at Lagniappe ($20/night/per person) NOTE: Groups are responsible for their own transportation costs and insurance.

A $50/person deposit is due five business days from the time you book your trip. YOUR BEDS & RESERVATION WILL ONLY BE HELD FOR 5 DAYS AND THEN DO NOT EXIST UNLESS WE RECEIVE THIS DEPOSIT. Remember you can pay your deposit online at any time.

This deposit is NON-Refundable, but is TRANSFERABLE to team members of the same gender on those same dates (housing reasons).

THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS to this policy- We have fixed costs and will be turning away teams based on your reservations!

The REMAINING BALANCE is due 30 days from your arrival date. Within those 30 days there are no refunds. We have turned away other volunteers based on your team, have pending food orders and 'replacement' teams to fill your beds cannot be secured in that 30 day window.

*The fees you pay are for the sole purpose of covering costs for the ministry or church with whom you are serving; MNA receives no income or financial benefit from the fees you pay.

Need more information?

Contact Arklie Hooten ahooten@pcanet.org / (678) 294-3011

or

Sherry Lanier

MNA ShortTerm Missions and Disaster Response Facilitator
678-294-3012
slanier@pcanet.org

 

Learn more about Lagniappe Presbyterian Church: http://www.lagniappechurch.com

Read more about Lagniappe here on their blog: http://www.lagniappechurch.blogspot.com/


Back to MNA ShortTerm Missions