Japan: Earthquake and Tsunami Ravage Country, ELCA Missionaries Okay
Just before 2:45pm local time in Japan (early morning in the US) one of the largest earthquake ever to hit Japan, with a magnitude of 8.9, struck around the town of Sendai causing massive damage and creating a tsunami with...
Libya: ACT Team Prepares for the Worst
A team comprised of staff from ACT member organisations Norwegian Church Aid, FinnChurchAid, the Lutheran World Federation and the Church of Sweden, has been working at full capacity on the Libyan-Tunisian border to assess and prepare for the possible humanitarian...
Libya: Religions for Peace Releases Statement Calling for Violence to Stop
On February 24 Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General for Religions for Peace*, released a statement calling for the violence in Libya to stop. The statement calls on the government of Libya to cease in attacking its own citizens and...
Haiti: “Defined by Restoration, not Rubble” ELCA Presiding Bishop’s Visit
Over two days at the end of February ELCA Presiding Bishop, Rev. Mark S. Hanson, visited Haiti to see first-hand how the church is continuing to engage the people and their needs in this period of recovery and restoration. He...
New Zealand: Though The Building Crumbles The Church Stands
The above title is based on a report by Linda Macqueen of the Lutheran Church of Australia’s Lutheran magazine on the aftermath of a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch, New Zealand. It is in reference to the congregation of...
Indonesia: Soccer Helps Ease The Trauma on Mentawai Islands
It’s been almost four months since a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake producing a tsunami with 9 foot high waves hit the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia causing over 500 casualties and leaving over 11,000 homeless. Since that time reconstruction and aid...