An emergency meeting of disaster response and LCMS World Relief and Human Care was called on Monday to find the best way the church can respond to what is happening in Huston and across South. President Harrison, (center) presided over the meeting with Ross Johnson, (far left) Disaster Response Coordinator.  The LCMS has been in communication with the Texas District President.

According to an initial assessment of the Houston area from LCMS Texas District President Rev. Ken Hennings:

  • More than 105 LCMS congregation members have water in their homes, and at least 30 have been evacuated from their homes.
  • Two LCMS churches are flooded: St. John Lutheran Church, Cypress, Texas, has water in three of its buildings, and Memorial Lutheran Church, Katy, Texas, has water in its offices, preschool building, sanctuary and welcome center. Six others have roof leaks and three have minor damage.
  • Five Synod pastors have flooded homes.
  • Three LCMS church staff/teachers have flooded homes, and three more have been evacuated from their homes.

“There is no doubt that these numbers will be going up,” Hennings wrote in an Aug. 28 email to LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, since the initial assessment does not include the also hard-hit Corpus Christi, Rockport and coastal areas.

LCMS World Relief and Human Care developed a protocol for situations like these years ago.  The Synod works through Pastor and congregations to get them up and running and uses the congregation as a force multiplier  in communication and networking for those whose lives have been turned upside down,

It is good to see some recognition from folks out there who know.  Recently the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod was recognized as a good place to send disaster relief donations because we have a good protocol for this kind of work.  Ed Stetzer holds the Billy Graham Distinguished Chair of Church, Mission, and Evangelism at Wheaton College, is Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center, and publishes church leadership resources through Mission Group.  He mentioned the protocol that the LCMS uses in disaster relief.

Please go to http://www.lcms.org and hit the give now button or send donations to –

LCMS

1333 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-7226