Read the Chronicle's latest roundup of Hurricane Katrina news


Churches of Christ across the nation are collecting food, water, bedding and money to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Many are loading trucks and plotting courses into the affected areas of Louisiana and Mississippi.

But some government officials are warning relief groups to stay away — at least for a few more days, as police and military attempt to keep cities devastated by the hurricane from slipping into chaos.

A county administrator and church member in Brookhaven, Miss., asked church groups to not attempt a delivery this weekend, said Don Yelton, of Whites Ferry Road Relief Ministries, West Monroe, La.

“Please don't encourage churches to send stuff and people until things quiet down,” Yelton told the Chronicle Thursday night.

Shortages of food, gas, housing and supplies have created tension in many of the flooded cities, and reports of looting and violence should serve as warnings for church members headed into the disaster zone, relief workers said.

Yelton and representatives of other ministries plan to meet Friday in Baton Rouge, La., to assess needs and develop a plan of action.

Church members in surrounding states don’t have to travel to New Orleans to help the storm’s victims. As many as 75,000 displaced people may be relocated to cities in Texas for several weeks, NBC reported Thursday night.

The news came just hours after 26 churches of Christ in the Dallas area met at the Southern Hills church “to discuss working together in beating the effects of Hurricane Katrina,” the group said in a news release.

“When we heard that the Red Cross was bringing families from the hurricane zone to Reunion Arena we knew we were in a position to serve these families,” said Ron Buch, outreach minister for the Meadow View church, Mesquite, Texas. “Several other churches in the area had the same desire and had efforts underway.”

The churches are providing meals for refugees staying at the Mountain View church, Dallas. They also plan to shuttle their guests to a local college whey the locker rooms will be open for hot showers, according to the release.

The group plans to launch a Web site soon to post available services and ways volunteers can help. Meanwhile, those with questions can call the Mountain View church at (214) 339-7145.

Other Thursday developments:

• Churches in Texas’ Fort Bend County, southwest metro Houston, are each adopting a hotel filled with refugees. The Sugar Grove Church of Christ, Meadows Place, Texas, has adopted the Sun Suites hotel, said Body Life Minister Tim Shoulders.

Shoulders said, “This quote from a resident in the hotel describes this group of people who are not receiving media coverage: ‘This hurts. I know there are people in the shelter who need help, but those in places like us need help also. Money runs out. Praise God for your love.’”

• The Crosstown Church of Christ, Tulsa, Okla., is housing about 150 people from Louisiana through the Red Cross, which is supplying cots. The facilities in use were completed this spring, said church member Linda Deckman.

• The Hilltop Community Church of Christ, El Segundo, Calif., has several members from the New Orleans area, said office manager August James. The church has set up a Web site for people wishing to contribute or donate items, www.hilltoprescue.org.

• The Riverside Church of Christ, Lafayette, La., is housing several refugees in its building and members’ homes. Many are members of the church in Slidell, La., which was destroyed by Katrina, said John Curtis, minister for the Seventh and Beech church, Durant, Okla.

Curtis and Floyd Kaiser, a licensed counselor and minister for the Southwest church, Ada, Okla., plan to travel to Lafayette on Monday to assist victims there. Seventh and Beech, Southwest and the Madill, Okla., church are sending funds to Riverside.

• Carla Calhoun, an Oklahoma church member who works with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said that natural disasters give con artists opportunities to prey on those trying to help victims.

Calhoun warned church members not to respond to e-mail requests for funds — even if those messages claim to come from legitimate churches or ministries.

The Chronicle has compiled a list of contact for church-supported ministries collecting funds and supplies for Katrina’s victims.

FOR MORE INFORMATIOIN on hurricane relief, visit www.firstgov.gov, the U.S. government’s official Web portal. The following link offers several services concerning Hurricane Katrina:

www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery.shtml