Heavy rains in the Midwest have impacted WELS congregations—several in the Milwaukee area and one in Illinois. Among the congregations impacted in Milwaukee is Siloah, where more than seven feet of water flooded into the basement during the July 22 storm, which dumped more than seven inches of rain in just a few hours. As of Aug. 2, there was still no electricity in the church. Church members have been meeting in the school gym for services.

Rev. Keith Tullberg, pastor at Siloah, says, "Last Sunday I preached on the one thing needed—the Word of God. God's Word will sustain us. In my sermon I quoted Siloah's new principal, Phil Leyrer, who said, 'The one needed thing is waterproof.' We should never forget that.”

Also in Milwaukee, at Atonement both the basement of the church and the adjacent early childhood center were flooded with two feet of water. The church remains without air conditioning. An undetermined number of homes of WELS members throughout the area have also been flooded.

In Illinois at St. Peter in Savanna—150 miles west of Chicago—four families also sustained extensive damage from the storm. One family's entire home was destroyed.

WELS Committee on Relief (COR) stands ready to offer help with volunteer or financial assistance anytime a congregation or its members suffer loss as the result of a disaster. COR has granted St. Peter $1,000 to help with initial disaster-related expenses and is meeting with church leaders at Siloah.

To support relief efforts, visit www.wels.net/relief.