wfn.org | Lutherans Respond to South Dakota's Deadly Tornado

[Brenda Williams <BRENDAW@elca.org>]

Reply-To: ElcaNews <ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG>
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 1, 1998

LUTHERANS RESPOND TO SOUTH DAKOTA'S DEADLY TORNADO
98-20-124-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is
responding to a tornado that left six people dead, 150 people injured and
destroyed all of Spencer, S.D., including St. Matthew Lutheran Church on
May 30.  Spencer, a town of about 300 people, is located 45 miles west of
Sioux Falls.
     "A member of St. Matthew died from injuries and another is in
intensive care," reported the Rev. David G. Larson, assistant to the bishop
for the ELCA's South Dakota Synod.  "The tornado demolished St. Matthew and
pretty much everything else in town.  We have plans to provide support for
clergy and care-givers that will assist people in the time ahead."
     The Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, bishop of the South Dakota Synod,
visited Spencer May 31.  "St. Matthew had 60 baptized members.  The
congregation celebrated their 100th anniversary last summer.  Although the
church building is gone, the congregation is still intact.  The sense of
the congregation as being the body of Christ is still in place," said
DeGroot-Nesdahl.  "It certainly is a loss, a real grief situation to see
that kind of devastation.  It is very painful, but the strength of the
people will come from their faith in God."
     "Emergency generators are being provided to volunteers who will help
with initial cleanup of debris," said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, associate
director for Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the ELCA and The
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  "A counseling staff is also being
deployed.  Lutheran Disaster Response is working through Lutheran Social
Services of South Dakota."
     "We are in a holding pattern," said Rose Kormann, disaster
coordinator for Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota.  "Hundreds of
people are homeless, most of whom are elderly people.  It is not certain
whether rebuilding efforts will take place.  At the moment, priorities
include meeting the mental health needs of people and generating financial
support for cleanup and recovery efforts."
     "South Dakota Governor William J. Janklow called out the National
Guard and inmates from the state penitentiary to assist in the monumental
task of sifting through debris," said Larson.
     DeGroot-Nesdahl pointed out that one person cleaning up debris is a
member of St. Dysmas Lutheran Church, an ELCA prison ministry in Sioux
Falls.  "In a number of ways, our church's immediate response was evident,"
Larson said.
     "No one except the residents and National Guard can get into town,"
said Larson.  Volunteers may be needed later, but it's too early for that
now.  Bulldozers may come in as early as June 2 to begin the arduous task
of clearing the rubble."

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html