The Mardi Gras Ministry

CBN.com Vieux Carre Baptist Church has been in the heart of the French Quarter since the mid-1960s. The church is sandwiched between a bar and a “party house." Pastor Greg Hand knows there are plenty of opportunities for members of Vieux Carre to share the love of God.

"Day by day our ministry here is primarily in the street. We build and maintain relationships," says Pastor Greg.

"We’re here because we love all different types of people. It's just a great opportunity, an easy opportunity to try and be friends with people and to share a little bit about who the Lord is and what He’s done for us," adds Trish, who comes out to volunteer.

The church rarely closes its doors.

"We work with the homeless a lot. We invite them in, we worship with them, we witness to them, and we lift them up," says Daniel, a member of the church.

Vieux Carre offered showers and housing to those Hurricane Katrina victims who were left homeless. In addition, every Friday the church hosts a coffee house ministry to homosexuals.

"We invite everybody to come and when they are here, we do our best to just love and then share the Gospel," says Trish.

"That’s the concept of what we do here. No one is to be left behind or forgotten, regardless, and it works into that philosophy. It works into our approach to people during the day," says Pastor Greg.  

Pastor Greg knows how important this ministry in the French quarter really is.

"This is a very toxic environment spiritually. We want to make that a positive because there is openness to spiritual things, and we want to capitalize on that," he says. "It’s more than Mardi Gras... 365 days a year we’re here as the light and the salt, and we’re here to stand against the darkness."

"We’re seeing lives changed. Sometimes it is a drastic change. We are seeing salvations, and we’re seeing people absolutely changed. Their entire lives are turned around," says Pastor Greg.  

Congratulations to Vieux Carre Baptist Church. You are "America’s Church of the Week."