Lutheran Disaster Response

Lutheran Disaster Response Lutheran Disaster Response shares God's hope, healing and renewal with those impacted by disasters.

Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) has an extensive history of responding to disasters, both domestically and internationally. With a focus on long-term recovery, we are there to provide assistance to those in need long after the dust settles and the headlines change. We have a long commitment of working with local communities in a way that allows them to develop their own response after being impac

ted by a disaster. As the disaster ministry program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, we accompany those affected by disaster as they navigate their way to renewal. How We Work:
Local Response - We work through congregations, organizations and companion churches who have relationships with and are part of the impacted communities. Emotional and Spiritual Care - As people recover from disaster, it is important to rebuild lives, as well as homes. Through pastoral care and programs, such as Camp Noah, we address the personal effects of disaster. Volunteer Coordination - We coordinate volunteers through our affiliates in the area to help homeowners with clean-up and rebuilding to help them save on expenses. Long-Term Recovery - Whether rebuilding after a disaster takes a few months or a few years, we are the last to leave. Refugee Communities - In times of civil unrest, drought and famine, we work to set up refugee camps and provide these communities essential care and emotional support. Disaster Risk Reduction - We help communities build on their assets to reduce the effects of potential future disasters. Relief to Development - We account for not only the immediate but the long-term goals of the communities we serve by participating in capacity building to create more resilient communities.

How do Christians remain faithful in times of war? What does resilience look like when daily life is shaped by uncertain...
06/04/2026

How do Christians remain faithful in times of war? What does resilience look like when daily life is shaped by uncertainty and loss?

Join the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ for an international webinar on the War in Ukraine - Faith, Resistance, and Resilience, featuring Prof. Dr. Dmytro Tsolin (Ukraine), Rev. Rachel Eskesen, Director for the ELCA Global Mission Europe Desk, and voices from Poland, Germany and the United States as we reflect together on faith, solidarity, and Christian witness in the midst of war.

Topics will include:

• Living as a Christian during wartime
• Faith, hope, and spiritual resilience in challenging times
• The reality of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine today
• Solidarity across borders: what truly helps?

The webinar will include a keynote address, international responses, questions from the audience, devotion and a closing prayer.

Come, listen, and learn about the experiences of our sisters and brothers in Ukraine and what it means to stand in solidarity with them.

When a powerful earthquake struck Myanmar in March 2025, entire communities were left reeling, homes destroyed, liveliho...
05/28/2026

When a powerful earthquake struck Myanmar in March 2025, entire communities were left reeling, homes destroyed, livelihoods lost, and access to clean water uncertain.

But even in the face of devastation, hope is rising. Through the support of Lutheran Disaster Response, the ACT Alliance, and Lutheran World Federation, families are rebuilding, not just their homes, but their dignity, resilience, and future.

From restoring clean water to helping families start again, these stories remind us of the strength found in community.

Read more about how resilience is taking root in Myanmar via the link below:

After a devastating March 2025 earthquake in Myanmar, communities rebuild with humanitarian support restoring homes, livelihoods, and hope.

This Memorial Day, Lutheran Disaster Response gives thanks for the brave women and men who laid down their lives in serv...
05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, Lutheran Disaster Response gives thanks for the brave women and men who laid down their lives in service to others.

As people of faith, we are reminded of the call to love our neighbors and serve with compassion. We honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice by continuing this work walking alongside communities in times of disaster, bringing hope, healing, and Christ’s love where it’s needed most.

Today, we remember. We give thanks. And we commit ourselves to serving in ways that reflect their legacy of selfless service.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” — John 15:13

In the first week of May 2022, severe storms and flash flooding swept through Eastern Oklahoma, leaving a trail of destr...
05/22/2026

In the first week of May 2022, severe storms and flash flooding swept through Eastern Oklahoma, leaving a trail of destruction across multiple counties. In Muskogee alone, more than seven inches of rain fell in a single day, overwhelming homes, properties, and communities. Thousands of households were impacted, many of them uninsured and uncertain of how they would recover.

Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) partnered with Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma to support unmet needs from the storms. Together, this collaboration became a source of hope for families facing overwhelming loss.

Today, we celebrate a milestone: every household served through this project has now completed their recovery.

Read the full story below:

LDR partnered with Catholic Charities of Eastern OK to support storm recovery in Muskogee, bringing hope to families facing devastating loss.

Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry has released a statement on the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego.“As the ELCA, ...
05/22/2026

Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry has released a statement on the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego.

“As the ELCA, we must speak plainly: violence rooted in hatred is sin. We condemn Islamophobia and acknowledge its rise in recent years. Our church affirms that “anti-Muslim hatred is antithetical to our Christian faith” (A Declaration of the ELCA to the Muslim Community), for we are called to love our neighbor in ways that cast out fear (1 John 4:18).”

Read the full statement through the link in the comments below.

This past week, we had the privilege of partnering with LDR Carolinas to host a Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Care (M...
05/20/2026

This past week, we had the privilege of partnering with LDR Carolinas to host a Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Care (MESS) Basic in collaboration with MESS Ministries.

MESS Basic is a disaster response training designed for clergy, lay leaders, and community responders. Participants are equipped with practical skills to serve in both stabilizing roles (addressing immediate, short-term needs following a disaster) and support roles, providing ongoing care in the weeks, months, and even years after an event.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who participated and for their commitment to walking alongside their communities in times of crisis. Your dedication makes a lasting difference!

05/15/2026
Across the globe, humanitarian needs continue to rise at an alarming rate. As of April 2026, millions of people are faci...
05/14/2026

Across the globe, humanitarian needs continue to rise at an alarming rate. As of April 2026, millions of people are facing the compounded impacts of conflict, climate disasters, and economic instability. For communities already living on the margins, these overlapping crises, often called a “poly-crisis,” are stretching resilience to its limits.

At Lutheran Disaster Response, we are witnessing how these interconnected challenges are reshaping the humanitarian landscape and deepening the urgency of our shared response.

Read more via the link in our blog.

Humanitarian needs continue to rise at an alarming rate, and LDR is witnessing these challenges are reshaping the humanitarian landscape

Last week, Lutheran Disaster Response had the honor of attending the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster...
05/13/2026

Last week, Lutheran Disaster Response had the honor of attending the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) Conference alongside an incredible network of partners committed to serving communities before, during, and after disasters.

We are especially proud to have been a sponsor of this year’s gathering, an opportunity to support collaboration, share resources, strengthen relationships, and invest in the shared mission of compassionate, coordinated disaster response.

Opportunities like this reinforce that we can accomplish more together than any one organization can alone. Thank you to National VOAD for convening this vital space, and to all who are working every day to bring hope, healing, and support where it’s needed most.

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