Katrina Recovery Updates

NEW FORMAT!
Folks, I’ll be honest with you: it’s getting hard to
write this every day! Not hard to do, but hard to make
it worth reading. Our breathless, minute-to-minute
life has transformed into more of a routine, thus
making the “daily” update less appropriate. So…
beginning today, I’m moving to a “weekly” update that
I plan to send out each Monday. You don’t have to do
anything. Just don’t expect a report every day! If
situations develop between updates, I’ll send out a
note, but my plan is to update you every Monday on
things here in Ocean Springs.

NEW BLOG!
For those interested, however, you can bookmark my
brand new blog. It’s found at alsturgeon.blogspot.com.
It will be a place where I continue posting something
every day, but it will be more a reflection on my life
than something completely centered on Katrina. I would
love for you to visit it every day and leave me a
comment there.

MAJOR NEED IN OUR AREA: Skilled labor.

FAMILIES IN NEED OF SKILLED LABOR:
* Larry and Jo Franklin (retired couple living in a
FEMA trailer)
* Junius Criddell family (from Biloxi)
* A family in Gulf Park Estates (Ocean Springs) that I
don’t have a name for yet

WHAT’S HAPPENING?
* THE HAYES: From what I understand, the Hayes are
just waiting on replacing windows, some plumbing work,
and some furniture deliveries before moving back in
their house.
* THE LAWLERS: From what I understand, the Lawlers’
complicated situation is waiting for the approval of
plans before beginning construction.
* THE FRANKLINS: The Franklins have been able to find
someone to float their sheetrock.
* GULF PARK ESTATES: We’re blessed with a new friend
at church named Charlie. Charlie is skilled at
floating sheetrock & painting, and we’ve sent him to
work at a friend of the Lawlers in need in the Gulf
Park Estates area.
* BEHIND THE SCENES: Gene Logan continues to make
tireless trips to check on families in need, and
continues to be able to provide financial support to
families in need.
* YESTERDAY: We had a small number at church yesterday
morning (lots of folks out traveling), but we had a
good day anyway. We seemed to have as many people at
lunch as we had in worship at a local Mexican
restaurant! We began our Sunday evening devotionals
last night for those interested, then afterward, Trent
& I dealt with a lady’s flat tire in our driveway for
2 hours!
* SEPTEMBER 10: Killen, Alabama, arrives with skilled
labor for trip number 5 to help out!

DISPLACED CHURCH FAMILIES: 25 down, 2 to go…
• Todd & Robin Hayes, with kids Tyler, Connor, Brynlee
& Jaxon (living in a FEMA trailer)
• Shannon, Jessica, and Laney Lawler (living in a
house while they rebuild)

CONTACT INFORMATION:
• Call us at 228/875-7811
• Check out our website at
www.oceanspringschurchofchrist.com
• Email me at oscofc@yahoo.com
• Write us at 1116 Washington Avenue, Ocean Springs,
MS 39564

Yours to count on,
Al

“You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build
anew, rebuild the old foundations from out of your
past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the
community livable again.” – Isaiah 58:12 (MSG)

(My bulletin article today…)

OF LABOR DAYS PAST

Labor Day is the rare holiday that accomplishes fairly
well what it intends to accomplish: honoring workers
with a day off from work is the perfect gift of
appreciation. And yet on this Labor Day, I cannot help
but think back to last Labor Day weekend, when no one
rested, but we learned a lot of who should be honored
on occasions like this.

I’ll never forget that first Sunday after Katrina. My
daughters had never seen me cry before that worship
service on our front lawn, but lots of folks saw me
cry throughout that entire first post-Katrina sermon.
I remember what I had to say revolved around that
classic line from A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the
best of times, it was the worst of times…” And a big
part of the former involved the very idea of “labor.”

I’ll never forget the delivery from “Taking it to the
Streets” ministry the day after Katrina. I’ll never
forget the guys from Gateway Church of Christ in
Pensacola arriving the next (Wednesday) morning ready
for work. I’ll never forget the SUV from Alabama
showing up in the middle of the night filled with
supplies in spite of warnings that roads were blocked;
they didn’t know us, but they cared enough to take the
risk. I’ll never forget the eighteen-wheeler from
Arkansas arriving on Friday of Labor Day weekend
completely filled with supplies and accompanied by
energetic workers.

