This is how we know love: Jesus laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our bothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16  

As a young couple far from our families in Florida, we landed in New Orleans in 1980. Knowing that New Orleans would never be home until we found a church family, we visited many in the area, settling on Gentilly Presbyterian. We knew right away we were home. After our first visit, on the way to the car, a young lady flagged us down. She just wanted to be sure we felt welcome. She made it her business to shake our hands and invite us to upcoming events.  We were sold. This church needed us, or at least, our new friend Kathy did!

Kathy and her husband, Lee, introduced us to a small, dedicated group of young adults. Soon we were all fast friends, worshiping, studying, eating, and playing together. Not long after, there were a dozen or so babies. Though they had none of their own, Kathy and Lee saw that children’s ministry was vital to the future of the congregation. With their guidance, we renovated an unused Sunday School room into a nursery. Led by Kathy’s drive and determination to revitalize that aging church with new life and updated facilities, our core group felt more like a family as we threw ourselves into building projects, teaching classes, leading as Elders, organizing VBS and a young women’s circle, and even getting into a little trouble as we cleared closets of old broken cribs and outdated literature!

Kathy has continued her church work, especially with women’s ministry for over thirty years, teaching classes on how to grow young women’s ministry.  

Even though we moved three states away over 20 years ago, we hold fast to our group of Gentilly friends. It took a hurricane to finally disband the congregation, but our love for these people lives on, thanks, in large part, to Kathy. In our eyes, our dear friend Kathy Randall is an ordinary saint.  

Stan and Scottie Lummus

About the Contributor

Joining First Pres in 1993, Stan and Scottie Lummus have been active in children’s, youth, and adult ministries. They are the parents of two daughters/sons-in-law, and two beautiful grandchildren, Nora and Rhodes.