North America
North America constitutes 4.8% of the world’s land mass, the third largest following Africa and Asia. With over 500 million people, it’s the fourth largest in population.
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There are approximately 6,150 Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod churches and 2.5 million members in the United States, belonging to 35 districts. The LCMS partners with other North American Lutheran church bodies, including the Lutheran Church in Canada, The American Association of Lutheran Churches (AALC) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti (ELCH).
LCMS World Relief and Human Care currently funds grants in 18 of the 35 districts. Grants provide for human care efforts in rural and urban settings, and often involve church, recognized service organization and other agency partnerships.
Featured Project
Grant Awarded for Southern California Fire Response
LCMS World Relief and Human Care awarded a $50,000 emergency grant to the Pacific Southwest District in Oct. 2007 to distribute to LCMS congregations responding to needs following days of wildfires in Southern California. No LCMS churches were damaged, but several LCMS families lost their homes.
Rev. Carlos Hernandez, director of districts and congregations and Rev. Glenn Merritt, director of disaster response, both with LCMS World Relief and Human Care, did on-site assessment, working with Pacific Southwest District leaders and local pastors.
Numerous wildfires burned 500,000 acres in southern California fueled by dry conditions and strong Santa Ana winds. At least five deaths and more than 45 injuries were reported. Losses were estimated at $1 billion in San Diego alone. read more >
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