‘Noah’s Ark’ brings rescue
at height of storms

USA — Almost a year after Hurricane Katrina swept through Gulf Coast states, agencies including the American Bible Society continue to work with people who are still struggling to rebuild their lives and to come to terms with the widespread devastation of property and loss of life. Among those who have received help are Christopher Coleman. This is the amazing story of his rescue at the height of the storms.
Photo: Christopher L. Coleman being interviewed by Joey Condon, distribution coordinator for the Church of the Nazarene in Pascagoula, Mississippi, beside the boat Chris skippered during Hurricane Katrina. United States of America. Photo: ABS/David Skinner (USA06DJ-6.JPG)
Christopher L. Coleman being interviewed by Joey Condon, distribution coordinator for the Church of the Nazarene in Pascagoula, Mississippi, beside the boat Chris skippered during Hurricane Katrina. United States of America. Photo: ABS/David Skinner (USA06DJ-6.JPG)

Looking like a beached whale, the small motor launch rests against the broken front door of a Nazarene church in Pascagoula, Mississippi. It sits just where the waters receded following Hurricane Katrina.

Took refuge

Christopher Coleman, a former Marine, served as its temporary skipper during the height of the storms. He calls it his ‘Noah’s Ark’.

When Hurricane Katrina struck, he took refuge in the sturdy brick-built home of his neighbour Trina. A fellow employee at the nearby shipyard, she lived there with her two daughters and her mother. Soon, though, the waters began to rise and the furniture started floating around them. They managed to move Trina’s children, mother and pets into another neighbour’s house across the street until that, too, began to flood.

Empty boat

It was then that an empty boat appeared. “I don’t know how the boat got there: it just appeared out of nowhere,” says Mr Coleman. “It could not have appeared in front of the house unless the Lord had placed it there.”

As flood debris swirled in the waters rising around them and the gale raged, the two families climbed unsteadily into the boat. In total, there were 13 people, two dogs and a cat.

With Mr Coleman at one end of the boat and the father of the second family at the other, they struggled against the wind towards the only safety they could see: the two-storey Worship Center at the Nazarene church.

“I don’t know now how I had enough strength to move the boat,” says Mr Coleman.

Reaching the church, they climbed through a broken window and reached the second floor. This served as their home and shelter for the next two weeks. “There’s no better place to be than in a church during a storm!”

Part of the church is still being used as a distribution centre, providing essential supplies to survivors in the area who are trying to rebuild their lives. These supplies include Scriptures from the American Bible Society. Joey Condon, the church’s distribution co-ordinator, says, “We send out 80 to 100 volunteers daily on work teams, helping people to rebuild. We find that they all need Bibles.”

Reprinted from the web site of the American Bible Society. (WR 402/11 - 06.06) [1 photo]