June 30, 2011

CHICAGO – The buildings of some Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregations in Minot, N.D., have been flooded, as have the homes of many members. Yet ELCA leaders and members remain resilient and express hope as they wait for record floodwaters to recede before they can assess the effects of the disaster.

The 2011 Minot flood exceeded the previous record flood on the Souris River by 4 feet. More than 4,000 homes are flooded, some reportedly with 10 feet of water or more in them.

ELCA Disaster Response has committed to providing two staff positions to Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota to aid in the community's recovery, said the Rev. Kevin A. Massey, director. ELCA Disaster Response previously provided emergency grants totaling $25,000 to Lutheran Social Services and to the ELCA Western North Dakota Synod, Bismarck.

Augustana Lutheran Church and Christ Lutheran Church, both in Minot, are flooded, said the Rev. Mark E. Narum, bishop of the Western North Dakota Synod. First Lutheran Church, Minot, has some water in its basement, and Peace Lutheran Church in nearby Burlington reported it has about 6 feet of water in the basement, he said. Floodwater is expected to remain in Minot for up to two weeks. Several congregations throughout western North Dakota report damage from seepage because of saturated ground, Narum said.

"There will be economic difficulty throughout the synod because of this," Narum said, noting the property losses, the inability of farmers to plant crops and the loss of existing crops.

The Rev. David W. Maxfield, senior pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, said the church building is surrounded by about 4 feet of water. Messages are being sent to the congregation by ELCA members from throughout the country and the synod. They offer their prayers and promises of help to recover after the flood.

"It does revive the soul to know that you don't walk alone," he said. "That's what I've been communicating to my people." Many members evacuated from the flood zone and are staying with family and friends, and are using Facebook to connect with each other, Maxfield said.

With help from ELCA members from throughout the synod, the congregation was able to move furniture, worship materials and a grand piano out of the sanctuary before the flood, Maxfield said. Bethany Lutheran Church, Minot, is serving as a partner congregation with Christ Lutheran Church so members can continue to worship, he said.

"This is not going to be a sprint. This is going to be a marathon," Maxfield said of the recovery process. "There will be more tears, more brokenness. But there will be healing, and there is also hope."

In another part of town, Augustana Lutheran Church has a basement full of water and about 3 feet of water around the building, said the Rev. Michon D.Weingartner. She said the congregation is particularly concerned about a number of stained-glass windows in the sanctuary. Weingartner is staying with a member of the congregation because her apartment near the church was flooded, she said. She, too, has stayed connected with members and seminary classmates via Facebook.

"We're going to have a fight ahead of us, but no one has given any indication of giving up or tossing in the towel," she said. Weingartner said she is grateful for members of the Western North Dakota Synod who came to help the congregation evacuate its building, and who have helped by providing food, blankets and other supplies.

"It's definitely a family of brothers and sisters in Christ, across all views, thoughts and beliefs coming together in this crisis," Weingartner added.

Augustana members have been sharing worship with another Minot congregation, Bread of Life Lutheran Church.

Gifts to U.S. flooding can be contributed at https://community.elca.org/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=635, on the ELCA website. Gifts may also be contributed by calling 800-638-3522, or by mail to ELCA Disaster Response, 39330 Treasury Center, Chicago, IL 60694-9300. Please write "U.S. Floods" on your check's memo line.

ELCA News Service