urged churches to unite and pray Friday, September 9, as rescue workers continued to find dead bodies in the flooded streets and homes of New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina, America’s worst hurricane in living memory.
CEN, which was established following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, asked churches and believers across the wounded nation to hold a National Commitment Sunday, September 18, to be held two days after the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance called for by President George W. Bush.
"Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst natural disasters in our nation’s history and has caused unimaginable devastation and heartbreak throughout the Gulf Coast region. A vast coastline of towns and communities has been decimated," Bush said in his proclamation. New Orleans officials ordered 25,000 body backs, to pick up the remains of probably thousands of residents who died. No final death toll has been established yet.
"HONOR MEMORY"
However "to honor the memory of those who lost their lives, to provide comfort and strength to the families of the victims, and to help ease the burden of the survivors, I call upon all Americans to pray to Almighty God and to perform acts of service," Bush added.
He also thanked "faith based" groups for their involvement in the rescue and aid operations, amid wide spread criticism that the federal government was slow and late with dead bodies laying days unattended. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin told law enforcement and the United States military to forcefully remove residents who won’t go voluntarily because of health concerns.
"I have ordered all federal agencies to treat the dead with respect and dignity," Bush stressed. CEN Chairman Mary Marr said however that in addition "all Christians, churches and ministries can, and must do something to support the hurricane victims. If each person will seek the Lord’s direction and prompting, and then obediently follow through and respond, we will see an unprecedented outpouring of God’s love and grace."
COMMITMENT URGED
"CEN is asking for each person, church, ministry, or media outlet to make a commitment by Sunday September 18 and e-mail a one paragraph summary of the commitment to commitment@cen911.com. Scripture relates "faith by itself," if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" in James 2:17 (NIV), the organization said.
It came as Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief, a non-denominational Christian group run by the Rev. Billy Graham’s son, the Rev. Franklin Graham, joined groups giving aid in the devastated region, including in the town of Biloxi in the US state of Mississippi where 66 staff members and volunteers were already on the ground, news reports said.
Franklin Graham and his father Billy Graham have both expressed concern about the aftermath of Katrina. "The disaster of Hurricane Katrina may be the worst tragedy America has known since the Civil War. The aftermath has almost been frightening. Mayhem, looting, shooting, and raping on one hand—compassion on the other," Billy Graham said. "Millions of Americans, and millions of people in many countries abroad, want to help. The tragedy is so overwhelming that it is beyond comprehension. Yet it presents a challenge. With the aid of modern technology it is possible to turn the tragedy into blessing."
Billy Graham said he was "praying especially for the hundreds of thousands who have become refugees because of what has happened. The flood of refugees may be one of the greatest challenges our society has ever faced." (With BosNewsLife News Center, BosNewsLife Research and reports from the United States)
