On Tue., June 24, WELS Committee on Relief Chairman, Pastor Philip Schupmann, together with Pastor Mark Lindner and Steve Zambo traveled to Baraboo, Wis., and met with a number of pastors and WELS members from eight area congregations. We heard about the flood’s devastating effects on the lives of many of our fellow Christians, their neighbors, and their communities. At the same time we also rejoiced with them to hear how our merciful Lord God had also watched over them and their families. Thankfully, there has been no loss of human life. One of our churches in Elroy, Wis., has some major flood damage in its basement with the possible loss of its handicapped-accessible elevator. Several of our WELS members have suffered the total loss of their homes. In cities like Reedsburg and Rock Springs, many homes and businesses have been totally destroyed. People have been displaced and suffered the loss of their material blessings. Yet in all that bad news we heard one sweet little Christian lady in attendance tell us how the Lord watched over her as emergency personnel in Wisconsin Dells “Ducks” came to her rescue and brought her to safety as her home in the country was surrounded on both sides by rising waters.Pastors Schupmann and Lindner together with Mr. Zambo also made stops in Columbus, Jefferson, and Fort Atkinson, Wis., where they heard again about the floods effects on lives and property. We witnessed firsthand how the City of Jefferson has been split in two because of its main bridge through town closed and still covered with flood waters. Once again we also heard how the Savior protected his people and gave them opportunities to reflect his love in words and actions to the people in their community. Zion in Columbus opened the doors of their school as a Red Cross emergency shelter. Bethany Lutheran Church in Fort Atkinson opened their doors to a local nursing home which had to be evacuated. Most of the residents of that facility and staff called Bethany “home” for almost a week.

The Committee of Relief was able to give grants totaling almost $100,000 to all these congregations, which will be used to help, not only their members, but those people in need around them in their communities. Maybe most importantly most of the congregations affected have been personally visited by WELS Relief team and received the assurance that a gracious God is with them and that the brothers and sisters in WELS are praying for them and will support them in their time of need. As always, whenever the Lord allows such adversities to touch our live and the lives of those outside the family of God, such adversities become “teachable moments” – golden opportunities to share the life giving Gospel with others.

View more pictures of the flood-damaged area of Jefferson, Wis., in the photo gallery.

Pastor Philip Schupmann and several members of the WELS Relief team traveled to Cedar Rapids, Iowa this past week. They toured the flooded areas around Cedar Rapids and got a firsthand look at some of the church members homes that were flooded as well as in rest of the community. Water had receded somewhat – at least it wasn’t over the tops of the bridges anymore. The relief team met with Pastor Wesley Bruss, who provided a tour of the area. Later they met with the church council and interested parties and discussed some options and provided ideas and resources about how relief efforts might proceed and how current funds might be spent. God’s word was studied and prayers for God’s providence were asked. WELS Relief also provided money grants for two other congregations. Help was provided for the flooding effort at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa, IA and tornado relief in Parkersburg, IA, through an ELS church. Much of the meetings with the local congregation centered on how providing information and answering questions.

Several areas in Wisconsin have been hard hit by the flooding also. Faculty members at Winnebago Lutheran Academy have reported personal losses and one teacher’s house blew up from a flood caused gas leak. WELS Relief will be meeting with leaders of WLA on Monday June 23^rd. A second meeting is planned with several affected congregations in Baraboo on Tuesday morning to help them assess their needs and the ability of the WELS Relief to help in their area.

Plans are to visit many of the congregations along the Rock River and offer assistance as needed. Within a week WELS Relief will have a video available describing more fully our efforts and some firsthand video of the areas affected.

Please consider a gift to the
WELS Committee on Relief for flooding.
You may do that by simply
connecting to WELSRelief.net

PHOTOS: Click to view full size.