LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 72

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72 SYNODICAL REPORTS

We will support congregations in the supportive and healthy care
of their workers by developing resources that will promote and
encourage such behaviors in the context of congregational life.

We will focus on ministry to the chronically mentally ill in con-
gregations and communities, as well as continue to focus on min-
istry to those affected by HIV/AIDS.

III. LCMS World Relief

LCMS World Relief is ‘making a
world of difference in Jesus’ name” in
the United States and around the
world. This program offers opportuni-
ties for LCMS individual members and
groups to respond to persons with
emergency needs and to enable them to become self-sufficient.

LCMS World Relief

Past Triennium Accomplishments

LCMS World Relief can “Tell the Good News about Jesus” be-
cause of financial support. Direct donations to LCMS World Re-
lief from individuals and groups steadily increased at more than
10 percent a year to reach an all-time high of $6.! million for
self-help ministries in FY 00-01.

Disaster income fluctuation from $.5 to $2.5 million parallels the
number and intensity of disasters each year. “Millions for Mitch”
received nearly $1 million for long-term assistance to victims of
Hurricane Mitch. More than $680,000 was received for Kosovo
survivors. A single bequest of more than $.5 million established
a special fund for medical mission projects.

A grant of $70,000 voted by the national Lutheran Women’s Mis-
sionary League convention established a program enabling women
in other countries to reach out in faith to rebuild communities.

To commemorate the Synod’s [50th anniversary, students of
Lutheran schools and Sunday schools, as well as other groups,
supported “Hearts for Jesus around the World: Children of the
Philippines,” making $270,000 available for a better life for the
Tagao Kaulo Kalagan families on Mindanao,

Through grant distribution to U.S. congregations and agencies,
more than $2.5 million was awarded in domestic grants to con-
gregations and agencies, including Lutheran social ministry or-
ganizations to enable them to initiate new or enhance existing
human care ministries.

LCMS World Relief issued a cail for projects related to welfare
reform. Sixteen projects from 12 Districts were awarded grants
totaling $173,500 for elderly, children, immigrants, and other
persons negatively affected by changes in welfare programs and
benefits.

Churches destroyed by arson benefited from more than $70,000

designated for church fires. Grants to non-Lutheran churches
were presented by LCMS congregations to foster relationship-

building in their communities.
¢ Domestic disaster response included as-
Lutheran
Disaster
Response
Bringing Help and Hope

sisting survivors of the following emer-
gencies: fires in the Rocky Mountains and
Montana; Upper Midwest storms and
flooding; Florida fires and floods; Okla-
homa City explosion; Spencer, SD, tor-
nado; Texas floods; Hurricanes Georges,
Bonnie, Mitch, and Floyd; and the Granite Falls, MN, tornado.

With the help of Lutheran partnerships, nearly $75,000 supported
37 Servant Events sponsored by the Youth Department of Con-
gregational Services.

A pilot project established the first Lutheran refugee service cen-
ter addressing physical, spiritual, and legal needs of African im-
migrants in partnership with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee
Services, the LCMS Eastern District, Philadelphia Lutheran Min-
istries, and the Board for Mission Services.

Lutheran Refugee and [mmigration Services received $.7 million
for core budget and program support that includes legal assis-
tance for first asylum cases in the U.S.

2001 Convention Workbook

* Lutheran World Relict received $6.8 million for core budget and
program support for disaster response, sustainable development,
NGO capacity building, and other efforts overseas.

* LCMS World Relief joined with partners
Lutheran World Relief and ELCA World
Hunger Program to develop Stand with
Atrica: A Campaign of Hope. The campaign
is intended to educate U.S. Lutherans about
issues of ongoing concern to African commu-
nities—specifically HIV/AIDS, hunger, and
civil conflict—and to encourage support of the efforts of African
churches and communities to achieve better health, better eco-
nomic conditions, and greater peace and security.

* LCMS World Relief and the Board for Mission Services worked
together to open nine new countries—Cambodia, China, Egypt,
Guinea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), and
Sudan—as mission fields by responding to human care needs.

* LCMS World Relief in partnership with the Board for Mission
Services awarded $2.3 million for emergency and self-help proj-
ects to assist the work of missionaries and national church part-
ners for a total of 42 countries.

* In cooperation with the Board for Mission Services and Lutheran
World Relief, LCMS World Relief responded to numerous dis-
asters overseas: El Salvador earthquake, India cyclone,
Afghanistan earthquake, Vietnam floodings, Sierra Leone con-
flict, Papua New Guinea tidal wave, Sudan drought, Bangladesh
flooding, China flooding, Hurricane Georges, Hurricane Mitch,
El Nino, Russia and Belarus starvation, Colombia earthquake,
Kosovo refugees. Turkey earthquake, Liberia conflict, Mexico
hurricane, Venezuela floods and mudslides, Taiwan earthquake,
Mozambique and South Africa flooding, Ethiopia drought and
conflict, Eritrea drought and conflict, Thailand flooding, Cam-
bodia flooding, Kenya drought, and Palestine conflict.

Building Lutheran networks, Lutheran Disaster Response, the co-
operative program of the ELCA Domestic Disaster Response and
the LCMS World Relief. continues to gain recognition from
long-term disaster response efforts. It developed a new logo, a
dedicated Web site, and a handbook and training manual. It has a
renewed agreement with the American Red Cross.

Lutheran Disaster Response Coalition was formulated to coordi-
nate Lutheran entities active in times of disaster. Charter mem-
bers include AAL, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, Labor-
ers for Christ, LCMS World Reliet. Lutheran Brotherhood,
Lutheran Hour Ministries, Lutheran Services in America, Mis-
sion Builders, and Orphan Grain Train.

Utilizing research results, the LCMS Department of Planning and

Research and LCMS Ministries Support joined LCMS World

Relief in utilizing the services of Opportunities Unlimited to re-

search the mission outreach interests of pastors and congrega-

tions. Telephone interviews and focus groups addressed the
process of selecting a mission project.

* As we celebrate 85 years of history, LCMS World Relief traces
its beginning to 1914 and the General Relief Board. The 85th an-
niversary was celebrated in 1999 with special worship obser-
vances and the awarding of the Making a World of Difference
award to 85 individuals and groups who have responded to per-
sons in need with the help of LCMS World Relief.

¢ With the help of resources, “SHARING” is a free, full-color

newsletter providing information on projects six times a year,

plus one annual report edition. The distribution list includes

180,000 in singles and bulk quantities.

Next Triennium Goals and Challenges

¢ LCMS World Relief will continue “making a world of difference
in Jesus’ name” by building the capacity of individuals and or-
ganizations to help each other attain greater self-sufficiency.

IV. Social Ministry Organizations

In addition to providing people of LCMS congregations oppor-
tunities for touching people with God’s love in Christ, Lutheran so-