These were the people that led me to say it was the
“best” of times that Labor Day weekend, even though so
many of us were suddenly homeless. And these are the
people I will now always picture on a day set aside to
honor workers.

MAJOR NEED IN OUR AREA: Skilled labor.

FAMILY IN NEED OF SKILLED LABOR:
* Larry and Jo Franklin (retired couple living in a
FEMA trailer)

WHAT’S HAPPENING?
* YESTERDAY: The Logans and Sturgeons were served a
wonderful meal yesterday at the new home of Louise
Williams. Mrs. Louise is an elderly lady who lost her
home in Biloxi to Katrina, and the church was able to
help her financially get into a house again. We did
not know until yesterday that this elderly lady had
spent four hours on her roof clinging to a tree during
Katrina, along with her daughter, son-in-law, and two
kids. Her story was chilling, but unfortunately, one
of several similar stories from our area.
* TODAY: In addition to our normal worship and classes
this morning, we are beginning to offer a Sunday
evening devotional for the first time since Hurricane
Katrina.
* ONE WEEK FROM TODAY: Killen, Alabama, arrives with
skilled labor for trip number 5 to help out!

DISPLACED CHURCH FAMILIES: 25 down, 2 to go…
• Todd & Robin Hayes, with kids Tyler, Connor, Brynlee
& Jaxon (living in a FEMA trailer)
• Shannon, Jessica, and Laney Lawler (living in a
house while they rebuild)

PICTURE OF THE DAY: I just ran across this one on my
computer. I really have no idea where it came from,
but it could have been taken by one of a hundred
groups that came here!

CONTACT INFORMATION:
• Call us at 228/875-7811
• Check out our website at
www.oceanspringschurchofchrist.com
• Email me at oscofc@yahoo.com
• Write us at 1116 Washington Avenue, Ocean Springs,
MS 39564

Yours to count on,
Al

JUST A THOUGHT…
I hope we don’t become hurricane snobs around here.
When I heard Hurricane John might bring a five-foot
storm surge to Mexico, I chuckled (compared to the
25-30 feet of surge in Katrina). But then I remembered
that I don’t know that area at all. I’ve also heard
the media report that TS Ernesto is not causing a lot
of problem in the Carolinas. But then I remembered
that it was the media that paid lots of attention to
New Orleans and not much to Mississippi.

So…

Please keep us informed of any needs that arise from
these storms. If we are to “pay it forward,” we’ve got
an awful lot of work ahead of us!

FREE E-BOOK: Thanks to Bobby Ross, Jr., my free e-book
is now available on the Christian Chronicle’s website:
www.christianchronicle.org. Thanks, Bobby!

PICTURE OF THE DAY: For those who’ve read my e-book,
this was the daylight scene down Martin Avenue a few
days after Gene and I climbed over all the stuff in
the dark to get to Mrs. Dorothy’s house.

WHAT’S HAPPENING?
* YESTERDAY: Before Katrina, I had lunch every
Thursday with my good friend, John Dobbs. Since
Katrina, I think we’ve done that once. But yesterday,
we got to have one of our good old-fashioned lunches
together, and I hope that is another sign of
resurrection.
* LABOR DAY WEEKEND: With all the “labor” that’s gone
on here this past year, I think everyone needs a long
weekend to honor workers!
* INCOMING GROUPS: Our next scheduled group is trip #5
for the folks from Killen, Alabama (September 10-16)

DISPLACED CHURCH FAMILIES: 25 down, 2 to go…
• Todd & Robin Hayes, with kids Tyler, Connor, Brynlee
& Jaxon (living in a FEMA trailer)
• Shannon, Jessica, and Laney Lawler (living in a
house while they rebuild)

CONTACT INFORMATION:
• Call us at 228/875-7811
• Check out our website at
www.oceanspringschurchofchrist.com
• Email me at oscofc@yahoo.com
• Write us at 1116 Washington Avenue, Ocean Springs,
MS 39564

Yours to count on,
Al

“You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build
anew, rebuild the old foundations from out of your
past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the
community livable again.” – Isaiah 58:12 (MSG)

QUOTE OF THE DAY: ”Our greatest weakness lies in
giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always
to try just one more time.” – Thomas Edison

MAJOR NEED IN OUR AREA: Skilled labor.

