Mercy forever.

Photo: Susan Fox and her daughter Kaylehana, 4, watch the Waldo Canyon Fire burn near Colorado Springs, Colo., on Monday, June 25, 2012. The fire, one of at least a half-dozen wildfires in Colorado as of Monday, has blackened 5.3 square miles and displaced about 6,000 people since it started Saturday.  (AP Photo/Bryan Oller)

Early reports are that some Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod members have been evacuated due to the Waldo Canyon fire which is burning near Colorado Springs, Colo. The reports received on June 27, from Rev. Dennis Lucero, district disaster response coordinator for the LCMS Rocky Mountain District, and Rev. Randy Golter, president, LCMS Rocky Mountain District, also indicate that a few LCMS members’ homes are in the path of the firestorm. LCMS pastors and congregations in the area are in the process of contacting their members.

“Remember that this is an ongoing disaster event where safety and security are paramount,” said Rev. Glenn Merritt, director of the LCMS’ disaster response ministry.

“The LCMS’ disaster response ministry has offered the full resources of the Synod to assist the Rocky Mountain District and local LCMS congregations as they assess and then respond to the needs of both LCMS members and others in their community,”

Merritt has offered to be on site in Colorado Springs early next week to assist with assessments and the development of an action plan for district and congregational response to the disaster event. The Synod has also assured President Golter that emergency grant dollars are available upon request — up to $10,000 in immediate aid as needed and requested.

• Please pray for victims and emergency responders in Colorado. You can find a prayer at: http://mercyforever.lcms.org/2012/06/pray-for-victims-and-emergency-responders-of-colordo-wildfires-florida-flooding/

• Learn more about the disaster response ministry of the LCMS at www.lcms.org/disaster.