I have been encouraging my readers who wish to help the New Orleans situation to consider giving to the Sovereign Grace relief fund if they haven't already found a charity they wish to support.

Adrian I am pleased to welcome to the blog today Pat Ennis, the executive director of Sovereign Grace Ministries. Pat works very closely with CJ Mahaney who is the leader of Sovereign Grace. Pat, welcome. To start off with can you tell us a little about yourself and your role within Sovreign grace?

Pat Thank you Adrian for the interest and support you have expressed in our ministry through your blog. We are always surprised and humbled when anyone takes notice of our ministry, but I have to say it is very encouraging. My role at Sovereign Grace is to oversee administration for all of the ministries we have in place to fulfill our mission. Our mission being to "plant and build churches through the gospel for the glory of God". Sovereign Grace ministries would include publication of worship music and printed materials, conferences, and our Pastors College. I have been a member of Covenant Life church for 18 years and left the financial services industry about two and half years ago to join Sovereign Grace. I still have a hard time believing that I get to do this! God has been very kind to me.

Adrian Its really interesting to here that you have recently transitioned from a so-called "secular" role into working for the church. What would you say to the many readers of my blog who are out there in the marketplace trying to serve God fully. I would imagine that the financial services industry is quite busy- how did you manage to balance your work life with your involvement with church?

Pat I am probably not the best person to ask about a �balanced life�, in that I don�t believe it�s always achievable if we are being faithful and diligent. For example, at times if I am going to be faithful in my work, which I know to be God�s will, I may need to work additional hours for a period of time to get everything done. Well, if I am putting more hours in at work, then hours serving at church may need to be limited for a period of time, and my life might be considered �out of balance�. I more concern myself with faithful obedience in the roles and responsibilities God has given me, than I do with balance of time. Also, I don�t trust my own heart in evaluating and deciding on the real big life decisions that have an impact on my life as a disciple of Christ, or my wife and children. I often need my friends to help me see my sin that may be motivating me, rather than a desire to obey God, to spend more time at work than serving my church or family.

Adrian How did you come to move from your previous role into working for Sovereign Grace? How did God prepare you and what was the transition like?

Pat Although I was completely content, and very much enjoyed working in business, for many years I had the sense that eventually I might be called into full-time ministry serving the local church. A few years ago, when the position of executive director was made available, a friend of mine from church submitted my name for consideration. My friend was in business and was actually playing a role in the interview process for the position. He was convinced my gifting and experience lined up with the role very well, and his perspective was shared by my wife, pastors and friends. So, when the job was offered I was confident it was the Lord�s leading and by God�s grace was able to move forward with much faith.

The transition has been very easy and most enjoyable! I attribute the ease in which the transition has taken place, to a very godly (and beautiful) and supportive wife�the support of a very humble and capable group of managers and staff members�my pastors and friends who have provided Biblical encouragement and correction�and my dear friend, former Sr Pastor, and current boss C.J. Mahaney, who is caring, encouraging, generous, and a lot of fun to work with! We have a lot of fun working together!

Adrian Can you tell us a bit about Sovereign Grace itself- some of my readers may not be that familiar with it. What would be the distinctives that mark you out from the many other church groups out there?

Pat Since our inception in 1982, the mission of Sovereign Grace has been to plant and serve local churches. We are a family of churches located in the U.S., Ethiopia, Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, and the United Kingdom. We also serve pastors and other church planting ministries in countries such as India, Cuba, Bahamas, Sri Lanka and other African countries. Our family of churches is knit together relationally through a passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the core of our doctrine. We also have an emphasis on sound doctrine, and describe ours as being "essentially Reformed" with a commitment to charismatic practice as biblically defined. Our desire is that all of our convictions result in a passionate commitment to the local church, the context where as believers we grow in holiness and bear witness to the amazing grace of God. However, we do not at all consider these convictions and practices as being distinct to us.

Adrian You speak about a "family of churches", can you tell us a little bit more about what that means in practice?

Pat Practically, I think it means a group of churches sharing the same convictions regarding the gospel, sound doctrine, and commitment to the local church, and serving and supporting one another in living out those convictions. It means Sovereign Grace related churches pooling resources in support of Sovereign Grace Ministries, who through Conferences, Books, Worship Music, and the Pastors College serve in further strengthening the churches and planting additional churches. Currently, it also means other Sovereign Grace churches donating resources to support Lakeview Christian Center in New Orleans in the midst of very challenging circumstances.

