wfn.org | Lutherans Provided Funds, Engaged in Recovery Work in 17 Countries

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

>ELCA News Blog

>May 8, 2009  

Lutherans Provided Funds, Engaged in Recovery Work in 17 Countries

>by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service

In partnership with Lutheran churches and ecumenical agencies
around the world, members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA) engaged in relief and recovery work in 17
countries in 2008.  Through the church's International Disaster
Response, more than $1.5 million was distributed to help provide
food, medicine, drinking water, emergency shelter and other
materials for survivors of natural and human-made disasters.
The funds for disaster response are contributions from ELCA
members, said Megan E. Bradfield, associate director for
international development, ELCA Global Mission.

When disaster strikes somewhere in the world, the ELCA works
with Action by Churches Together (ACT), a global alliance of
churches and related agencies working to save lives and support
communities in emergency situations.  It's based in Geneva with
the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation.
The ELCA is a member of both.  "Under circumstances where ACT
is not present, response may occur directly to companion churches
and agencies," said Louis Dorvilier, director, international
development and disaster response, ELCA Global Mission.

Key areas of engagement for 2008 included responding to hurricanes
in the Caribbean and an earthquake in China.  The ELCA supported
medical emergency services to people in Gaza, participated in
flood relief efforts in India, and became involved in the
development of a center for disaster risk management and
community development services in Indonesia.  The church also
engaged in life-sustaining ministries for people across Africa,
particularly in response to civil war in the Democratic Republic
of Congo, drought conditions in Eritrea and Ethiopia, flooding
in Namibia, peace intervention in Zimbabwe and more. In South
America the ELCA provided assistance to families affected by a
massacre in Guyana, and the church continued to help reconstruct
homes and agricultural systems following a 2007 earthquake
in Peru.

For information contact:

John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog