To borrow the words of a past Synod President; “All that has needed to be said has been said about the subject, it just hasn’t been said by everyone.” So it is that everything has probably been said that needs to be said about the Katina Relief Project at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in New Orleans, La. (Except maybe that now it is officially ended). But please allow me to add my thoughts.

A week ago Sun., April 20, Crown of Life conducted a special worship service and threw an old fashion southern crawfish boil to thank the nearly 1,200 volunteers who came over the past two and a half years to help restore their church, fellowship hall, parsonage, and homes in their community. The church sign read “Thanks for bringing us home.” It was a bright sunny day, just perfect for the event. Our Synod President and other past volunteers came many miles to help make the event that much more special.

The pastor of the congregation, Pastor David Sternhagen delivered the sermon of the day and as usual, put things in the right perspective for us. He said many times in his sermon; “That we saw it with our own eyes.” (Meaning members, volunteers and community members). Highlighting the many wondrous and sometimes miraculous things the Lord either did for us or though us during and after the hurricane. And then the thank you’s started. Pastor, on behalf of the congregation thanked the volunteers, President Schroeder thanked the volunteers and the congregation for his opportunity to serve and for their partnership in sharing the gospel with the community. Pastor Schupmann thanked the volunteer coordinators and congregational leaders for their service, and we all thanked the Lord for giving us all things through his Son who died for us on the cross so we could live and serve Him and each other.

After the service, the crawfish was dumped on the picnic tables, the band began to play, and people hugged and laughed and shed tears of joy. Tours were given of some of the homes restored, and the thank you’s continued. It was a fitting end to a truly blessed project.

As I reflect back on this relief project and the others I have had the honor and privilege to serve, though each has been completely different and the volunteers who have come to serve are rarely the same folks, the end result is always the same:

1. that salvation through Christ crucified is faithfully proclaimed and;
2. that virtually every volunteer goes away with the perception that they received spiritually more out of their service than the people they served received out of labor from them.

For this, I think I can speak for everyone who has ever volunteered on one of our relief teams. Only one thank you is necessary, THANK YOU LORD. “Not unto us Lord, but unto you be honor and praise.”

Mark Vance
WELS Committee on Relief
Disaster Relief Project Coordinator

Listen

Listen to Pastor Phil Schupmann, chairman for WELS Committee on Relief.

Watch Pastor David Sternhagen’s sermon on streams.wels.net.