Two friends see God work through tragic circumstances
Missionary ProfileName: Ginger SmithAssignment: Director ofBaptist Mission Centers,Houston, Texas
Ginger Smith couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the news coverage of New Orleans post Katrina.
“I would fall asleep each night watching CNN,” recalls Ginger. “When they showed pictures of the Superdome and Convention Center, I knew that many of the faces lost in the masses were people I’d known.”
Ginger, a North American Mission Board missionary, had served in New Orleans for nine years at the Brantley Baptist Center. Her clients were the very people trapped in the flood-ravaged Crescent City. Now serving in Houston, Ginger searched the television screen for familiar faces.
One of those unseen faces was Patricia Stevenson. Ginger was Patricia’s caseworker when she first came to the Brantley Center several years ago. Patricia was a drug addict, alcoholic and was living on the street. Ginger taught her life skills, but most important she told her about Jesus’ love and redemption. After three months, Patricia accepted Christ.
“Patricia had a significant change in her life and attitude,” says Ginger.
Almost three months after the hurricane, Ginger finally found Patricia’s name on FEMA’s website and knew she was alive. Patricia eventually landed on her feet in Houston and called Ginger. She’d kept Ginger’s number in her Bible. It was one of the few items family members were able to retrieve from her New Orleans’ home.
The first thing Patricia asked Ginger was to help her find a church.
Now Patricia is actively involved teaching the youth at Rittenhouse Baptist Church.
“When you go to Patricia’s apartment complex everybody knows her,” says Ginger. “Many of the kids will get on a bus with her every Sunday morning and go to church with her. Everybody knows she’s a Christian, and that she doesn’t live the lifestyle she used to live. The power of God in her life is evident.”OM