FAMILY IN NEED OF SKILLED LABOR:
* Larry and Jo Franklin (retired couple living in a
FEMA trailer)

WHAT’S HAPPENING?
* TODAY: Gene & Eileen Logan, along with my wife and
I, have been invited to the house of one of our older
member’s sister this afternoon. This lady lost her
house in Biloxi down to the slab in Katrina, and
through the generosity of others, we were able to help
her financially. In response, she has invited us over
to dinner in her new house today.
* TOMORROW: In addition to our normal worship and
classes in the morning, we are beginning to offer a
Sunday evening devotional for the first time since
Hurricane Katrina.
* IN EIGHT DAYS: Killen, Alabama, arrives with skilled
labor for trip number 5 to help out!

DISPLACED CHURCH FAMILIES: 25 down, 2 to go…
• Todd & Robin Hayes, with kids Tyler, Connor, Brynlee
& Jaxon (living in a FEMA trailer)
• Shannon, Jessica, and Laney Lawler (living in a
house while they rebuild)

PICTURE OF THE DAY: As you can tell, I’m not getting
much of a chance to get out and take pictures. I’ve
been getting more to do instead of less somehow! So…
as long as you don’t revolt, I’ll probably attach a
picture from the past most of the time now. Today’s is
a picture of my daughter taking a picture of the funny
parking techniques of the boats down at Inner Harbor
in Ocean Springs back in January.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
• Call us at 228/875-7811
• Check out our website at
www.oceanspringschurchofchrist.com
• Email me at oscofc@yahoo.com
• Write us at 1116 Washington Avenue, Ocean Springs,
MS 39564

Yours to count on,
Al

“You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build
anew, rebuild the old foundations from out of your
past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the
community livable again.” – Isaiah 58:12 (MSG)

JUST A THOUGHT…
[From Frederick Buechner’s “Now and Then,” 1983]

“Taking your children to school and kissing your wife
goodbye. Eating lunch with a friend. Trying to do a
decent day’s work. Hearing the rain patter against the
window. There is no event so commonplace but that God
is present within it, always hiddenly, always leaving
you room to recognize him or not to recognize him, but
all the more fascinatingly because of that, all the
more compellingly and hauntingly… If I were called
upon to state in a few words the essence of everything
I was trying to say both as a novelist and as a
preacher, it would be something like this: Listen to
your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it
is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the
excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way
to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last
analysis all moments are key moments and life itself
is grace.”

HURRICANE MAKEOVER: OCEAN SPRINGS EDITION
We aren’t asking for money or supplies, but we are
asking for skilled labor. We could handle up to 10-15
at a time. We are focusing on three houses from our
community with no church or family to help. We need
sheetrock hung & floated, houses painted, and help
installing doors and trim. If any of you (individuals
or churches) are skilled in any of these areas and
want to help get these folks home again, please
contact me.

ONE OF OUR FOCUS FAMILIES: LARRY & JO FRANKLIN: Larry
& Jo are an older retired couple in Ocean Springs.
Katrina rushed thirteen feet of water into the home
they’ve lived in for over thirty years while they were
in it. Their lives were saved, but their possessions
were completely destroyed. A one-hundred-percent loss.
Larry has had triple-bypass surgery, double-bypass
surgery, two angioplasties, and has a defibrillator
inside his chest. Jo’s daughter lost her house; both
of Larry’s children lost their homes, as well as
Larry’s mom. In the 11 months post-Katrina, all that
had been accomplished was the gutting of the
Franklins’ house until three of our recent work crews
hung sheetrock in the entire house except the garage.

PICTURE OF THE DAY: This rolled toward Larry & Jo
Franklin’s house during Katrina. They watched it from
their upstairs perch. It has at least been rolled back
out by the road!

