Journey Ninth ward
It’s in our DNA as a church to serve those who cannot pay us back. Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, and one of the hardest hit areas was the Ninth Ward. While we were busy rebuilding the North Shore campus I believe the Lord challenged us to look beyond our pain and help another community recover. We chose the Ninth Ward. Journey bought an old Lutheran church with the purpose of planting a new church there. And that’s exactly what we did. In November 2009 we launched Journey Ninth Ward.
It all began many years earlier. Before Katrina. Pastor Robert and Sherdren Burnside were in Oakland serving as church planters when they felt called to New Orleans to begin a new work. So they moved back to Louisiana to plant a new church. Well soon after the storm we were looking for campus pastors to lead Journey’s new work in New Orleans and the Burnsides were looking for a sponsoring church for their vision. And somehow we found each other.
After a year of planning and praying we had our first worship service in New Orleans in November 2009.
I spoke at the one year anniversary recently. It was a great day. Thanks to Pastors Robert and Sherdren and their wonderful staff and leadership team for the fine work they’re doing. We are so proud of you all.
I believe J9 has grown to the level of autonomy as a local church. We the pastors and congregation of Journey North Shore are pleased to announce that Journey Ninth Ward will begin to be a self-governed local church in April 2010. Robert and Sherdren Burnside will serve as the Lead Pastors. Congratulations.
In the past year J9 has served over 3,000 people through outreach. 174 people became Followers of Christ. Dozens of students are being reached through our tutoring ministry. And several families have been served through transitional housing. It’s been an awesome adventure, and while our relationship with Journey Ninth Ward is changing we are still family. We welcome J9 as a sister church in this Fellowship.
Congratulations.