Praying for Italy

Praying for the people of #Italy. https://t.co/Kf03mDM8sc #earthquake

— Mark Daniels (@MARKJDANIELS) August 24, 2016

What We Can Do for Nepal...

...First, we need to pray.

• Pray for those whose loved ones have died, that God will comfort them.
• Pray for those engaged in rescue, that they will be able to get to survivors amid the rubble of the latest earthquake.
• Pray for the efforts of relief agencies, that God will give them access and success in reaching those impacted by these two earthquakes.
• Pray for the people of Nepal as they attempt to rebuild their lives and their buildings.
• Pray that, as Nepalese people receive the compassion and care of those who claim Jesus as Lord, they will be drawn to Jesus, the way and the truth and the life.

Second, we can give to relief efforts.

The North American Lutheran Church (NALC) had already joined hands with five different agencies that are working in Nepal. This past Saturday, as NALC representatives from Ohio met, our worship offering was designated for Nepalese relief.

Here is a link to the NALC page on Nepal. Here are the four agencies to which you might consider donating money:

Lutheran World Relief (USA)
Lutheran World Relief (Canada)
Samaritan's Purse
World Missions International
World Mission Prayer League

Please pray...

for the people living in those parts of Haiti hit by yesterday's earthquake.

Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, a place that has experienced political turmoil and violence for decades.

Please ask God to help Haitians and agencies and groups, including many churches, that will provide aid, so that life there can be rebuilt and strengthened.

Please particularly pray for the witness of the whole Christian Church there as it brings both material aid and the more significant comfort and hope that comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ to the people.

A colleague of mine, who serves on the staff of a Lutheran congregation in Columbus, is deployed full-time in Haiti with his wife. I received a blast-email from him yesterday, assuring all of us that he, his wife, and the people of the community he serves there are fine, that the earthquake had hit a different part of the country. I'm sure that he and Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, through which he has been called to Haiti, will be doing a lot to address this tragedy.

Please keep Pastor David Mann, his wife Pam, and the people of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church in your prayers as they care for the many needs of the Haitian people.

So Sad

Please pray for the comfort, encouragement, and well being of the survivors.