Women on Mission - September 2026

September 2026 Update

Josue Gomez presented an exciting look at the ministry in which he is involved in New Orleans when Women on Mission met Sept. 14.  A survivor of two bouts of thyroid and lymphatic cancer (originally discovered during treatment for injuries sustained in a traffic accident), Josue felt the Lord leading him into the ministry, and in 2023 he helped found Lugar Seguro Church.

Previously content with being a youth minister, Josue said "When the Lord calls you, you abandon your plans."  He was 18 when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005. He and others saw a need for Christ-centered churches for Hispanics who came to the city to help rebuild.

Because a majority of second- and third-generation Hispanics speak English more than Spanish, Josue said the Lugar Seguro leadership quickly identified the need for English-language services so that children and teenagers can hear the Gospel in their heart language.   Safe Place Church, the translation of Lugar Seguro, was launched in July 2023.  Each congregation ministers in its own language, and the two have joint services every quarter in both languages.  Josue said the church represents New Orleans very well in that it has people from many cultures attending.  That also presents a challenge in reaching people with the truth of the Gospel, he said.  

Safe Place Church, where Josue is the ministry leader, grew quickly, he said.  It is "a very young church, in age and new to the faith."  

Josue asked that WOM pray for godly older men to join the church to help mentor younger men. At age 40, Josue said he is the oldest person in the church.

"We need seasoned believers.  We need a healthy church structure, specifically older, godly men who can mentor and demonstrate how to raise a family,' Josue said.

Safe Place has opportunities for ministry in public schools through music, basketball, pizza, and English (280 kids) and Spanish (145 kids) clubs.  The youth group has grown from 12 to 30 teens, many of whom are the first Christians in their household.  Its sports outreach includes flag football, volleyball, and soccer.  One unique ministry is Drive-Thru Prayer, held at an intersection near city's largest hospital and a women's shelter, where church members wave signs inviting people to pull in for a one-minute prayer, what Josue described as "low effort, high impact." Health fairs offer screenings for diabetes, eyes, and dental.  Safe Place fed more than 1,500 people through its food assistance program last year. 

Safe Place has sent mission teams to Guatemala (every year), Honduras, Peru, Colombia, Mexico in the past three years.   The teams provide water filters, builds bunkbeds for children, and brings dresses for girls.

"Everything we do we try to keep the Kingdom in mind. Every single thing we do is meant to spread the gospel.  We're not trying to build a brand; we're trying to build a kingdom," Josue concluded.

Safe Place needs to move and has put a bid on a former Catholic church building which would allow Safe Place to do all its worship, teaching, and outreach activities at one location.   The four-acre site has four buildings, and Josue said he hoped to hear if their bid had been accepted by Sept. 16.

Coming in October

Next month WOM will hear a presentation on Redemption Point, a 12-month program for men in recovery from addiction.  This program helps prepare men for re-entering the community with a much better chance of living the rest of their lives free in Christ instead of being a slave to drugs or alcohol.  The men live on campus and follow a very strict program which includes Bible study with homework and prayer. First Baptist's own Judi and Bob Rinehart have been working with the program for three years.

The Oct. 12 meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the Buchanan Hall at First Baptist with a covered-dish luncheon, followed by the program at noon. 

Ongoing Activities