LCMS coordinates response to Indiana, Kentucky tornadoes
ST. LOUIS—March 7, 2012—The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) is assessing the damage and needs of communities in Indiana and Kentucky devastated from Friday’s severe storms and preparing an appropriate response.
“The LCMS is proceeding cautiously, wisely and prudently so that people are helped in the best way,” said LCMS Indiana District President Rev. Dr. Daniel May. “A hallmark of the LCMS disaster response ministry is to provide a long-term recovery and relief effort that helps people affected by disasters ‘get back on their feet.’ We strive to avoid duplicating efforts to ensure that God’s resources are used most effectively and efficiently.”
May joined LCMS disaster response personnel and the Indiana District’s disaster-response team this week on visits to Henryville and Marysville, Ind., which suffered major damages in the storm system that produced dozens of tornadoes across 10 states, killing at least 39 people and causing miles of destruction.
Within 25 miles of Henryville, Ind., an area hit hard by some 20 tornadoes that struck the region March 2, there are 16 LCMS churches alone. A few LCMS members’ homes were slightly damaged in the storm, but all other LCMS members, churches and schools in the area were spared.
On Sunday and Monday, the Rev. Glenn F. Merritt and the Rev. Dr. Edward O. Grimenstein, director and manager, respectively, of disaster response for the LCMS, met with the Indiana District disaster-response team and President May to begin planning the immediate and long-term response plan.
At this time, the disaster response team is requesting prayers for affected families and volunteers, and urges LCMS members to provide financial support.
“The members of the LCMS are always generous,” Merritt said. “We ask you to be generous in helping us so that we can help the Indiana District and other LCMS districts affected by these widespread tornadoes.”
To learn more about the LCMS relief effort and how you can help, visit www.lcms.org/disaster.
About The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), is a mission-oriented, Bible-based, confessional Christian denomination headquartered in St. Louis, Mo. Founded in 1847, the LCMS has more than 2.3 million baptized members in some 6,200 congregations and more than 9,000 pastors. Two seminaries and 10 colleges and universities operate under the auspices of the LCMS, and its congregations operate the largest Protestant parochial school system in America. The church broadcasts the saving message of Jesus Christ over KFUO Radio, and it has relationships and active mission work in 89 countries around the world. In the last five years, the LCMS has awarded more than $35 million through more than 900 domestic and international grants for emergency response and disaster relief. Today, the LCMS is in full doctrinal fellowship with 33 other confessional Lutheran church bodies worldwide and is a founding partner of Lutheran Services in America, a social ministry organization serving one in every 50 Americans. For more information, visit www.lcms.org.
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