Adrian You talk a lot about the church So, tell me, how do you feel the church can be relevant in a world of hurricanes, tsunamis and terrorist attacks?

Pat I think the church can be most relevant by reflecting the gospel of Jesus Christ through acts of mercy and grace toward others who have been impacted, and by being ready to share the gospel with non-believers being cared for. The church will have the privilege to provide practical care for many non-believers who have a problem much great than the effects of the hurricane. They have the problem of their sin which condemns them before a Holy God. So the church must also, wisely and appropriately, be ready to share the solution to that problem�the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Adrian I understand that you have a church in New Orleans itself. What can you tell us about the situation on the ground through the eyes of this church?

Pat Well, they are witnessing all that we have heard and read about. Devastation of property and lives. A city in chaos and where anarchy has been rampant. They also see much opportunity for the gospel to go forward and to be demonstrated through acts of mercy and kindness. In addition to our church in New Orleans, we have also been in contact with Dr Ligon Duncan, Sr Minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi, as well as Charles Simpson a pastor, bible teacher and church planter based in Mobile, Alabama, and we intend on assisting these men and their churches as well.

Adrian What are the main needs that exist in the short, mid and long term according to your local contacts?

Pat In the short-term, the pastors of the New Orleans church are still assessing what is most needed, but cash is most helpful currently. We are working with them to assess all needs, short-term and long-term, which would include food, clothing, housing, employment, financial assistance and counsel, assessment of the damage done to their church building and how to proceed, and the ideal timing and methods for our assisting with each of those needs. Other Sovereign Grace churches took offerings at their Sunday meetings to make contributions to our Relief Fund, and many members of these churches have expressed desire to also assist with the more practical needs mentioned before.

Adrian How can my readers best help the folks in New Orleans? They have first asked for prayer. They are extremely grateful for all those who have prayed and continue to pray. Other than prayer, donations to our Relief fund are what would best serve our folks in New Orleans. I would like to express our deepest gratitude for you Adrian, and for everyone, who has prayed and considered a donation. We are grateful to God for the grace shown to us by so many generous and caring people.

Adrian So, am I right in understanding that funds given to your organisation will be largely administrated on the ground by one of your family of churches who will in turn use these funds to reach out to the local community with the love of Jesus?

Pat While our first priority is to serve our brothers and sisters in the New Orleans church, and to help in meeting whatever needs they may have, it would be our hope and desire that God would provide adequate resources to meet their needs as well as enable them to easily provide for others in their community. It would be typical however, and not at all surprising, for them to make many personal sacrifices in order to use funds for serving others.

Also, in addition to our church in New Orleans, we have been in contact with friends Dr Ligon Duncan, Sr Minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi, and Charles Simpson a pastor, bible teacher and church planter based in Mobile, Alabama, and have arranged to support them financially as well.

Adrian So, if my readers give money to your relief fund it may mean that a poor person who is not a christian gets fed or some other practical assistance from a Christian who will also be able to share the love of God in the gospel with them if appropriate?

Pat Absolutely. Pastor Collins of Lakeview has expressed that desire, as well as some strategic thinking around mercy ministry teams and caring for and evangelizing their community.

Adrian That is so exciting, it reminds me of what happened on several occasions in the New Testament. It seems to me that in a funny sort of way situations like the terrible one in New Orleans actually give us a unique opportunity to demonstrate as churches the love of God. Do you agree?

Pat I absolutely agree. The circumstances certainly do afford the church the opportunity to magnify God�s mercy as we love others the way He has loved us!

Adrian Do you see a move in recent days for the local church to become known once again as a source of social help and assistance as it has in the past?

Pat Yes I do. The news coverage of the hurricane recovery effort has often commended and highlighted churches and their members for their service to those in need. And, as a result, God is being glorified as the good works of His church are being seen by others. I think it is most important however, and it would certainly be my greater desire, that the church again be clearly known as the messenger of the only essential message�the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Adrian Is there anything else you would like to say to my readers?

Pat I would just like to express our immense gratitude for your readers who have supported us in prayer or through financial giving. We are always amazed and humbled by God�s grace as demonstrated through the incredible generosity of His people. Thanks so much Adrian for your consideration and support.

Adrian Many thanks for joining us for this interview!