Go Fund Me Account Created To Help Raise Funds, Achieve Goal to Complete Project for the Lower Ninth Ward Church and Community
(Greenville, S.C.) September 2, 2015 – The Premier Foundation, the non-profit 501 (c) (3) of Premier Productions and Premier Experience, has partnered with Mount Nebo Bible Baptist Church in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, La. to raise $500,000 to complete the rebuild of the church building, which was completely destroyed during the devastation of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. With the recent commemoration marking the 10th anniversary of the gulf coast disaster, the Premier Foundation partnered with community and church leader Reverend Charles Duplessis of Mount Nebo Bible Baptist Church. The goal is to help raise funds and resources to bring the lifeblood of the community back to citizens, who still need assistance to rebuild. The remarkable story recently made national and global headlines aiding to the much-needed awareness to raise funds via www.gofundme.com/RebuildMountNebo.
“As with all of our Adopt the Block projects, helping to rebuild this church in the impoverished area of the Lower Ninth Ward is a pure labor of love,” says Gene Krcelic, president of the Premier Foundation. “A countless number of people, businesses and ministries such as the K-LOVE Radio Network are coming together to help see this rebuild to completion.”
Mount Nebo Bible Baptist Church located on Flood Street in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans was completely destroyed by what the Corps of Engineers estimated to be a water force of 200 miles-per-hour that hit the church once the levee broke. Pastor Duplessis’ home on Tennessee Street suffered the same fate. Following the evacuation, Pastor Duplessis thought he would return home a week after the storm, but he was not allowed back in the area until three months later. When a second storm, Hurricane Rita, hit the same area weeks after Hurricane Katrina, more than 20 feet of water stood in the Lower Ninth Ward for weeks. As a result, less than 30 churches of nearly 100 have returned to the area since Hurricane Katrina.
With the support of the Premier Foundation and generous donors, Pastor Duplessis and Mount Nebo Bible Baptist Church are on the path to recovery.
This incredible story has been featured on all major television networks as well as the New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, Reuters and USA Today. News crews from Germany, Australia, France and England interviewed Pastor Duplessis last week, and he was featured on a PBS News Hour special report and the TODAY Show on NBC with Al Roker, bringing much needed awareness to this important project.
The rebuilding process is made possible through generous donations from churches across the country, citizens and organizations who have all committed to supporting Pastor Duplessis and Mount Nebo Bible Baptist Church. Connected through Churches Helping Churches, Flossmoor Community Church in Illinois donated more than $100,000 to get the church foundation and frame built, which currently stands in place. The Mennonite Church and Flossmoor Community Church of Illinois gave the resources and manpower to rebuild Pastor Duplessis’ home. With several people donating online at www.gofundme.com/RebuildMountNebo, approximately $100,000 more has been committed, including off-line donations.
To donate to help rebuild Mount Nebo Bible Baptist Church, please visit www.gofundme.com/RebuildMountNebo or to mail checks, please send to the Premier Foundation, PO Box 51482, Piedmont, SC 29673.
About the Premier Foundation and Premier Productions:
The Premier Foundation is the non-profit 501 (c) (3) of Premier Productions and Premier Experience. The Premier Foundation is committed to being a voice for the disadvantaged through meeting their physical, spiritual, educational, social and emotional needs…empowering them to be agents of change in their own communities. Since 1998, the Foundation has granted over $4 million to numerous organizations around the world. Formed in 1996, Premier Productions is the largest producer of Christian concert events in the nation and the co-founder of the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, Christian music’s largest annual tour! Premier promotes award-winning artists with No. 1 hits such as – TobyMac, Skillet, Casting Crowns, Hillsong Live, Hillsong UNITED, Lecrae, Bill Gaither & Friends Homecoming, Jesus Culture, Kari Jobe, Matthew West and many more! For more information on Premier Productions, please visit www.premierproductions.com. You can learn more information on the Premier Foundation, by visiting their website at www.premierfoundation.com.
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Media Contact:
Premier Foundation
rebekah@premierfoundation.com
