Synod pledges more aid to fight Ebola

In Oct. 7 emailed letters to LCMS congregations and district presidents about the Ebola crisis, Synod President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison thanks members who have “responded to the call” for contributions, enabling the church body to provide grants totaling $67,729 to partners in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, and he shares the Synod’s plan to continue fighting the spread of Ebola in Africa “for the long haul” — likely, one to two years more.

“In Liberia, we are providing food supplies and other essentials, particularly for people who can’t get to their workplaces to make a living,” Harrison writes. “We’re also offering sanitation and cleaning supplies to households as a preventive measure. And, we are engaging with Lutheran congregations and schools to educate people on how Ebola is spread and contained.

“Meanwhile, in Sierra Leone and Guinea, we are assisting with providing food in remote areas where basic supplies are not available.”

Harrison notes that the LCMS aid to Africa is being provided in cooperation with church leaders in the region.

“This is the best way — assisting our partners as they have the ability to use our help,” he says. “We can do much more together than alone, as was demonstrated recently in the highly successful Lutheran Malaria Initiative.”

The letters also introduce the new Epidemics & Infectious Diseases Response Fund that has been established to receive contributions for fighting Ebola and other deadly diseases. To make a secure donation online, go to https://www.lcms.org/givenow/epidemics.

“This is where our life together is strongest, when we work together as Synod, bringing to bear the collective blessings God has given us,” Harrison adds.

“We welcome the partnership of all our districts and congregations in this effort.”

Posted Oct. 8, 2014