The Southeastern Synod has been impacted by multiple disasters in 2016. These affected communities are in various stages of the disaster recovery process from initial relief efforts in Gatlinburg, TN to long-term recovery reconstruction from flooding in Clarksdale and Hattiesburg, MS.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) holiday is a time for remembering our call to care for one another in our communities with acts of service. Let's use the MLK holiday weekend in January to change our synod's reputation from being the "disaster synod" (as we are often respectfully referred to around this church because of the number of disasters we experience on our territory) to being the "disaster response synod". The MLK holiday service weekend would include two full days of work with travel on Friday and Monday.
The Disaster Ministry Committee is working on plans for a trip to Hattiesburg and to Clarksdale and tentatively to the Savannah/Brunswick area in Georgia. A Tennessee work site may also be available. Contact Southeastern Synod Disaster Volunteer Management Coordinator, Ellen Koester at either LST.ellenk@gmail.com or 615-838-5550 to register or to learn more information.
In the meantime, you can also register your interest and availability to assist in the immediate days, weeks and months by adding yourself or your congregation to the Southeastern Synod Disaster Volunteer Registry here. For questions or to offer large-scale or corporate donations, contact Ellen Koester directly.
Cash donations are the most pressing need now to support infrastructure and to equip volunteers to respond in whatever ways are most needed.
Click "DONATE NOW!" below to give to the Southeastern Synod's disaster response effort in Gatlinburg. On this page you can also designate funds for Southeastern Synod Local Disaster Response. These funds will be used where there is the greatest immediate need.
Thank you for your continued prayers and for your partnership in ministry. Let's plan to bring hope, relief and recovery to our neighbors across the synod!
