From Elaine Bryant, Associate Director of Lutheran Disaster Response
Dear Friends in Christ:
Heavy on my heart today are the congregations in Montana struggling to
support communities affected by smoke, limited visibility, real or pending
evacuation, and loss of property. What ministry opportunities and
challenges for our pastors and their people.
Pastors at Grace and Faith Lutheran churches in Hamilton report that the
beautiful Bitterroot River Valley has become a fire-banked and smoke-filled
trap with one way out. Perhaps the worst is limited visibility: The density
of smoke keeps people from seeing the actual location of the fires;
uncontained fires which are not being addressed mean the end of this
"impact" phase is not in sight. Winds may change the direction of the
fire's path but they also intensify the flames. Only rain or snow will end
the fires. We anticipate another 6-8 weeks like this.
Emergency needs include food, clothing and shelter. Rev. Merritt has
offered Grace Lutheran as an alternate Red Cross shelter. Because their
facility is affected by smoke and in the path of the fire, the Red Cross is
using shelters farther away. Grace continues to operate its day care for 55
children. With the help of LCMS World Relief they are continuing to provide
emergency funds and services and to distribute HEPA filters to homes with
elderly, children at health risk and others with breathing difficulties.
On Friday Faith hosted a prayer service that drew in 300 people. Many of
them were from the surrounding valley. The media was also in attendance.
Last Thursday Faith hosted a meal for 170 shelter residents--including the
families of fire fighters from the evacuated town of Pinesdale. Faith is
also serving as temporary shelter for children with special challenges.
Both congregations continue to respond in Hamilton, Montana, with the help
of LCMS World Relief, ELCA Domestic Domester Response and Lutheran Social
Services of Montana. These efforts are now being coordinated as Lutheran
Disaster Reponse of Montana.
Please encourage congregations to continue to remember in prayer those
affected by fires, smoke, fear, hopelessness as well as those who are
responding with the love of Christ. Fires continue to plague the western
and northwestern US. Lutheran Disaster Response is committed to being a
resource for congregations in their communities for the long term.
Gifts specifically designated for Montana Wildfires will be used entirely
for the designated purpose; contributions to the General Disaster Fund will
support response to fires in Montana and other areas as well as enable
immediate response when the next disaster strikes (even when it does not
make national news). Donations to respond to either church body:
LCMS World Relief, PO Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-9810; Credit Card gift
line: 1-888-930-4438
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response; PO Box 71764; Chicago, IL 60694-1764; Credit Card Gift Line 1-800-638-3522; on-line web giving: www.elca.org/dcs/disaster
Your sister in Christ,
Elaine Bryant
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