WHAT’S HAPPENING?
* HURRICANE SEASON: Hurricane John & Tropical Storm
Ernesto reminds us that it is the height of hurricane
season. August & September are typically the most
active months, so today marks the halfway point for us
in some respects.
* LAST NIGHT: After a busy day, it was good to see
friends at our Peak of the Week class last night. I
felt sort of down for some reason, and everyone else
seemed a little tired, too, but maybe it was good for
us all to at least be there together.
* TODAY: Today is already filled with a lot of stuff –
all important. I’m a little tired just looking at
everything. It will be a good day, but a long one.
* INCOMING GROUPS: Our next scheduled group is trip #5
for the folks from Killen, Alabama (September 10-16)

DISPLACED CHURCH FAMILIES: 25 down, 2 to go…
• Todd & Robin Hayes, with kids Tyler, Connor, Brynlee
& Jaxon (living in a FEMA trailer)
• Shannon, Jessica, and Laney Lawler (living in a
house while they rebuild)

CONTACT INFORMATION:
• Call us at 228/875-7811
• Check out our website at
www.oceanspringschurchofchrist.com
• Email me at oscofc@yahoo.com
• Write us at 1116 Washington Avenue, Ocean Springs,
MS 39564

Yours to count on,
Al

Katrina Spirit Journal

YOUR FREE GIFT!!!
Our news is crawling with Hurricane Katrina stuff
today – even more than usual – since today is the
one-year anniversary of the historic storm. So in
honor of this occasion, I’m giving all of my faithful
readers of these daily updates a free gift!!!

I finished writing a little book I titled, “Katrina: A
Spiritual Journal,” about six months ago now. A
faithful friend, Lynn Nicholson (a published author),
put me in touch with rather important people in the
publishing world where I followed a few leads, but in
the end I learned that getting this published wouldn’t
be a possibility. Which I’m okay with…

My main reason for writing was to record my memories
and thoughts before they began to disappear. My
secondary reason was to share these thoughts with
others. So…

I’m attaching my book to this email as a Microsoft
Word document (150 pages long). So you have your very
own e-book! Feel free to pass it around wherever and
to whomever you want.

And thank you for sticking with me for this past year
– when I needed you all the most…

HURRICANE MAKEOVER: OCEAN SPRINGS EDITION
We aren’t asking for money or supplies, but we are
asking for skilled labor. We could handle up to 10-15
at a time. We are focusing on three houses from our
community with no church or family to help. We need
sheetrock hung & floated, houses painted, and help
installing doors and trim. If any of you (individuals
or churches) are skilled in any of these areas and
want to help get these folks home again, please
contact me.

ONE OF OUR THREE FOCUS FAMILIES:
* LARRY & JO FRANKLIN: Larry & Jo are an older retired
couple in Ocean Springs. Katrina rushed thirteen feet
of water into the home they’ve lived in for over
thirty years while they were in it. Their lives were
saved, but their possessions were completely
destroyed. A one-hundred-percent loss. Larry has had
triple-bypass surgery, double-bypass surgery, two
angioplasties, and has a defibrillator inside his
chest. Jo’s daughter lost her house; both of Larry’s
children lost their homes, as well as Larry’s mom. In
the 11 months post-Katrina, all that had been
accomplished was the gutting of the Franklins’ house
until three of our recent work crews hung sheetrock in
the entire house except the garage.

WHAT’S HAPPENING?
* TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO: Ernesto is looking at South
Florida right now. I’m thinking of my friends in that
area and praying for them today. We are thankful that
we are not in the projected path, but ready to provide
help for those who are… May Ernesto either make a
sharp right turn and head out to sea or just fizzle
out completely!
* TODAY: On today’s one-year anniversary of Katrina,
there are TONS of memorial events planned. I plan to
attend our city’s prayer service at 6pm tonight.
* INCOMING GROUPS: Our next scheduled group is trip #5
for the folks from Killen, Alabama (September 10-16)

DISPLACED CHURCH FAMILIES: 25 down, 2 to go…
• Todd & Robin Hayes, with kids Tyler, Connor, Brynlee
& Jaxon (living in a FEMA trailer)
• Shannon, Jessica, and Laney Lawler (living in a
house while they rebuild)

CONTACT INFORMATION:
• Call us at 228/875-7811
• Check out our website at
www.oceanspringschurchofchrist.com
• Email me at oscofc@yahoo.com
• Write us at 1116 Washington Avenue, Ocean Springs,
MS 39564

Yours to count on,
Al

“You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build
anew, rebuild the old foundations from out of your
past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the
community livable again.” – Isaiah 58:12 (MSG)

HURRICANE MAKEOVER: OCEAN SPRINGS EDITION
We aren’t asking for money or supplies, but we are
asking for skilled labor. We could handle up to 10-15
at a time. We are focusing on three houses from our
community with no church or family to help. We need
sheetrock hung & floated, houses painted, and help
installing doors and trim. If any of you (individuals
or churches) are skilled in any of these areas and
want to help get these folks home again, please
contact me.

