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BURDENS

A study by Louisiana State University's Public Policy Research Lab has found that most residents of the state believed churches and non-profit organizations did a better job in responding to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita than government agencies did. On a scale of one (not effective) to 10 (very effective), residents gave churches the highest mark of 8.1 while rating New Orleans city a agencies and state agencies the lowest at 4.6 The Federal government fared only slightly better, receiving 5.3 for FEMA's work, and 5.1 for other governmental agencies' efforts.

Overall non-profit organizations received the second-highest relief rating at 7.5. Hundreds of churches and faith-based groups took time to feed, cloth, and shelter victims of the storms, raising more than 100 million dollars ion the process. Kirby Giodel, co-director of the Public Policy Lab said the survey also revealed the tremendous generosity of individuals. Results found that 39 percent of Louisianans allowed a friend or family member to stay in their homes, and 14 percent provided shelter for someone they did not know before the storm. Fifty per cent of the respondents contributed to religious organizations. Goidel said, "First and foremost, the survey shows the tremendous generosity of Louisianans. It also illustrates that citizens recognize the tough road ahead..that rebuilding will not come inexpensively or quickly."

—http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20051201-114736-6989r.htm, Storm victims praise churches, by Audrey Hudson, December 2, 2005. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Galatians 6:2 (NKJV) "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."