Biloxi church holds Katrina remembrance service

BILOXI, MS (WLOX) - Many saw Saturday's anniversary of Hurricane Katrina as an opportunity to join together in faith and worship. That was certainly the case at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Biloxi.

The church joined with other congregations from the area for a day of reflection, prayer and praise. Praise and worship gave way to prayer which gave way to testimonies of survival, hardship and faith.

"Even though we remember what Katrina did to us, we should never forget what God did for us,"said  Benjamin Robertson, church member.

Like many others across the Coast, the people filling the pews at New Bethel had many hardships following Hurricane Katrina a decade ago. Although, they didn't let the hardships stop them from coming together for worship.

"We worshiped out in the streets for some two years after the storm," said Dr. Kenneth Davis.

Davis is the pastor of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist in D'Iberville. He wanted to bring area churches together for the day of remembrance.

Davis got in touch with Hollins at New Bethel and the two organized the time of reflection.

"Our priorities have been realigned, our weaknesses have been exposed and God has come to see about us," said Davis.

Around a dozen churches were represented in the pews. The service gave those in attendance the chance to renew their relationships and look back at what the past decade has brought them.

"It restores what joy you may have lost because you will see that no matter what comes your way, you can recover, you can rebuild and you can be restored," said Tabernacle member, Derrick Sykes.

As for Pastor Hollins, that restoration has brought about change. He said he's not the same man he was ten years ago.

"My faith is larger now. My faith is bigger. My faith is stronger," said Hollins.

That's the message he hoped to make clear throughout the service.

"The reason we are here ten years later is because of the goodness of God," said Hollins.

During the offering in Saturday's service, a collection was taken up to help families still struggling from the effects of the storm.

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