HAPPENINGS

 

FLOODING HITS TEXAS -- HOW YOU CAN HELP

What Happened?  In the early morning hours of July 4, 2025, torrential rains in the Hill Country of Texas unleashed a catastrophic flash flood along the Guadalupe River. Significant rains continue to fall in other areas of the Texas Hill Country. This has become a mass casualty event with dozens of fatalities and unaccounted for individuals. The loss of property is anticipated to be enormous.

 

Hardest hit were the communities of Hunt, Ingram, and Kerrville in Kerr County, Texas. Zion Lutheran Church in Kerrville is well connected to the entire region and is organizing to assist their community as it begins to recover.

How You Can Help.  Offers to assist have come from near and far. The people of Zion thank all of you who have concern in your heart for the suffering their community is enduring. Specifically, we have identified four ways that people can assist at this time:

 

  1. Pray. As you and your congregation pray, please remember all who are suffering through this tragedy. Please pray for safety for first responders who are participating in search, rescue, and recovery efforts. Please pray for miracles of discovering the missing alive. Please pray for consolation for all who mourn the loss of life and property. Please give thanks to God for the precious gift of each day lived.

  2. Send Gift Cards for groceries, basic materials, and fast food restaurants. Zion Lutheran Church is collecting gift cards to stores such as HEB, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, as well as fast food restaurants to assist those displaced. Gift cards can be sent to:

    Zion Lutheran Church

    624 Barnett St.

    Kerrville, TX 78028

  3. Donate to the Texas Flood Disaster Fund.  As the body of Christ seeks to care for those impacted by the flooding, we are receiving donations to be used exclusively to respond to these tragic events. You can give online by clicking the button below. Checks may also be sent to LCMC Texas District, PO Box 58, Hondo, TX 78861. Please write "Flood Recovery" on the memo line.

  4. Like and Follow Zion Lutheran Church’s Facebook page.  At this time, no physical donations are needed nor is there a need for volunteers. As time goes on, this will surely change. Check Zion’s Facebook page for calls to action both for physical donations and volunteers. You will always find the latest information on their response coordination there. If you have something unique to offer, it would be best to email office@zionkerrville.org.
 
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LET'S HELP UKRAINE -- Urgent Request from Pastor Dan's Desk​​​​​​

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, many of you are aware of the situation evolving in Ukraine.  Gelene and I served as missionaries in Ukraine, and we have learned that those with whom we ministered alongside are being directly impacted by these current events.  As we see so many requests for money to support missions in Ukraine from various organizations, it is difficult to know which agency we should support.  We have to ask the question, “Where will my money be used?”

 

Gelene and I served with Spiritual Orphans Network (SON), and I received an urgent request for donations from them this morning.  SON ministers directly alongside Lutheran Churches in the regions involved in this conflict.  I have been informed of the needs of the Lutheran Church in Ukraine, and the surrounding areas of Slovakia, Romania and Estonia.  Monies that are going to Ukraine will support the Lutheran Churches as they minister to those who remain in the country: specifically, through the Gloria Ministry Social Kitchen which distributes over 200 meals per day, plus basic supplies, medicines and other necessities for survival to elderly and shut -in pensioners.  SON is also supporting a congregation in their mission aiding refugees fleeing to safe border countries.  The funding for the Lutheran Churches in the surrounding regions is needed to support these refugees with food, housing, etc.   We have the assurance from SON Ministries, “In all cases, funds will only go to our trusted, long-term, partners.”

 

Please prayerfully consider donating toward this urgent need.  We will be holding special offerings for the next several weeks to aid our Lutheran churches “with boots on the ground” in their ministries to the Ukrainian people.

Send your donations to the church (P.O. Box 8, Birchwood, WI 54817) or use our PayPal link on our website -- TLC PayPal

 

In Christ, Pastor Dan