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   St. John #5 Faith Church is located at 3613 Hamburg Street in New Orleans' 7th Ward. The people of St. John have been reaching out to the neighborhood, and specifically to the residents of the St. Bernard Housing Development, in love and service for years, and have been providing computer classes, classes for children with learning disabilities, safe haven for pregnant youth and for victims of domestic violence, shelter and support for people suffering from HIV/AIDS, and HIV/AIDS Prevention Outreach.

   Hurricane Katrina left the 7th Ward under several feet of water for weeks, and many 7th Ward residents have relocated in Louisiana and in many other states. These days, shelter work and HIV/AIDS prevention outreach continue, and the people of St. John are working and hosting working groups with the aim of providing a place to stay for residents and former residents who cannot afford to rebuild their homes and pay for housing at the same time.

   Bruce Davenport is the Pastor of St. John #5 Faith. Deborah Davenport, his spouse, has a background in sociology, more than three decades of working with young people and families and in the areas of housing development and construction. Deborah serves St. John #5 Faith as consultant and grant writer. Tamachia Davenport holds a Master of Social Work degree and runs St. John's HIV/AIDS prevention outreach. All three have many, many stories, from joyful to heartbreaking and everything in between, of working in the neighborhood before the storm, of the day when the neighborhood flooded and of the many hours of waiting for transportation out of the flooded zone, of the days immediately following the hurricane in the 7th Ward and with other New Orleans residents out-of-state, along with stories of their work in the neighborhood since the hurricane and flooding.

    You are invited to go to the links provided on this site to hear directly from the Davenports and also from individuals (including me) who have worked alongside the people of St. John. You are also welcome to contact me via the e mail link if you would like more information.

    I am so thankful for your interest and for your visit. Peace and blessings-

     Glen Aaberg- Renton, Washington    January 2008