|
If you would like volunteer your time and talents, please contact us at katrina@swd.lcms.org with your name, address and phone numbers. If you are part of a group organized within a congregation, please include the church name and location as well. Let us know the length of time you will be available and any special skills you can provide, such as counseling, medical or child care. Feel free to include any other information you think is important.
Please designate checks “Hurricane Relief 2005”
Send donations to: LCMS World Relief/Human Care, P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-9810
Credit card gift line: 1-888-930-4438
Online: worldrelief.lcms.org
New disaster-relief plan supports hard-hit LCMS Southern District. LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick and Rev. Matthew Harrison, executive director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care, announced a new plan to partner LCMS districts with affected Southern District congregations to better assist and support congregations and church workers in the Synod's hard-hit Southern District in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Southern District covers Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle.
The new plan represents a shift away from LCMS World Relief/Human Care shouldering the challenge of matching the multitude of needs in the Southern District with the multitude of offers of assistance from the greater LCMS community. Instead of contacting LCMS World Relief, members are now encouraged to contact their District office to participate in hurricane relief assistance.
The basic points of the disaster assistance and support plan are:
 |
Prayer: LCMS World Relief/Human Care will provide districts with information about the needs of Southern District congregations and church workers so those needs can be remembered in prayer. |
|
Presence: Districts are asked to send support personnel (clergy, counselors, critical care personnel, etc.) as soon as possible to their assigned Southern District congregations. |
|
Work: Affected congregations will supply districts with information about specific needs for assistance. To ensure that recipients are prepared and equipped to handle relief shipments, no supplies should be sent without a specific local request for goods and a specific destination. |
|
Advocacy: Districts will help direct congregations and church workers to assistance opportunities. These opportunities include Concordia Plans Services, which is waiving all premiums, co-pays, deductibles, etc., for employees covered under its benefit plans. The Lutheran Church Extension Fund will provide consolidation loans for rostered workers and Laborers For Christ teams to assist congregations in damage assessment and repair. |
|
Funds: Districts are encouraged to provide fiscal resources for immediate hurricane relief needs. LCMS World Relief/Human Care will distribute funds according to greatest need. |
|
For more information about the new disaster assistance and support plan and other Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and giving opportunities, visit worldrelief.lcms.org. | |