WELS Christian Aid and Relief

WELS Christian Aid and Relief Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from WELS Christian Aid and Relief, N16W23377 Stone Ridge Drive, Waukesha, WI.

As one of our synod's compassion ministries, we help those who are hurting by providing disaster relief, humanitarian aid through WELS Home and World Missions, and personal relief grants for WELS members going through a crisis.

Dear friends in Christ,Nepal is facing a devastating disaster following catastrophic flash flooding in the country’s nor...
08/28/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

Nepal is facing a devastating disaster following catastrophic flash flooding in the country’s northern Himalayan region. A sudden surge of water and debris swept through communities along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers, destroying homes, roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure. Hundreds of people have been killed, and many more remain missing as search-and-rescue efforts continue. The full extent of the damage and loss is still being determined.

I am in touch with our contacts in Nepal to learn more about the situation on the ground and to see how WELS Christian Aid and Relief might be able to help those who have been affected. As we learn more, we will provide additional updates.

Please join us in praying: Lord God, be with the people of Nepal in this time of great suffering. Comfort those who have lost loved ones, protect those who are still in danger, and strengthen those who are searching for and helping the missing and injured. Provide for those who have lost their homes and livelihoods. Give wisdom and strength to all who are responding, and according to your will, open opportunities for us to show Christ’s love and mercy to those in need. Through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

In Christ, our compassionate Savior,
Pastor Dan Sims
Director, WELS Christian Aid and Relief

Note: The photo is from my visit to Nepal a few years ago.

Dear friends in Christ,There is a lot happening in our broken world. