Unanimous Support for Disaster Response!

It’s not often that the synod in convention approves something unanimously but this year at convention there was overwhelming support and praise for the work of LCMS Disaster Response. Although when you see the stats it’s easy to see why. Take a look at the resolution.

To Commend and Encourage Work of LCMS Disaster Response

RESOLUTION 3-01

WHEREAS, Our gracious, heavenly Father richly and daily provides us with all that we need to support this bodyand life (Small Catechism [SC], Apostle’s Creed: First Article) and continues to provide for us, even in the midst of disaster, through various God-pleasing vocations; and

WHEREAS, LCMS Disaster Response is designed to carry out a comprehensive program in these gray and latter days, serving as a Christian faith-based emergency relief and long-term assistance effort following natural and manmade disasters, engaging LCMS congregations, districts, recognized service organizations and partner churches in a shared ministry of mercy, with an objective of opening doors to the proclamation of the Gospel; and

WHEREAS, The LCMS awarded 135 national and international disaster relief grants totaling nearly $3 million in the last triennium (e.g., the typhoon in the Philippines; the tornadoes in Moore, OK, and across the Midwest and the South; the flooding in Colorado, Missouri, Texas and Louisiana; the fires in Chile; the Ebola Virus in West Africa; and numerous other disasters); and

WHEREAS, More than 5,000 LCMS volunteers have been trained through the 100-plus Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) training events held in the last three years; and

WHEREAS, LCMS Disaster Response has established a goal of 20,000 LERT trained LCMS volunteers by the end of the upcoming triennium; and

WHEREAS, LCMS Disaster Response has developed Spanish resources for domestic and international work, with additional resources needed; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) provided a grant of $80,000 to LCMS Disaster Response for congregations, districts, and recognized service organizations, resulting in 26 disaster response trailers being provided across 21 districts; and

WHEREAS, The opportunity to point those who are suffering to the comfort of the Gospel and to make use of financial resources to bring physical healing to disaster victims has never been greater; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention commend and give thanks for the mercy work of LCMS Disaster Response, congregations, districts, recognized service organizations, LWML, and all those who have assisted with the work nationally and internationally; and be it further

Resolved, That LCMS Disaster Response continue to produce training and resources to serve the Synod and our communities, with special emphasis on Spanish language resources; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod encourage its members to continue to support the mercy work of LCMS Disaster Response with prayer for all those who suffer from all manner of disasters, to participate in LERT training, to offer volunteer assistance when there is the opportunity, and to provide financial resources to assist those in need, as we show Christ’s love through our acts of mercy.

Want to know how you can support LCMS Disaster Response? Follow us on Facebook, join our discussion group, and send us an email at Disaster(at)lcms.org to receive your free packet of resources to share with your congregation.