LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 318

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316 SOCIAL MINISTRY

our members who contributed approximately $400,000 either
directly to the Districts involved or through our headquar-
ters. The clean-up operation and the recovery work still
goes on as thousands of people occupy temporary trailer
homes made available by the Government. The trauma of
the experience and the grief over the loss of everything
continues to show itself, Special counseling is now being
offered by a pastor who visits the trailer homes in Wilkes-
Barre and a social worker in Rapid City.

During the past biennium, $150,000 of World Relief funds
were allocated for domestic programs. These were special
projects, developed by our churches and endorsed by the
Districts. Some were among the Cubans in Miami. the Span-
ish-speaking people in Texas, the poor whites of Appalachia,
black people in Louisiana and California, and Indian people
in 13 states. Some of the projects were day-care centers,
meals-on-wheels for the aging, health care programs, educa-
tion programs, vocational training. community awareness,
drug rehabilitation and programs to help ex-prisoners.

The major portion of our World Relief funds. more than
$600.000, has assisted with self-help programs in India,
Sudan, Ethiopia, Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tan-
zania. and other needed areas. Special attention was given
to Bangladesh during the war when 10 million refugees
were in India. and after the war when reconstruction began.
Our people generously contributed more than $125,000 for
this need. More recently, assistance was given to New
Guinea where frost damaged the sweet potato crop which
is the chief ingredient of the people's diet. Close to $100,000
was transmitted to our church in New Guinea to purchase
food and thus prevent widespread starvation.

More recently assistance was given toward the resettle-
ment of 1.000 people from Uganda. who were forced to leave
on unusually short notice. Our Secretary of World Relief,
The Rev. Melvin E. Witt. worked closely with Lutheran
Immigration and Refugee Services of LCUSA, in the re-
settlement of many, under sponsorship of a number of
LCMS congregations,

Assistance has gone to Nicaragua where a devastating
earthquake demolished the capital, claiming hundreds of
lives, and causing property damage in the millions. Blankets,
medicines, construction material. and manpower have been
provided through Lutheran World Relief.

Ongoing self-help programs in Hong Kong. Kowloon, Tai-
wan, Philippines, Nigeria, Brazil. and Guatemala, as well as
assistance to many of our brethren in eastern European
countries. was made possible by the support of our people
for World Relief. Since this program is not part of Synod's
budget. it is necessary that funds continue to be sent for
this purpose.

B. Poor People

Poverty and malnutrition are very real in our world.
More than 700,000,000 children are victims of malnutrition
in our world. It is estimated that 5,000,000 elderly people
in our countrv are malnourished. Recent reports state that
more than 5,000,000 families which include 10,000,000 chil-
dren, have a yearly income of less than $1,500.

Poor people are not all in urban areas as some suspect,
The greater number of boor people are in rural areas and
thev are white peovle. They often live in small communities
of 25 to 35 households. Isolated from the outside world,
thev are inescapably tied to that world. They are totally
dependent upon that world for jobs, education, purchases,
services, and help. Yet they are unsuccessful in coping with
that world.

In our cities which are rapidly deteriorating, these people
are victims of poor housing. their schools are often inferior,
health services are not always available, employment is

these people are hurting and demanding a fair share of the
good things of life. Crime and delinquency thrive on such
conditions.

Many of our agencies have involved themselves in pro-
grams of social justice for the poor and hungry. Some day-
care centers, breakfast programs, and camping programs
have brought help to some of the poor. Our Commission
on World Hunger calls the attention of the church to the
hasic needs of poor people. Appropriate legislation which
will get at the causes of poverty should be the concern of
every Christian.

Our “Keys for Christ” program, which has not received
the generous support of our people, nevertheless has resulted
in creating more than 25 million dollars worth of housing
for low- and moderate-income families. Hollybrook Homes
in Jacksonville, Fla., provides homes for 800 people. A chap-
lain of the District provides spiritual care for the com-
munity. More than $189,000 has been loaned as seed money
to 20 different projects. More than $25,000 in grants has been
allocated for such programs as New Neighbors in St. Louis,
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry in Cleveland, and Lutheran
Housing Corporation of Maryland. Much has been accom-
plished with the $330,000 contributed since 1968, but much
more can happen if we reach our original goal of $1,000,000,

C. Children and Families

Unwanted and emotionally unstable children are not
easy to deal with. This is why treatment centers for such
are costly. A few of our agencies offer this type of service.
However, when a youngster is able to return to his family
and community and grow up as a real child of God, all the
love and money that went into the treatment is worthwhile.

Of course. children have families which also need help
when their relationships are strained or when alcohol or
drugs complicate matters. Hundreds of families have bene-
fited by our agencies’ counseling programs. Family life pro-
grams, premarriage workshops, family enrichment retreats,
and other services help families to grow and resolve their
tensions and difficulties.

D. Separated People

The human family has been fragmented because of eco-
homics, education. and culture. But most serious is the
fracturing of God's people by the sin of racism. Deeply
rooted feelings have widened the gap between black and
white, Chicano and Anglo, and Indian and Caucasian. How
can the church be a “community” if it fails to include peo-
ple because of their racial background? Our Program to
Combat Racism, while not making any claims to great
achievements, has nevertheless put our church on record
that we are going to endeavor to uproot racism and de-
velop wholesome Christian relationships. The cause of the
problems which separate people is sin in the human heart.
It shows itself in jealousy, greed, prejudice, injustice, and
actions growing out of a double standard. Only eleven Dis-
tricts have indicated that this is a priority matter with them.
Seven have reported little or no active concern. We believe
that while some have begun to see “more than words,” the
task is still so enormous that every Christian must become
aware of the fact that separation from people often implies
separation from God.

E. Sick and Imprisoned People

More than 500,000 people in institutions throughout the
United States and Canada have received the message of
Jesus and His love through our institutional chaplains. While
emphasis is being placed on preventing illness, and some of
our chaplains are serving more people outside institutions
in clinics and counseling centers, it nevertheless is true that
millions in confinement need and long for someone to stand
alongside them as they pass through periods of illness or
years of incarceration. It is a joy to hear patients Say:
“Chaplain, I don't think I could have made it without your
help.” or “Chaplain, my life is going to be different from
now on because you have introduced me to Jesus.”

With the possible development of new health legislation,
many who now are without medical help will find needed
services. Health facilities will increase and the need for
more chaplains will once again become a reality. The chap-
lain's role may be different than formerly, but his goal will
still be to relate people to God through faith in Jesus Christ

s he shares his ministry of healing and hope. The spiritual
needs of persons who must live in institutions are often
intense. Thus the services of a chaplain are vital,

F. Lonely and Aging People

None of us have ever been old before, and none of us
can really count on living long enough to grow old. Yet we
want old age to be “something worth living for’ and “some-
thing worth living through.” Through our various programs
for the elderly we have helped many a person to realize