EFCA UPDATE SPECIAL BROADCAST

Midwest Flooding
June 19, 2008

Midwest Flooding
Hundreds of communities from Central Wisconsin to Southern Missouri are dealing with record breaking flood waters. Levees have failed. Dams have broken. Swollen rivers have left their banks. Towns and homes that survived the Great Flood of 1993 are under water.

In some areas, waters are receding and the extent and reality of the resulting damage is being exposed. EFCA churches in the region have suffered extensive flood damage including Fellowship EFC in La Valle, WI and Parkview EFC in Iowa City, IA, while several other churches and parsonages have been moderately impacted. Pastor Jeff Gilmore of Parkview EFC reflected in a recent CNN interview, “When we heard the flood was coming, everybody thought, oh, it will be OK, it will be OK. We were safe in '93. So when we first went in (to the church), I was so taken aback by all the water and the different perspective. Within the first few minutes -- I didn't know where I was.”

Numerous homes of EFC church members in Wisconsin, Iowa and neighboring states have suffered extensive flood damage. Thousands of homes in the region are underwater. The storms that brought rain also brought damaging tornadoes that destroyed the EFCA church in Jewell, KS.

The Response

These needs provide an opportunity for the EFCA to respond by helping to bring healing and restoration to the Body and showing the love of Christ to those hurting. As local EFCA churches are reaching out to their communities, the following action steps have been taken by the EFCA:

1. EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response has initiated contacts with the Central, Midwest, Great Lakes and Forest Lakes Districts and some local churches to assist in recovery and in planning long term recovery and outreach efforts--including volunteer opportunities.

2. The Central District has set up an account for district churches to give to needs in that area. For information on the Central District giving opportunity, go to http://cd.efca.org/

3. All of the affected districts are making contacts to identify and assess needs throughout the region.

What can you do?

Pray for:

· Compassionate outreach to touch those affected by the flood waters

· The Lord “to be the stability of these times” for the churches that have been impacted

· An outpouring of God’s blessing to meet the many needs

Give:

We have established the Midwest Flood Relief fund and are accepting donations to help our impacted churches, and to help in the long term recovery and outreach in the communities affected by the crisis.

Please send checks to:

Midwest Flood Relief #21709-3990

901 E 78th Street

Minneapolis MN 55420

You can donate online at https://www.efca.org/apps/giving/. Please enter the relief fund number 21709-3990 in the designation line.

Thank you for your prayers and generous giving.