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A School, A Church, A Call: When Connection Becomes Action

Louisiana Now

Release Date: 06/17/2025

Leading Through the Storm: Bishop William W. Hutchinson & Rev. Don Cottrill show art Leading Through the Storm: Bishop William W. Hutchinson & Rev. Don Cottrill

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  Bishop William W. Hutchinson and Rev. Don Cottrill reflect on the enormous responsibility of guiding the Louisiana...

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A United Witness:Rev. Shawn Anglim & Margaret Washington show art A United Witness:Rev. Shawn Anglim & Margaret Washington

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  Born from the merger of two historically separate congregations, First Grace UMC stands as a living example of unity...

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Mapping Hope: Rev. Martha Orphe show art Mapping Hope: Rev. Martha Orphe

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  Rev. Martha Orphe played a central role in creating “Mission Zones” to keep ministry alive when congregations were...

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When God Calls: Rev. Kaseem & Sabrina Short show art When God Calls: Rev. Kaseem & Sabrina Short

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  Katrina became a defining moment for Rev. Kaseem and Sabrina Short, awakening a call to serve in bold new ways. They...

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Three Weeks Later: Rev. Angela Bulhof & Rev. Karl Klaus show art Three Weeks Later: Rev. Angela Bulhof & Rev. Karl Klaus

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  Just three weeks after Katrina, Hurricane Rita struck southwest Louisiana, forcing churches already in relief mode into...

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I Know Who: Dan Bracken show art I Know Who: Dan Bracken

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  As a teenager from Ohio, Dan Bracken’s first mission trip to Louisiana after Katrina changed the trajectory of his...

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Capturing Hope: Rev. Rob Weber & Rev. Drew Sutton show art Capturing Hope: Rev. Rob Weber & Rev. Drew Sutton

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  Rob Weber and Drew Sutton took cameras into the hardest-hit areas after Katrina and Rita, documenting loss and...

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Shepherding in the Storm: Rev. Ellen Alston show art Shepherding in the Storm: Rev. Ellen Alston

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and pastoring from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  Rev. Ellen Alston recounts leading her congregation through the uncertainty of evacuation, the shock of loss, and the...

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Peril to Purpose: Rev. Callie Winn Crawford show art Peril to Purpose: Rev. Callie Winn Crawford

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and holy grit from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together. After Katrina toppled the steeple of Rayne Memorial UMC into its sanctuary, Rev. Callie Winn Crawford wrestled with both the...

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From Ruin to Renewal: Rev. Hadley Edwards show art From Ruin to Renewal: Rev. Hadley Edwards

Louisiana Now

Welcome to a very special series of the Louisiana NOW podcast, Hope Beyond the Storm. Ten episodes that tell the stories of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in South Louisiana. Twenty years after the storms, the recovery isn’t just history—it’s still shaping lives, churches, and communities across South Louisiana. This series shares first‑hand stories of resilience, hard choices, and holy grit from pastors, lay leaders, volunteers, and neighbors who rebuilt together.  When floodwaters swallowed Bethany UMC up to its roofline, Rev. Hadley Edwards faced the unthinkable. With faith, grit,...

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More Episodes

In this episode of The Louisiana NOW podcast, we are joined by Dr. Carla Cardoza, President of Lydia Patterson Institute and Bishop Delores J. Williamston. In a powerful response to an unfolding immigration crisis affecting the Lydia Patterson Institute (LPI), the Council on Finance and Administration of The Louisiana Conference, in partnership with the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana, announced a $240,000 gift to support the El Paso-based United Methodist school.

The decision was made in an immediate series of meetings following emotional scenes at the 2025 Annual Conference, where LPI President Dr. Carla Cardoza broke down in tears during her address. Dr. Cardoza had just received news that the U.S. Consulate would no longer schedule visa interviews for students. It's a decision that could prevent 30% of LPI’s student body from attending school this fall.

Please call, write, or email your local, state, and federal officials. Urge them to restore access to student visa interviews and support educational institutions like LPI that stand at the intersection of faith, education, and opportunity. Lives are being shaped at LPI—let your voice be part of the story.