by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service
Severe weather killed at least 10 people and injured dozens more
March 12-13 according to Church World Service (CWS). Softball-
sized hail and several tornadoes struck parts of northwestern
Arkansas, central Illinois, central Missouri and northeastern
Oklahoma, according to Heather L. Feltman, director, Lutheran
Disaster Response and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) Domestic Disaster Response. CWS is a relief and
development agency of U.S. Protestant and Orthodox churches. The
ELCA participates in the work of CWS.
Faith Lutheran Church, Springfield, Ill., suffered significant
damage. Four other ELCA churches in the area "escaped with
little or no physical damage," Feltman said. Power has been
restored at Eben Ezer Lutheran Church, Oaks, Okla. Generators
were supplied to Oaks Indian Mission in time to prevent food
spoilage and other problems. There is extensive damage to other
buildings and homes in the Oaks area. Information regarding the
need for volunteers to help clean up or the donation of specific
materials will become available as staff of Lutheran Disaster
Response learns more about the extent of the damage.
LINKS:
Church World Service
http://www.churchworldservice.org
Lutheran Disaster Response
http://www.ldr.org
Domestic Disaster Response
http://www.ELCA.org/disaster/default.asp
Faith Lutheran Church
http://www.faithlutheran.com/main.html
Oaks Indian Mission
http://www.oaksindianmission.org
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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
