CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Cyclone Gretelle tore through south-eastern Madagascar in late January, its high winds in the north and torrential rains in the south left behind a trail of death and destruction that affected more than half a million people. The Malagasy Lutheran Church and Action by Churches Together (ACT) are engaged in relief and rehabilitation through the church's established network of congregations.
ACT is a worldwide network of churches, including the Lutheran World Federation meeting human need through coordinated emergency response.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), an historic partner of the Malagasy church, sent an initial $50,000 to ACT. More than $30,000 has been raised by former ELCA Madagascar missionaries and their children; that gift will directly to the Malagasy Lutheran Church. The synod assembly of the ELCA's Central-Southern Illinois Synod, meeting June 5-7, raised an additional $17,600 for the cause.
According to ACT, the majority of people in the affected area are farmers living in small villages. The population in the towns however are also affected and practically every household needs to repair its home and secure food. ACT reported major damage to more than 400 Lutheran churches, with the century-old Lutheran cathedral in Farafangana totally destroyed.
Eight Lutheran school buildings were seriously damaged and a total of 167 residences, that housed pastors, teachers, medical staff and patients, need major repair work, while 36 residences were totally destroyed, according to the Malagasy Lutheran Church
ACT reports 12,500 people were targeted to receive rice over a three-month period, and 10 to 12,000 families would receive rice or bean seeds for planting.
The Rev. Kevin Mohr, an ELCA missionary involved with the relief effort, says emergency food and seed distribution is underway, "with a recent emphasis on assistance to church workers who are not receiving any salary as a result of the cyclone. The local church was destroyed, so little money is coming in as offerings."
Construction is focused on the repair of schools, health structures, staff houses and some of the church buildings, according to ACT. Churches that survived served as post-cyclone shelters and some are also in use as emergency school buildings.
Mohr reports, "Funds have been disbursed to the Lutheran Renewal Center and Clinic at Ankaramalaza for the repair of residences and clinic buildings there." He said, "Repairs to the Farafangana Lutheran School will be finished by the end of next month, in spite of its being one of the worst hit sites! They have had over 100 people working almost non-stop on that project."
Mohr said repairs are also progressing on the Regional Seminary buildings damaged at Vangaindrano and will soon get underway in the two worst-hit synods of the Malagasy Lutheran Church. He said the relief committee has close to $200,000 to work with so far. In February the ELCA sent a "Disaster-gram" to its 11,000 congregations urging special contributions to aid the relief effort in Madagascar.
The Lutheran World Federation is a worldwide communion of 122 member churches, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
