Lipscomb alumnus helps link 35 states, 550 churches for Katrina aid
|
By Paul Ellis
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many have been looking for a way to answer the Gulf Coast's call for help. Lipscomb University alumnus Brent High is answering that call by finding homes for the suddenly homeless. With fellow members of the Brentwood Hills Church of Christ, High is using OpenChurches.com to match Gulf Coast evacuees with available housing.
"We are able to take steps two, three and so on after emergency care and aid is given to those displaced by the hurricane; we help with housing in step one," says High. "Then the church congregations where we place the people can help them find jobs, schools for their children, transit and other needs as they come up."
Since the site's September 1 launch, High, working with OpenChurches.com, has satisfied a substantial need of those displaced from the Gulf Coast by coordinating over 500 churches in 35 states to assist them.
High's work is based at the Brentwood Hills Church of Christ in Nashville, Tenn., where he serves as deacon over local outreach and evangelism. Through the efforts of High and his family at Brentwood Hills, OpenChurches.com has been able to advertise its services to all governmental and relief agencies and offer opportunities for churches of all denominations to get involved with the relief effort.
In addition to his work with Katrina relief, High works as the vice president of sales for the Nashville Sounds. In his work with the Sounds, High has instituted Faith Nights, a promotional evening that has given as many as 550 church groups a Christian-based night of baseball.
High also serves as a board member for Lighthouse Ministries, which helps people who are dealing with the sudden death of a family member. He attributes his heart for service to the influence of his father.
"My dad has provided an unparalleled example of service all my life," says High. "He has never been afraid to get his hands dirty and is always in the middle of the trenches."
High graduated from Lipscomb in 1996 with a degree in speech communication.