[StBernard] First new church structure being built, in Arabi

[Westley Annis]

>From the ruins of the now demolished First Baptist Church of Arabi and its

pre-kindergarten school is springing forth the first new church structure to
be constructed in St. Bernard Parish since the hurricane.

Celebration Church, headquartered in Jefferson Parish, will open a St.
Bernard campus in a structure now under construction at 7500 West Judge
Perez Drive in Arabi, former site of the First Baptist Church of Arabi and
its school.

"We're hoping to have a vibrant ministry,'' said new Pastor Craig Ratliff,
who was associate pastor of First Baptist of Arabi. It's hoped the new
church will be ready in March, with an official launch set for Easter
Sunday, next April 8, Ratliff said. There aren't any plans for a school, he
said. 

The church is using a Sprung structure, a building alternative designed for
diverse permanent uses and would be similar to a tent-like structure behind
the St. Bernard Parish government complex.

Several other churches have been established in St. Bernard post-Hurricane
Katrina either in their own renovated buildings, such as Our Lady of Prompt
Succor Church and school, or in buildings that never housed churches before.

But the sight of a gleaming frame structure of a new church structure going
up on a main highway is a good sign of promise for the parish and a
statement that people are committed to rebuilding, said Parish President
Henry "Junior'' Rodriguez and Council member Mark Madary, who represents the
Arabi area.

"It's good to see a church filling the needs of people in a way government
can't,'' said Madary
The Celebration church group has served meals in St. Bernard Parish for
months, as well as cutting grass and gutting homes for the elderly, Ratliff
said.

First Baptist Church of Arabi existed for more than 60 years but much of its
congregation left St. Bernard after the hurricane, said Ratliff, who lived
near the old church with his wife, Cindy, and was associate pastor for more
than two years before Hurricane Katrina. He is a native of North Carolina
but also has pastured in Franklington, La.

Ratliff said First Baptist Church of Arabi merged with Celebration Church to
continue a ministry in St. Bernard.