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Dear friends in Christ,
"How can we, as God's people, care for the needs of those around us?"
These words were part of the opening prayer Bishop Leonard Bolick offered
at a meeting two days ago in Goldsboro, North Carolina. I've just returned
from North Carolina, where 42 ELCA and LC-MS Lutherans (pastors, lay
members, Synod and District staff) met to discuss immediate needs and make
recovery plans. Dr. Gary Harbaugh, LDR Pastoral Care Specialist,
ministered to the pastors and rostered leaders who are caring for others.
The pastors described the damages in their communities and the ways help is
needed right now. In some places rivers are still above flood stage, and
assessments cannot be made. FEMA so far reports 17,975 homes have been
affected, with over 4,000 totally destroyed and 4,800 sustaining major
damage. The assessments continue.
Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas (Vice President Carl Miller) is
managing our response. Over $100,000 (from Lutheran Disaster Response, the
North Carolina Synod, and the Southeastern District) has been made
available to provide immediate assistance. Resources for children and
pastoral care are also being provided. Aid Association for Lutherans has
provided immediate funding for emergency needs, and Lutheran Brotherhood is
considering funds for emergency grants to individuals and families.
George Strunk has just been hired to serve as the local LDR coordinator.
He is setting up office space at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Goldsboro.
We are in the process of connecting a toll-free telephone number, so
volunteers can be coordinated in the clean-up and repair efforts. The
"official word" is still no volunteers yet, please! There have been
instances already of volunteers getting ahead of the system--doing clean up
and repairs, only to have the house inspected and condemned. At the
moment, LDR support structures are not in place yet to house and care for
volunteers.
A steering committee has been established with representatives from ELCA
and LCMS congregations, AAL, LB, and representatives of the NC Bishop's
staff, and LFS District President's staff. The committee will meet
regularly to determine equitable allocation of funds.
This recovery effort has been termed "not a Lutheran disaster." There are
not many Lutherans in eastern North Carolina. Rather it is being called a
"poor people's disaster." More than 100,000 migrants and other low-income
folk who live along the river basins were made homeless and continue so.
Over $12 million federal dollars have been designated for projects to get
people working again and to relocate those who no longer have homes.
How can you participate in a caring Lutheran response that will reach out
to the needs of those around us? Remember in your personal and
congregational prayers the thousands for whom Hurricane Floyd is causing
the pain of chaos and loss. Volunteers will be needed to help with the
extensive clean-up efforts. And financial contributions are necessary to
sustain our ability to support and continue a Lutheran disaster ministry.
To contribute:
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - "Hurricanes "
PO Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1764
Credit card contributions: 1-800-638-3522.
LCMS World Relief
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810
Credit card gift line: 1-888-930-4438
As I flew out of North Carolina yesterday, I left deeply aware that so many
are feeling sorrow, loss, grief, and turmoil. But I know that God's people
are also present and active, providing help and hope, -- and ready to care
for the needs of those around them
In Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Thu, Oct 14, 1999, at 9:43 am)
Director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response (Division for Church in Society),
Lutheran Disaster Response (a cooperative ministry of the ELCA and LCMS)
8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago 60631 PHONE: 773-380-2822 FAX: 773-380-2493
Visit our website: www.elca.org/dcs/disaster
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