Mercy forever.

Photo: From left, Pastor Andy Busch, Steve Carbno and Pastor Paul Krueger of Our Savior Lutheran Church acknowledge a $20,000 grant from The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Hope Village — based on the campus of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Minot, N.D. — is $20,000 closer to funding a new full-time manager position for the flood recovery agency. In early December, Our Savior Lutheran Church received a $20,000 grant check from The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod earmarked for a key portion of the new position to be hired through Our Savior for Hope Village leadership.

On June 22, 2011, 4,180 homes were impacted by 9 to 12 feet of floodwater in Minot, N.D. This water flowed for five weeks, devastating one-fourth of the city’s housing and forcing the evacuation of 12,000 people, or one-fourth of the city’s population.

Since opening in April 2012, more than 44,000 hours of volunteer service has been given to the people of Minot through Hope Village. By giving managed leadership to the overall Minot flood response, Our Savior is uniquely positioned to impact the flood recovery efforts of this 52,000- member community with acts of mercy. The coordination and management of a large-scale, three-year, volunteer rebuilding effort opens doors for Christ-centered spiritual care and Gospel proclamation.

To date, Rev. Paul Krueger, senior pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Minot, N.D. has spearheaded leadership for Hope Village.

Read more about this grant and opportunity on Hope Village’s website at: http://www.hopevillagend.org/lcms-and-nodak-films-step-up-to-support-flood-recovery-efforts/

What is Hope Village?

In order to increase the number of volunteers coming to help people and to maximize the effectiveness of volunteers and volunteer agencies, a unified volunteer center has been established, called Hope Village. Through this partnership, approximately $3.2 million dollars of volunteer labor will be provided to the city of Minot. In May 2012, Minot’s restoration began in full force and the volunteer agencies serving the people of this great city have begun to provide their very best to those with need.

With the approval of the Minot City Planning Commission, Hope Village serves as the lead organization with the City of Minot for the organization and coordination of 501(c)(3), religious, and other volunteer organizations serving the people of Minot. Centered through Our Savior Lutheran Church in Minot, Hope Village partners have already assisted countless families in the Minot area.

Our work is first with those in the community who are the most vulnerable: the poor, the disabled, and those who will have the hardest time recovering (which often includes relocation assistance). Uninsured and under-insured homeowners will receive assistance in clean up, repair and rebuilding of their homes. The process of case management identifies those who are in greatest need and will receive our help by a priority system.

[Info via the “About Us” on http://www.hopevillagend.org/about/ .]

To learn more about LCMS Disaster Response, visit www.lcms.org/disaster.