August 26, 2010, CCA
100,00K Project

Christian Coaltion of Alabama leader Dr Randy Brinson along with Mitch Hescox, CEO of the Evangelical Environmental Network, returned to the Alabama Gulf Coast to foster relationships and meet with pastors and local lay leaders regarding their 100,000 K project to help engage churches across America to pray for families affected by the oil crisis.

The 100,000 K project, which seeks to engage 100,000 churches across America to create a prayer chain through the internet, was born out of the National Day of Prayer for the Gulf that attracted national attention on the plight of the families and communites on the Alabama coast. Brinson and Hescox return was one of numerous trips to the gulf since the crisis began. Hescox efforts yielded a day long conference bringing like minded groups from across the US to New Orleans to find the most effective means of delivering assistance to families in economic and emotional crisis due to loss of jobs, homes, and their livelihoods from the crisis. The conference was organized by the Council for National and Community Service, the parent organization for Americorps. Their leader, John Kelly, along with Mara Vanderslice of the White House Faith Based Office visited Gulf Shores in July at the invitation of the Christian Coalition of Alabama for the National
Day of Prayer for the Gulf.

Wednesday, Brinson and Hescox met with Rev. Paul Smith of Romar Beach Baptist Church (see photo) to oversee the delivery of 1500 pounds of school supplies for local area elementary schools that have been affected by budget cuts and loss of school revenues from the crisis. The school supplies were donated by the Mennonite Central Committee at the request of Rev Hescox as part of the relief efforts of both CCA and the EEN.

Rev Smith had previously organized, in conjunction with the Christian Coalition of Alabama, a major food drive to help deliver groceries to needy families. The food pantry has been supported by the Baldwin Baptist Association to provide meals and groceries across Baldwin County at both Romar Beach and Oyster Bay Baptist Church based on need.

Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, the Democratic nominee for Governor, has also assisted Christian Coalition of Alabama by reaching out to other state agricultural commissioners to provide additional food sources to the food assistance drive. Sparks, who also visited the gulf coast Tuesday and Wednesday,also met with local residents and lay leaders seeking to forestall home foreclosures that have occurred as a consequence of skyrocketing homeowners insurance premiums on the gulf coast. Sparks applauded the efforts of local churches to meet the needs of fellow Alabamians that have suffered such tremendous losses.

"It is clear that the crisis in Mobile and Baldwin county has continued because of the economic downturn caused by both a drop in tourism and the ongoing housing crisis. Those unaffected by the oil spill have suffered due to lack of real estate activity from the inabilty to obtain reasonable homeowner's insurance", stated Dr Brinson. "The Christian Coaltion of Alabama has pledged to continue to pursue a solution by engaging both gubernatorial candidates and the insurance lobby to solve the problem that is costing the state and local government in excess of $450 million dollars annually. The economic activity of Mobile and Baldwin County is essential to maintaining the economic vitality of the rest of our state".

The 100,000K project will return next week to Mobile County and visit local schools and churches in the area and assess the magnitude of the crisis and local area responses.