ONE OF OUR THREE FOCUS FAMILIES:
* LARRY & JO FRANKLIN: Larry & Jo are an older retired
couple in Ocean Springs. Katrina rushed thirteen feet
of water into the home they’ve lived in for over
thirty years while they were in it. Their lives were
saved, but their possessions were completely
destroyed. A one-hundred-percent loss. Larry has had
triple-bypass surgery, double-bypass surgery, two
angioplasties, and has a defibrillator inside his
chest. Jo’s daughter lost her house; both of Larry’s
children lost their homes, as well as Larry’s mom. In
the 11 months post-Katrina, all that had been
accomplished was the gutting of the Franklins’ house
until three of our recent work crews hung sheetrock in
the entire house except the garage.

WHAT’S HAPPENING?
* TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO: It strikes me as funny how
early they are creating the “cones” now for tropical
storms/hurricanes. As of today, we aren’t even close,
but it hasn’t even made it past Cuba yet! I think
there will be a better picture tomorrow of what to
expect of Ernesto!
* YESTERDAY: We had a good day of worship/class
together, followed by a good lunch at Acapulco’s
restaurant in Ocean Springs!
* TOMORROW: The one-year anniversary of Hurricane
Katrina.
* INCOMING GROUPS: Our next scheduled group is trip #5
for the folks from Killen, Alabama (September 10-16)

PICTURE OF THE DAY: A picture of the cheerleaders at
the softball challenge Saturday night. Despite their
efforts, their dads lost to the young guys.

DISPLACED CHURCH FAMILIES: 25 down, 2 to go…
• Todd & Robin Hayes, with kids Tyler, Connor, Brynlee
& Jaxon (living in a FEMA trailer)
• Shannon, Jessica, and Laney Lawler (living in a
house while they rebuild)

JUST A THOUGHT…

Tomorrow is the official one-year anniversary of
Hurricane Katrina, but on this last Monday in August,
I’m reminded that 52 weeks ago right now we were
sitting in front of the church building watching her
roll through. When I laid down last night, I
remembered that it was exactly one-year ago last night
that my family spent our last night on Margaret Street
(without knowing it at the time). Nostalgia abounds I
guess.

What is it with these anniversaries and time markers?
Is it all sort of silly? I remember hearing of a
particular group of Eskimos that believed
wholeheartedly that they died every time they went to
sleep, and were reborn every morning. Maybe they were
on to something, at least with an approach to life.
What would that worldview do to my attitude?

Jesus seems a bit mixed on the idea. The same Jesus
who said, “Each day has enough trouble of its own”
asked disciples to “do this in remembrance of me.”

So I don’t know. Just thinking this morning. And
remembering.

Seems a lot of folks around here are doing some
remembering this week.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
• Call us at 228/875-7811
• Check out our website at
www.oceanspringschurchofchrist.com
• Email me at oscofc@yahoo.com
• Write us at 1116 Washington Avenue, Ocean Springs,
MS 39564

Yours to count on,
Al

“You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build
anew, rebuild the old foundations from out of your
past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the
community livable again.” – Isaiah 58:12 (MSG)

HURRICANE MAKEOVER: OCEAN SPRINGS EDITION
We aren’t asking for money or supplies, but we are
asking for skilled labor. We could handle up to 10-15
at a time. We are focusing on three houses from our
community with no church or family to help. We need
sheetrock hung & floated, houses painted, and help
installing doors and trim. If any of you (individuals
or churches) are skilled in any of these areas and
want to help get these folks home again, please
contact me.

