September 15, 2008

Aftermath of Hurricane Gustav

Filed Under: Committee on Relief, gustav, Hurricane, ike, Louisiana, WELS relief

WELS Committee on Relief —or "WELS Relief"—granted King of Kings, Alexandria, La., and its pastor, Rev. Chris Esmay, $60,000 to help the congregation recover after flood damage due to heavy rains following Hurricane Gustav.

As reported in the Sept. 4 issue of "Together," four to five feet of water filled the church, fellowship hall, and parsonage Sept. 3. The 90-member congregation did not have flood insurance. Rev. Philip Schupmann, chairman of WELS Relief, and Mr. Mark Vance, project director, traveled to Alexandria Sept. 5 to survey the damage.

The money that WELS Relief offered will pay for gutting and cleaning the church and parsonage. It also will help provide for material needs, including temporary housing for Esmay and his family, and help support the congregation as it plans for the future.

"King of Kings is deeply moved by the generosity of these men and the rest of God's people who want to help their brothers and sisters—a love and generosity compelled by the love and generosity their brother, the Lord Jesus, has for them," says Esmay.

Currently Esmay and his family are staying with members, and the congregation is worshiping in a conference room. According to Esmay, the congregation is looking into different options for the future, including selling the entire property and relocating elsewhere in Alexandria.

"God blesses us with many nice things in this life," says Esmay, "but he never promised that we can keep them. What he did promise we can keep forever is the merits of his Son. . . . Hurricane rains can flood out lots of things here, but they can't wash the name of Jesus off our foreheads."

Schupmann and Vance also traveled to Cross of Glory in Baton Rouge, La., Sept. 5. There, as reported in "Together" on Sept. 2, high winds from Hurricane Gustav toppled several large trees causing extensive damage to both the church and neighboring homes. Since the congregation has insurance, only limited outside funding has been necessary to support their cleanup efforts. 

For more pictures and updates about hurricane relief efforts, visit: www.welsrelief.net