By Evangeline Dai, Ministry Coordinator, and The Rev. Chris Markert, Bishop’s Associate for Mission
After celebrating the Good Shepherd Sunday, let us look at the Good Shepherd in action.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bridge City, Texas, is one of our member churches in the synod.
Our synod Disaster Response and Preparedness Team had a meeting to check on the trailer and have discussions for things that need to be done for upcoming hurricane season and other disaster resiliency plans.
Photo: Pastor Paul Zoch, Deacon Candidate Dorie Jones, Pastoral Intern Andrew Thompson, Pastor Brian Deckinger, Synod Ministry Coordinator Evangeline Dai, Brother Chris Markert
The TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod has learned, adapted, and evolved how we do disaster response together, especially through multiple storms, floods, and other catastrophes. In 2019, the synod’s Disaster Team refined its priorities with the goal of being more intentional with building resiliency and preparedness in congregations and communities.
Our goal is to focus the synod’s coordination of resources and training to build stronger and more resilient communities throughout Texas and Louisiana, especially in resource-limited and socio-economically disadvantaged communities.
One of our goals is to identify and develop three regional “hubs” for disaster preparedness and response. These hubs will be resources and stocked for immediate response to local crises and disasters. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bridge City is one of them. They just built a new gym with space that can be used for hosting volunteers or be a shelter when disaster strikes. The synod has a trailer parked here, currently filled with equipment, tools, and materials.
What has been done, and what are the plans in the future? What resources and connections do we have? What do you want to see the synod do for the area of disaster response and resiliency? If you would like to learn more about the synod’s disaster resiliency plans, Evangeline will have a presentation and a time for Q&A and comments in a webinar before the synod assembly. Please join the webinar on Wednesday, May 17th at 5PM Central Time.
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- New gym at Good Shepherd.
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- disaster response trailer
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- disaster response trailer
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- Meeting time (photo credit: Ann Hall, office manager at Good Shepherd)
