Missouri Synod officials head to East Coast to assess Sandy needs
Meet with district leaders in N.Y. and Massachusetts
ST. LOUIS, October 31, 2012—Three leaders with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) are meeting with LCMS district officials along the East Coast today and through at least the remainder of the week to assess the needs of local churches and members following the devastating impact of Superstorm Sandy.
The Rev. Glenn F. Merritt, director, LCMS Disaster Response; the Rev. Bart Day, executive director, LCMS Office of National Mission; and the Rev. Carlos Hernandez, director, LCMS Church and Community Engagement, will meet with the Rev. Dr. David H. Benke, president of the LCMS Atlantic District in New York, today. Meetings also are scheduled with the Rev. Timothy Yeadon, president of the LCMS New England District, and with church leaders in New Jersey and Connecticut. LCMS officials also remain in contact with the LCMS Southeastern District and the LCMS Eastern District.
The LCMS is poised to help districts and congregations as they respond to the needs of those affected by this disaster in their local communities.
No deaths among LCMS members have been reported. Early reports from LCMS congregations and districts show widespread power outages, downed trees and water damage. LCMS leaders, drawing on lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and other major disasters, anticipate rapidly growing requests for assistance.
To help:
- make an online gift (http://www.lcms.org/givenow/disaster)
- mail checks payable to
“The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod” (with a memo line or note designating “LCMS Disaster Response”) to
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-6861; or
- call toll-free 888-930-4438.
Sandy left a wide swath of devastation along the East Coast, killing at least 50 in the United States, leaving millions without power and bringing strong winds, floods and even heavy snow to much of the Northeast and Midwest.
Already, damages from Sandy, which came ashore Monday night in New Jersey, are estimated to be in the billions, with only half of the damage likely to be covered by insurance. Hurricane Sandy first made landfall in the Caribbean Oct. 24 and has been credited with 69 deaths in Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
In the last five years, the LCMS has provided more than $35 million for domestic and international disaster response efforts. Keep up to date on the LCMS’ disaster response effort at www.lcms.org/disaster.
About The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod The 2.3 million-member Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is a mission-oriented, Bible-based, confessional Christian denomination headquartered in St. Louis. Through acts of witness and mercy, the church carries out its mission worldwide to make known the love of Jesus Christ. Learn more at www.lcms.org.