For Immediate Release
Contact: Vicki Biggs
Director, Integrated Communications
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
www.lcms.org
314-996-1236
314-556-3829 (cell)
32 East Coast families to receive financial gifts for home repairs, renovations
ST. LOUIS, May 16, 2013—As recovery efforts continue on the East Coast following the ravages of Superstorm Sandy last fall, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is issuing a new $70,000 grant to help 32 local families repair or renovate their storm-damaged homes.
St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Manalapan, N.J., is the grantee. Pastor Michael Dunne will present checks to recipient families this Sunday, May 19, who live in Monmouth County, one of the areas hit hardest by the storm.
“These financial gifts provide a way to show we care and to extend the love of Christ to our neighbors in need,” said Dunne. “While these gifts won’t fix everything, they will help these families to continue with renovations and move toward some semblance of normalcy.”
To fund these local gifts, Dunne applied for an “emergency and relief” grant from the LCMS. St. Thomas is one of some 6,200 member congregations of the LCMS, which provides disaster response and human care ministry around the world through its Mercy Operations Group.
In the last nine years, the LCMS has awarded more than $31.7 million through 698 domestic and international grants for emergency response and disaster relief in the wake of events including the tsunami in Asia; Hurricane Katrina; the earthquakes in Japan, Haiti and Chile; and Superstorm Sandy. To date for Sandy, the LCMS has provided more than $1.4 million in grants.
“There are many people throughout The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod who wish to participate in bringing tangible relief to those who suffer from disasters,” said the Rev. John Fale, associate executive director of the LCMS’ Mercy Operations Group. “Motivated by the love of Jesus and thankfulness for our blessings, we join together to help our local congregations and social ministry organizations reach out in their own neighborhoods with the mercy of God.”
About The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is a biblical, confessional, witness-oriented Christian denomination with 2.3 million members – 600,000 households – in 6,200 congregations. Through acts of witness and mercy, the church carries out its mission worldwide to make known the love of Jesus Christ. Learn more at www.lcms.org.
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