Dear friends in Christ,
On June 30 I will retire as director of ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
and Lutheran Disaster Response. Heather L. Feltman will assume these
duties on July 1.
It has been a privilege to work with so many of you in disaster
response ministry over the past eight years. Since I began this
ministry in 1996, we have responded together to 102 disasters (by my
quick count). Over this time some of the worst, largest, most deadly,
most widespread natural and human-caused disasters in our history have
occurred. But the prayers, contributions, support, care, volunteering,
and generosity of individuals and congregations throughout the church
has sent a consistent and powerful message of help and hope in Jesus'
name.
Thank you for your interest in and support for disaster response
ministries, for your commitment to reaching out to those who suffer, and
for your support and affirmation over all these years. I know your
prayers and support will be there for Heather as they were for me.
May God continue to strengthen you in this faithful word and service
ministry of the church. May the Holy Spirit continue to inspire
creativity and vision. May Christ be served, as help and hope is
offered to disaster survivors, and as we reach out to others with the
same love that God has reached out and touched us
Yours in Christ,
Gil Furst
Rev. Gilbert B. Furst (Written on 6/22/2004, at 2:16 PM) Director
for
ELCA DOMESTIC DISASTER RESPONSE (Division for Church in Society) and
LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE (a cooperative ministry of the ELCA and
LC-MS)
8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago 60631 PHONE: 773-380-2822 FAX:
773-380-2493
Please visit our websites: www.ldr.org or
www.elca.org/dcs/disaster
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