Sunday in New Orleans

Not a megachurch by US standards, the First baptist Church of New Orleans is by any measure a large church, and we were there on a Sunday when they were considering a major expansion of their buildings and their mission to the city.

The present buildings were completed just before Hurricane Katrina hit the city and were very badly damaged in that catastrophe.

Before the service at FBCNO

In due course, the damage was repaired and the church continued to grow, hence the needs for the expansion plans that were being launched today - in the service and in a kind of community fun day that followed.

In addition to a worship band and a team of lead singers, there was a choir of about 50 people on the stage, half children, mainly white, but with a good sprinkling of black faces.

Entrance  concourse at First Baptist

Because of today's launch of their new growth project it wasn't a completely typical service, but it was clear that this was a lively, growing church, reaching out to the community in evangelism and social action.

It was good to hear the senior pastor preaching at today's service. He came over as both a very good preacher and a clear leader for his congregation. We were glad to be at his church if only for a brief moment, and we pray that God will bless the First Baptist Church of New Orleans as it steps out in faith.

 Back in the centre of the city, the crowds were out in force and their were numerous groups of musicians playing on the streets. Here was one of the best (left).

Later we rode on the Charles Street street car, said to be the oldest tramline in the world in continuous use, which winds its way through this beautiful city for more than seven miles:

Tomorrow we move on from New Orleans. Heavy thunderstorms, floods, and tornadoes are sweeping across the southern US tonight and the weather channel is full of the progress of the storm. It is thought that New Orleans will not be in the area most severely affected but we await developments, before definitely planning our programme for tomorrow.