WELS Christian Aid and Relief: A Ministry of Compassion
As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:10).
These inspired words from the pen of the great apostle help to guide the mission of WELS Christian Aid and Relief. That mission is simple: do good, assist those in need, help the helpless, reflect the compassion of Christ to people who are hurting. It’s a Fifth Commandment mission, a mission of helping and befriending our neighbor in every bodily need. We do this both for those who are closest to us, our brothers and sisters in the faith, and for those outside the church, those who don’t yet know Jesus as their Savior.
Whether those we are helping are from our fellowship or outside it, we want to do more than just help with bodily needs. We are a Means of Grace ministry. Our goal is to comfort them with the gospel, to share with them the peace that transcends all understanding, to lead them to know and trust in their Savior, Jesus Christ. As we strive to meet people’s physical needs, we also want to meet their spiritual needs by sharing with them the good news of the One who lived, died, rose for their salvation.
We carry out this ministry of compassion in three main ways: disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and personal financial grants for people who are experiencing a crisis.
When there is a disaster – hurricane, tornado, fire, flood – we work through our local WELS congregation or mission to help the affected community clean up and get back to normal. We provide leadership, trained volunteer labor, funding, equipment, and coordination to help get the church and the neighborhood back on its feet. Since disasters can be so traumatic, we also spend a lot of time talking to people, listening to their stories, praying for them, and sharing with them the good news of Jesus.
In addition to disaster relief, we also partner with WELS Home and World Missions to provide Humanitarian Aid in mission settings at home and abroad. Such aid includes basic ongoing needs like food for the hungry, clean water for the thirsty, medical care for the sick, school supplies for underprivileged children, and a host of other basic life resources. Such compassion in action helps build relationships of trust between the local missionary and the people he serves and leads to many opportunities to proclaim the love of Christ.
Finally, we work with WELS churches and missions to aid people who are in crisis. It might be a child who needs surgery his parents can’t afford, or an elderly couple that need a new roof. In such cases we work with the local congregation or mission to raise the necessary funds and meet the need.
Brief History of WELS Christian Aid and Relief
WELS Christian Aid and Relief was formerly called “Committee on Relief.” The committee has operated as a five-person team of volunteers with a chairman, appointed by the synod president since 1946. It began after World War II to provide relief to war sufferers in Germany and Poland. In 1957 the committee expanded its mission to provide grants to congregations and individuals affected by disasters and other personal medical emergencies.
In 1998, the WELS Board for World Missions established a Humanitarian Aid Committee to oversee their humanitarian aid projects. These projects are intended to meet community needs and develop relationships to share the gospel with the unchurched people they serve.
At a special meeting (of the then Committee on Relief) in November 2009 a proposal to restructure the committee with the addition of a full-time layperson Director of Operations was approved.
In August 2010, a Joint meeting of the Committee on Relief and the Humanitarian Aid Committee of the Board for World Missions approved that the two committees would amalgamate into one new committee with the new name of WELS Christian Aid and Relief, responsible to the Synodical Council through the Synod President. This commission has a threefold emphasis – respond to natural disasters, provide financial grants to individuals facing medical or financial crisis, and support home and world mission humanitarian aid projects.
In addition to providing financial grants, WELS Christian Aid and Relief began recruiting and overseeing volunteers for disaster relief projects in 2001, with increased involvement after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the events of 9/11 in New York City. This includes recruiting volunteers to help make disaster assessments, coordinate relief efforts, and lead disaster relief trailer teams.
At its November 2019 meeting the Synodical Council approved calling a full-time pastor as Director of WELS Christian Aid and Relief with the goal of enhancing our disaster relief ministry by training WELS members to respond to disaster situations within their communities.
