New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

GRETNA, La. – The sound of children’s laughter filled the air as Franklin Graham dedicated a new playground in Gretna’s Mel Ott Park March 11. The gift was the fruit of a seven-month friendship between Samaritan’s Purse and the city of Gretna. (Click here to see a related story about a new playground at NOBTS)  

Mel Ott Park was a fitting place for the first of five New Orleans-area playgrounds Samaritan’s Purse plans to build. The park housed many volunteers served a food and water distribution point in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Following the storm, volunteers working with Graham’s organizations, Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, spent long days in the metro area cleaning homes and counseling victims. At night they slept in a multi-purpose building in the park. Graham expressed his thanks for the city’s help after the storm.

In the metro area for the “Celebration of Hope” event at New Orleans Arena March 11-12, Graham called the new playground a “symbol of hope” for children. The two-day “Celebration of Hope” featured sermons by Graham and his father, Billy Graham – the country’s most respected Christian evangelist.

If ever there was a city in need of hope, it is New Orleans. Area residents, young and old alike, have endured countless hardships following Hurricane Katrina.

In his dedication remarks, Graham speculated that some people might wonder why Samaritan’s Purse is building playgrounds when so many needs remain. For him, the answer is simple.

“I think a playground is pretty important,” Graham said. “The children that will be playing here have suffered, [they] have been hurt and they don’t understand all that has taken place around them.”

“It’s a way that we can show our love to them, to give them hope and to give them the opportunity to be children once again,” he continued.

Graham said that children can come to the playground and forget about the hurt caused by the hurricane for a few moments. Play can be an important part of their healing process.

Reading from Matt. 19:13-15, Graham shared Jesus thoughts about children. In the passage, Jesus’ disciples were preventing children from coming to Jesus. The actions brought a stern rebuke from Jesus. He wanted to spend time with the children.

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me,’” Graham read. “‘Do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’”

“Children are important … they are our future,” he said. “They need our love. They need to know we care.”

The playground was constructed over a two-week period by volunteers from Kids Around the World, a Christian organization that installs playground equipment as a ministry. Samaritan’s Purse provided funding for the equipment and Kids Around the World provided the construction expertise.

“Today we dedicate this, not in the name of Samaritan’s Purse or Kids Around the World, but we come today to dedicate this to the Lord Jesus Christ,” Graham said.

Graham did not miss the opportunity to share Gospel with the crowd gathered at the park. He also invited those in attendance to the “Celebration of Hope” later that day.

“We want to remember that God loves us … He loves the children,” Graham said. “He loves each and every one of us. We’re big kids, right?

“The Bible tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shouldn’t perish but have everlasting life,” Graham said quoting John 3:16.

Gretna Mayor Ronnie Harris expressed deep gratitude to Graham, Samaritan’s Purse and Kids Around the World. Harris said that he will always carry bad memories from Hurricane Katrina, but the playground will remind him of the good deeds of Samaritan’s Purse and other “faith-based organizations.”

“It’s a lasting legacy … something my community is very proud to be a part of,” Harris said. “God’s grace has shown upon us.”

Kids Around the World completed another playground at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary March 10. The group will return to Louisiana in late April to build a playground near a FEMA trailer park in Baton Rouge.

Samaritan’s Purse is currently working to refurbish a playground in the Algiers section of New Orleans. The group is also negotiating with city and parish officials to find locations for three additional New Orleans-area playgrounds.

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 For more information about Samaritan’s Purse, visit www.samaritanspurse.org. Information about Kids Around the World may be found at www.kidsaroundtheworld.com.