Missouri Synod grants $10K to Illinois congregation for tornado relief

For Immediate Release

Contact: Vicki Biggs, 314-996-1236, 314-556-3829 (cell), @thelcms

Check to be presented at special worship tonight

ST. LOUIS, November 20, 2013—The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has granted $10,000 for immediate tornado relief to St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Minden, Ill. The check will be presented tonight to the congregation at a communitywide prayer vigil at 7 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hoyleton, Ill.

At least 13 families in New Minden including six members of the congregation lost their homes when a tornado struck Nov. 17. The church — a charter congregation of the LCMS formed in 1846 — also suffered extensive damage when high winds toppled the steeple and tore much of the roof from the building. Additionally, the original church building, which had been moved to the present site, was left a pile of rubble by the tornado.

“St. John’s asked for emergency dollars to be used right now,” said the Rev. Bart Day, executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission, who will make the check presentation. “They want to reach out to their community in tangible ways as soon as possible, including with gift cards to help with shelter, food and clothing.”

The prayer vigil will be held at Trinity because of the damage to St. John’s.

LCMS Disaster Response ministry leaders also are in touch with other LCMS district offices and congregations in the Midwest affected by Sunday’s tornadoes to determine how best to help reach in their communities with Christ’s mercy. To learn more about LCMS Disaster Response or to make a gift in support of relief efforts, visit http://www.lcms.org/disaster.

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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