The worst natural disaster in United States history rained chaos on New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina at the end of August.

This time Verbo Ministries--widely known for its relief and development work--is on both sides of the massive aid program. About four hundred members of Verbo churches in Kenner and Gretna , Louisiana — New Orleans suburbs—evacuated to safer areas and are being relocated as refugees.

On the other hand, Verbo leaders and volunteers are already placing families in housing and helping them find jobs in Houston , San Antonio , Austin and Dallas , Texas . Verbo relief efforts are being handled from a temporary disaster response headquarters in Houston.

The coordinator of the emergency relocation efforts in Houston is Haroldo Arevalo, who can be reached at (713) 384-0218.

For those who need to communicate in English, Ron Reid, the pastor of Verbo West Bank, is available at: (713) 401-8718.

The pastor of the Kenner congregation, Dr. Luis Felipe Soto and another elder, Dr. Mario Montalvo, remained in New Orleans to aid the sick at a local hospital.

The New Orleans evacuation has left hundreds of thousands of people without homes, jobs, education for their children, everyday essential belongings and the uncertainty of knowing when they will be allowed to return—if that will be possible in many cases.

Verbo's efforts at this moment are focused on providing new starts for its 400 members affected by this catastrophe. Later efforts will switch to join in the work to help other victims as conditions and supplies permit. As Galatians 6:10 says, “ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

The relief center is not equipped to receive donations of food, clothing, or furniture at this moment, but the ministry secured a warehouse space in Houston with capacity for 19 shipping containers and will soon be able to process these types of donations for refugees in the Houston area. Please check back for details on where to send materials donations once the container center is operating.

Verbo workers welcome monetary donations for this almost overwhelming emergency relief effort. All contributions are tax deductible . To make a secure online contribution, go to www.verbo.org , choose a language and either click on “Online Donation Center” near the upper right side of the page, or choose “Support Us” under “Home” on the sidebar at the upper left of the page or you may click the following link to go that page:

Our usual post office address in Louisiana for checks and money orders has been temporarily suspended because of the flooding, but we will open a temporary office in Houston shortly, and the information will be posted on this site.

For further information, please contact the coordinators above or Verbo's international director, James Paul Jankowiak, at jamesjan@verbo.org or by telephone in Guatemala City, Guatemala, at 502 (country code) 5202-3661.

A blog website for Verbo New Orleans disaster victims is at: http://verboneworleans.blogspot.com/