Joplin, Mo., twister kills 116, destroys four LCMS teacher homes
by LCMS World Relief and Human Care
A powerful tornado devastated Joplin, Mo., on May 22, killing at least 116 people and leveling neighborhoods, including the homes of four teachers at Martin Luther School. (Photo by Julie Denesha/Getty Images)
At least 116 people died in a powerful tornado that devastated Joplin, Mo., on May 22, tearing into a hospital and leveling neighborhoods, including the homes of four teachers at Martin Luther School. The twister damaged the school and the Immanuel Lutheran Church parsonage.
“The reports that I have received indicate that up to 75 percent of the city of 50,000 has sustained some damage with much of the damage catastrophic,” LCMS Missouri District President Rev. Ray Mirly said in a press release distributed May 23.
“This [devastation] is bad, really bad for such a small city,” said Rev. Glenn F. Merritt, director of Disaster Response, who plans to travel to the southwestern Missouri city on Wednesday, May 25. “The recovery will be more difficult because so much infrastructure has been destroyed.”
LCMS World Relief and Human Care (WR-HC) has made available up to $50,000 for disaster response efforts and will be working with the Missouri District through Immanuel Lutheran, Martin Luther School and Rev. Gregory Mech, the church pastor, to meet needs in Joplin, Merritt said.
According to a report from school principal Jeremy Schamber, Immanuel’s teachers and church staff are unharmed. The school year has ended. “Four teachers lost their homes, and a few of our families did too,” Schamber said in an email shared with WR-HC. “I’m still trying to contact school families.”
A report from Mirly indicated that the brother of a Martin Luther School teacher is among the fatalities, which are expected to increase as search and rescue efforts continue.
The twister cut a swath nearly six miles long and more than a half-mile wide through Joplin, according to news reports. Merritt and WR-HC’s Rev. Carlos Hernandez will be on the ground in Joplin “as soon as it is appropriate and safe,” to help assess needs in the congregation and community and offer spiritual care.
Merritt asked for prayers for Joplin families and financial support to help meet urgent needs. “The recent disasters have really depleted already low tornado/flood accounts [for LCMS Disaster Response work],” Merritt said. “This is a huge challenge, but I am confident that the people of the LCMS will respond with caring and compassion to meet the needs.”
To make a gift:
- Mail checks (noting “Tornado Disaster Relief” in the memo line) to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-6861.
- Call toll-free 888-930-4438.
- To make an online donation, click the “Give Now” button below.
Any funds not needed for this relief effort will be used for other disaster purposes as determined by LCMS World Relief and Human Care. Your gift is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
We at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Arnold, Missouri, are willing to help with the clean-up effort. We just need details / help with coordination.
Sumner Hunnewell
Ditto to Sumner’s comment. There are many here in Florida that would like to help with time and talent, as well as treasure, but need details on where to stay and what to bring.
Right now the most current information available in regards to volunteering in Joplin can be found on the websites of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin: http://www.immanueljoplin.com/TORNADO/tabid/3141/language/en-US/Default.aspx … and also the Missouri District: http://mo.inspirlink.com/Index.asp?PageID=&Function=News&NewsID=15653&CategoryID=4250
Thank you for willingness to help share the mercy of Christ in this on-going disaster situation.
My husband and I would like to help in the disaster relief. Where does the money go? Does it go straight to LCMS families who have been affected? Thanks
Thank you for your questions and compassion for the folks affected by the recent disasters. We can assure you that any gifts received are used in the most responsible way available to the LCMS. All donors dollars received go into specific accounts. For example, if you give a gift earmarked to help those affected by the recent tornadoes, your gift will go into our tornado account. If you specify that you want your gift to go to survivors of the recent tornado in Joplin, your gift will go into a sub-account set aside for Joplin, Mo., relief. The only exception is if funds would no longer be needed for the specific relief effort designated by the donor. In that case, the donor’s gift would be used for other disaster purposes, as determined by LCMS World Relief and Human Care to accomplish the best stewardship use of donated dollars.
Specifically, the LCMS works through our local congregations and districts, plus on occasion, through Recognized Service Organizations. The donor dollars we receive are provided to local congregations or districts so that they can engage in ministries of mercy, as they determine appropriate. We assist them in assessing the needs and determining the best use of available resources, including funding, material aid and volunteers.
While we do not make grants directly to individuals, we do provide direct assistance to congregations who then assist members and their greater community. Donor dollars allow the LCMS to offer much needed aid in a very short time. For instance, we transferred $25,000 directly to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Joplin within minutes of meeting with the pastor, principal, DCE and lay leaders. Because so many members and parents of school children lost their homes (29), we are assisting the lay leaders in writing some $80,000 in grants, which should become available this week. This is the model we follow, and we’ve done the same all across the storm-stricken south. Within a few days, hundreds of thousands of dollars, tons of material supplies and an army of volunteers will help bring mercy to those in need.
A small portion (10 percent) of donor dollars goes for administrative costs so that the LCMS can put personnel on the ground to encourage, uplift and assist our local congregations and pastors, and also cover necessary disaster-related operational expenses such as travel costs and support services. We often provide districts with grants so they can engage as well and, when appropriate, we provide Recognized Service Organizations (like Orphan Grain Train or Lutheran Church Charities) with grants for their work after a particular disaster. In one way or another, donor gifts are invested in disaster-related work, in partnership with LCMS members, congregations and districts as they reach out to those affected by disaster with much needed relief.
I think this is terrific to help these people. But what about Alabama? An F5 tornado went clear through the length of the state from Mississippi to Tennessee. 500 people were killed in Alabama. Does our relief go to help one particular area or is it spread around where needed?
Thank you for your question and your concern for the people of the South. LCMS World Relief and Human Care relief efforts are continuing in Alabama and other affected regions. We are always there for the long-term, as resources allow. http://mercyforever.lcms.org/2011/05/bringing-spiritual-care-to-devastated-homes/