On January 15, 2025 our Mid-South District Disaster Response Coordinator, Kurt Ludwig (a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Clarksville, TN), met with local county officials and nonprofits at the Washington County, TN Long Term Recovery Group. At this meeting Kurt met with people and agencies that were in need of the assistance we could provide. Because of the overwhelming generosity of God’s people who sent donations to assist victims of Hurricane Helene, the Mid-South District dispersed generous financial aid through grants. In addition to working alongside the Washington County, TN Long Term Recovery Group we have been in regular communication with Pr. Shemwell at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Johnson City, TN. At this time the Mid-South District has dispersed grants to families of members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Johnson City.
What are these grants going toward? These grants have provided aid in various capacities. One family lost everything: house, vehicles, barn, and animals. The aid offered by insurance and FEMA fell hundreds of thousands of dollars short of what they lost.
The Mid-South District provided a generation donation to help jump start the cost towards rebuilding their home. Another family that lost their home also lost the only road granting them access to their property. They are living in a camper on the property and driving through a mud hole that used to be a driveway. We were able to cover the cost to rebuild their driveway. These are only a few of the stories where we have been able to share the gifts that were first given to us by those who donated to our District’s Hurricane Helene Relief Fund.
To follow more of the stories and work we are doing, you may follow our Facebook page “Faith In Action Disaster Response.” As of the first of the year, we have received $210K to distribute to our neighbors in eastern Tennessee. God’s people answered the call to care for their neighbors in need.
Thanks be to God!
—Rev. Trae Fistler
Pastor, Faith Lutheran Church
Hopkinsville, Kentucky