ONE OF OUR THREE FOCUS FAMILIES: Larry and Jo Franklin

Larry and Jo are an older retired couple. They stayed
in their house in Gulf Hills the day Katrina rushed
thirteen feet of water into the home they’ve lived in
for over thirty years. The water stopped rising four
inches from the point they had designated as the time
they would dive out their upstairs bedroom window and
try to swim for the magnolia tree by their driveway.
Their lives were saved, but their possessions were
completely destroyed. A one-hundred-percent loss.
Larry worked at the shipyard for over thirty years,
but his heart condition has left him incapable of
doing very much. He has had triple-bypass surgery,
double-bypass surgery, two angioplasties, and has a
defibrillator inside his chest. The Franklins (and
Jo’s son) were trapped at home for three days after
Katrina before seeing anyone. Jo’s daughter lost her
house; both of Larry’s children lost their homes, as
well as Larry’s mom. All this added to the hopeless
situation facing Larry and Jo. In the past 11 months,
the Franklins’ house has been gutted. That was it,
until three of our recent work crews hung sheetrock in
the entire house except the garage.

WHAT’S HAPPENING?
* HURRICANE ERNESTO: Be watching and praying with us…
* LAST NIGHT: The weather cooperated last evening, and
we had a GREAT time at our young adults vs. youth
group softball game. The youth group was killing us,
but we made a mighty comeback (once I was removed from
the game!), and we tied it up 29-29 going into the
bottom of the ninth inning. One of our new teens,
Travis Robb, drove in the game-winning run for the
youth group!
* TODAY: We will worship together this morning. My
sermon text is Matthew 5: 17-20, and I’ve titled my
sermon, “The Prism.”
* TWO DAYS FROM NOW: The one-year anniversary of
Hurricane Katrina.
* INCOMING GROUPS: Our next scheduled group is trip #5
for the folks from Killen, Alabama (September 10-16)

PICTURE OF THE DAY: Shannon “The King” Lawler takes a
mighty swing for the young adult team last night. You
can also notice our row of cheerleaders behind the
fence, along with our scorekeeper/announcer team of
Gene & Eileen Logan perched on the loft!

DISPLACED CHURCH FAMILIES: 25 down, 2 to go…
• Todd & Robin Hayes, with kids Tyler, Connor, Brynlee
& Jaxon (living in a FEMA trailer)
• Shannon, Jessica, and Laney Lawler (living in a
house while they rebuild)

JUST A THOUGHT…

(My bulletin article for today…)

A YEAR OF CHANGES

No, it isn’t New Year’s Eve, but it might feel like it
is for the next couple of days! Media representatives
from around the world are crawling all over the Gulf
Coast to see what has changed in the year since
Hurricane Katrina made her historic landfall. If
anyone is interested, I think it’s safe to say that
the Ocean Springs Church of Christ has changed!

We’ve changed simply in terms of people: we mourned
the passing of Julie Hixenbaugh, and we’ve said
good-bye to the Pendowskis, the Craigs, the Lynds, the
Tibbits, Madeline Klein, the Altoms, the Christys,
Doug Delbridge, the Hills, the Falks’, the McCross’,
Marion Tigert, Bobbye Lou Adcock, and the Webbs. Two
of our deacons and our secretary moved away, and our
first youth minister, Steve, became a contractor. On
the other hand, we’ve welcomed in lots of new folks,
too: Laney Lawler, the O’Connells, Al Poncet, the
Stones, Debbie Taliancich, the Taylors, Brad Vogel,
the Jenkins, Lowell Willmon, Charlie Warren, Betty
Watkins, Cory & Devon Thompson, Travis & Brandon Robb,
Holly O’Barr, and April Fisher. We have three new
deacons, a new secretary, and a new youth minister. We
are simply a different group of people than before.

But I hope what is most different about this church
family when August 29, 2006, rolls around (as compared
to August 29, 2005) is not the specific people who sit
in the pews each Sunday and Wednesday. I hope what is
most different is more internal than external. I hope
we care less about “stuff” and more about helping
others. I hope we appreciate the fact that God’s
people around the world will act like Jesus when
trouble comes. I hope we understand that the storms of
life cannot destroy us. And I hope, most of all that
we love like Jesus more today than we did one year
ago.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
• Call us at 228/875-7811
• Check out our website at
www.oceanspringschurchofchrist.com
• Email me at oscofc@yahoo.com
• Write us at 1116 Washington Avenue, Ocean Springs,
MS 39564

Yours to count on,
Al

“You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build
anew, rebuild the old foundations from out of your
past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the
community livable again.” – Isaiah 58:12 (MSG)