May 27, 2011
Dear Partners in Ministry,
"God is our refugee and strength, a very present help in time of trouble." I read these words from Psalm 46 Wednesday evening as I met with about 30 members of Peace Lutheran Church in Joplin, Missouri. Dan Glamann and I, along with Kevin Massey, Executive Director of Lutheran Disaster Response, and others of the LDR staff, traveled to Joplin to take the first steps in what will be a long journey of walking with the members of Peace Lutheran Church and the people of the Joplin community in the rebuilding of their lives and community.
We listened to their stories and experiences, all varied, all moving. We spoke words of comfort, shed tears. The conversation shifted to the future—clean up, rebuilding; next steps. I expect there will be much more grieving in the weeks and months to come as the magnitude of the loss, the reality of the situation and the challenges before them sink in.
I guess pictures never fully capture and convey what a situation is really like, and that's how I felt driving into Joplin and then seeing Peace Lutheran and the neighborhood around it. The destruction is unbelievable—the landscape nothing but rubble. I heard one national disaster worker say this is the worst destruction he's seen since Katrina, and he'd been to Tuscaloosa.
Those who experienced the tornado said it lasted so long, just kept blowing, sucking, destroying. I've never been in a war zone, but I've a feeling tornado damaged Joplin is as at least as bad as the worst of war zones. One looks at the total devastation in awe of what kind of sky born monster could possibly have wrought this destruction.
Where the city will dispose all this debris is a huge question. But clean up cannot begin until the missing are accounted for. Search and rescue teams were working their way through the neighborhoods.
I spoke with some young people on the parking lot of Peace Lutheran Church. Two were from homes totally destroyed, as was their high school one block from the congregation. But their real sadness was in not knowing the whereabouts of a close friend. I thought of them later as I saw a rescue team crawling in and inspecting one of the hundreds of overturned and mangled autos.
Pastor Bill Pape, the part-time interim who has been serving Peace Lutheran Church for four years, has confirmed that Peace will worship this Sunday on their parking lot. Amid the rubble, surrounded by homes destroyed and lives filled with grief, the people of Peace will sing Easter hymns of joy and comfort. They will proclaim the hope of God we know and live in Jesus Christ. Pastor Janice Kibler, Bishop's Associate, will be present and bring words of comfort and support from the Central States Synod and larger Church.
Earlier in the afternoon on Wednesday we were at a meeting with Missouri Governor Nixon and other religious leaders. Gov. Nixon has been onsite everyday as have been national FEMA officials. The challenges for Joplin are enormous—a community where suddenly 3,000 homes no longer exist; 500 businesses no longer exist; a high school and 4 elementary schools no longer exist; a major medical facility suffering debilitating damage.
I pledged to the people of Peace that we will walk with them and with the people of Joplin toward a new day when the city shall be rebuilt. We will work with all people of good will in responding to human need. We are a people Changed by Love, Sent in Love, to Serve and we shall walk in the faith and with the purpose God has given us in Jesus Christ.
People have been calling and asking how to help. We want to be there both for Peace Lutheran Church and for the community of Joplin.
We have established a "Peace Joplin Fund" and contributions may be sent to the Central States Synod office designated for this Fund. These monies will be used to assist Peace Lutheran Church in its recovery as a congregation. The building is insured, and monies will be used to help in the many other ways the congregation may have need. When the needs of the congregation have been met, the monies will be used for needs in the community.
We also encourage people to directly support Lutheran Disaster Response. LDR brings its expertise and experience in responding to disasters and working with other groups, voluntary, religious, business and governmental. LDR is a leader in bringing a coordinated effort to respond to disaster.
We had magnetic Lutheran Disaster Response signs on the side of our vehicles. People noticed, and one KCPL driver (Kansas City Power and Light) gave us the thumbs up as we passed along the street. LDR has a reputation for leadership and commitment.
I made a quip Wednesday night comparing our ministry to long distance running not realizing that also was LDR. But that is how Kevin Massey describes the work of Lutheran Disaster Response. LDR will be the last to leave. Wednesday night was just the first step in what will be a long journey of walking with the people of Peace Lutheran Church and the city of Joplin.
The need for volunteer help, for mission groups, for youth and young adult service groups will be great. Working with Lutheran Disaster Response, we have an opportunity to reach out and help people whose needs have not been met by others.
I write to invite your prayers this Sunday, prayers for healing and hope for the people of Joplin, for our sisters and brothers at Peace Lutheran Church. Peace, shalom in Hebrew, is a rich word from the Bible that is multi-dimensional in meaning. To pray for shalom is to pray for good weather, a bountiful harvest, good relationships with neighbors and God, a rebuilt city and community. We are grateful for the peace in Jesus Christ that surpasses all understanding. We pray Peace for Joplin.
God's peace in Christ,
Gerald L. Mansholt
Bishop
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Rev. Linda Anderson-Little
St. Mark's Lutheran Church
6325 Clayton Road
St. Louis, MO 63117
314.721.6974 (w)
314.581.6365 (cell)
www.stmarkselca.com
