The three Missouri Synod members of the United States Congress thanked Synod members for their response to Hurricane Katrina in a Sept. 14 letter.
They are Senator Conrad Burns of Montana; Congressman David Reichert, Washington; and Congressman John Shimkus, Illinois.
Their comments also are on video at the LCMS World Relief/Human Care Web site, http://worldrelief.lcms.org and will appear as well in the October is of The Lutheran Witness.
The letter, addressed to “Our Fellow Members of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod,” reads as follows:
“As fellow members of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, we thank you for your response to the Katrina disaster and encourage all members of our Synod to pray for the victims and relief workers. Also, we encourage you to help in any way you can, including through your financial gifts to LCMS World Relief.
“We have been impressed by the efforts of LCMS World Relief. We applaud the work of our Synod’s Southern District. We are grateful for the stories of LCMS congregations and their members who have risen to the occasion of showing mercy to those whose lives have been so dramatically disrupted. We know that quite a number of LCMS churches in the Gulf Coast region were severely damaged. We know that many pastors and other professional church workers have suffered personal loss. We know that some members of those congregations may have died and that survivors may have lost all their earthly possessions. We join you in our common concern for all those who have been affected by the disaster, including our brothers and sisters in the LCMS family.
“As members of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, we pledge our efforts to assist in any way we can. We express our thanks to you for your outpouring of love and concern. And, we encourage you to continue your support of LCMS World Relief so that we, as LCMS Lutherans, can respond to the needs that exist in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.”
Posted Sept. 29, 2005
