The Daily News

Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church has been leader in ongoing hurricane recovery effort

FRANKLINTON - Rev. Stan Statham - "Pastor Stan" - pastor of Franklinton's Trinity Baptist Church and a leader in the ongoing recovery effort in Washington Parish following Hurricane Katrina, has been selected as the 16th Citizen of the Year for Franklinton and West Washington Parish. The Daily News sponsors the award.

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"This is quite a surprise and it is quite an honor," Statham said after being told of his selection by committee member Aubrey Posey. Statham, who had been at seminary last week, was on the Causeway crossing Lake Pontchartrain when he received the news.

In the nearly three years since Katrina, Trinity Baptist has hosted and fed more than 2,000 persons serving in mission groups from Canada as well as all across the United States.

And while it is acknowledged that there is a local impact of the work being done out of Trinity, the removed impact - that taken back home with the volunteers - is sometimes overlooked.

In an April 14 letter from David Den Haan, pastor of Fairway Christian Reformed Church of Christ in Jenison, Mich., Statham was told, "I am writing to you out of gratitude for two things that you gave us last week: 1) Christian hospitality and 2) Great encouragement to serve the needy of our own community here in Michigan."

In a message to his parishioners, Statham wrote, "As you can see, our witness for Christ extends beyond our parish borders."

Statham serves as chairman of WEROC - Washington Emergency Recovery Ongoing Cadre - whose purpose is to provide a coordinated recovery from emergencies and disasters on behalf of and for the benefit of the residents of Washington Parish. Through Statham's efforts, the WEROC offices have been located at Trinity, where Trinity volunteers, WEROC workers and volunteers and on-site Southern Baptist missionaries work on a daily basis. Under Statham's chairmanship, WEROC has assisted more than 1,200 families and dispensed more than $600,000 in assistance.

In the past year, Statham has worked with the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office, Bethel Church of Christ Holiness, WEROC, Second Harvest Food Bank and LA Spirit to form the Washington Parish Food Bank. The food bank distributes food to more than 700 families monthly in Franklinton and Bogalusa.

But, as Statham's nomination pointed out, he has not forgotten his church during his ministry to those less fortunate: "While accomplishing all this, Pastor Stan serves as an outstanding pastor to Trinity Baptist Church with Trinity experiencing growth like no other time in the church's history."

Statham will be honored at a come-and-go reception at a time and location to be announced.