Mount Up!: How One Church Survived Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Hurricane Katrina had already struck south Florida as a mild Category 1 hurricane, but after returning to the Gulf of Mexico and regaining strength, she was back! Only this time, she was predicted to be a dangerous Category 5 hurricane, and her next target was none other than New Orleans, Louisiana. For years, the city was warned that a storm like Katrina could eventually strike, but no one knew exactly when. Yet, in 2005, the time had finally arrived. Hurricane Katrina had her eye on the Crescent City.

As the city's residents scrambled to prepare for the worst, thousands hunkered down while countless others evacuated. But one eastern New Orleans church called Smoking for Jesus Ministry made plans to evacuate and weather the storm together! In a 40-car caravan of approximately 200 members, they began a journey that would mark one of the greatest modern-day deliverance stories of our time.

This is a story of the utter devastation, tragedy, and losses surrounding Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. More importantly, though, this is a story of how this church experienced the hope of God's peace, love, provision, and faithfulness through the storms. And as they traveled together throughout the states of Louisiana and Texas, they had no earthly idea of the amazing promises of God that awaited them at the end of the journey. But first, they would need to survive! Mount Up! This is the story of How One Church Survived Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Pastor Willie L. Monnet, Sr. of Smoking for Jesus Ministry has been teaching the Word of God for almost 30 years. Throughout that time, he has stood by faith in the midst of adversity and the storms of life and has seen thousands come to experience a life of deliverance, transformation, and inspiration to do God's will. Pastor Willie L. Monnet, Sr. and his wife, Claudette, are parents of eight adult children and now live in Burnet, Texas.