Together Archive

Items about Committee on Relief

  • Flood victims in India receive aid from WELS

    WELS sponsored two trucks filled with food to bring relief to 1,000 families in India on Oct. 22. Hundreds of thousands of people in India were evacuated from their homes in early October with little more than the clothes on their backs because of severe flooding... read more

    Published on: November 2, 2009

  • Coordinating WELS humanitarian aid efforts

    For the first time, representatives from five WELS entities that deliver humanitarian aid in some fashion came together to discuss how they can work cooperatively to accomplish even more for God's kingdom. The meeting, held in Milwaukee Oct. 1, was funded by a Thrivent Financial grant and included representatives from WELS Board for Home Missions, Central Africa Medical Mission, Committee on Relief... read more

    Published on: October 5, 2009

  • Tornado aftermath

    Pilgrim, Minneapolis, Minn., is reaching out in its community following a tornado on Aug. 19. The tornado struck six blocks from the church but did not harm Pilgrim's property. However, many homes and cars in the area did suffer severe damage. There was no loss of life... read more

    Published on: September 21, 2009

  • Committee on Relief led by new chairman

    WELS President Mark Schroeder has appointed Rev. Harmon Lewis, pastor at Saving Grace, Mobile, Ala., as the new chairman for WELS Committee on Relief. Rev. Philip Schupmann, pastor at Resurrection, Aurora, Ill., and a member of the committee since 1990, recently concluded his second four-year term as chairman. The WELS Constitution limits the Committee on Relief chairman to two terms... read more

    Published on: September 8, 2009

  • Hard times in Pakistan and Nepal

    WELS' contact in Pakistan reports that Christians in Gojra, Pakistan, were attacked by Muslims on Aug. 1. A number of Christians were killed, and many homes were burned. Exact numbers are difficult to obtain because of the anti-Christian atmosphere in Pakistan... read more

    Published on: August 17, 2009

  • Sending aid to Pakistan

    WELS is stepping in to help refugees displaced by violence between the Taliban and Pakistani Army in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. WELS Committee on Relief sent $3,000 last week to the synod's contact in Pakistan, who will purchase and distribute essentials like food and small coolers within the camps... read more

    Published on: June 1, 2009

  • WELS members evacuate

    As flooding remains a threat in the upper Midwest, Rev. Newt Trimmer of St. Paul's, Valley City, N.D., reports 40 to 50 members, including his own family, have evacuated the community after officials urged residents to stay out of town as they wait for the Sheyenne River to retreat... read more

    Published on: April 20, 2009

  • WELS members join fight against flooding

    Members of Shepherd of the Valley in West Fargo, N.D., and Ascension, Moorhead, Minn., have joined other community volunteers and National Guard members to fill more than 3 million sandbags since Mar. 22, using them to build and fortify dikes in Fargo, Moorhead, and the surrounding neighborhoods... read more

    Published on: April 6, 2009

  • WELS members safe in midst of wildfires

    Although wildfires continue to rage in Southern California, WELS members in Yorba Linda are safe after fires passed through the surrounding area this past weekend. The fires, which are estimated to have destroyed more than 900 homes and scorched approximately 40,000 acres, began last Thursday... read more

    Published on: November 17, 2008

  • Aftermath of Hurricane Gustav

    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... read more

    Published on: September 15, 2008

  • WELS Relief distributes aid for flooding

    WELS Committee on Relief—or "WELS Relief"—has completed its assessment of flooding damage to church buildings and members' homes throughout the upper Midwest, and has released $105,000 in disaster aid... read more

    Published on: July 7, 2008

  • Spotlight on Streams: Midwest flooding

    This site requires the Adobe Flash Player 8 or later... read more

    Published on: July 7, 2008

  • Midwest storm damage summary

    While many WELS congregations are reporting that their members are safe following the series of severe storms that produced flooding and tornadoes throughout the Midwest last week, many members' homes have been damaged. Reports of worship facilities sustaining significant damage are limited... read more

    Published on: June 16, 2008

  • WELS donating to Asia disaster relief

    WELS members, through the synod's Committee on Relief, are donating $50,000 to support relief efforts in the wake of the recent earthquake in China and the cyclone that struck Myanmar... read more

    Published on: May 19, 2008

  • Final volunteers leaving New Orleans

    A special worship service was held April 20 at Crown of Life, New Orleans, to thank all of the WELS volunteers who have helped out in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina devastated the region in August 2005. The final group of volunteers will be leaving at the end of April... read more

    Published on: April 21, 2008

  • More volunteers needed in New Orleans

    More volunteers are needed to help complete the last phase of a rebuilding project in New Orleans organized by a partnership of WELS agencies in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005... read more

    Published on: February 4, 2008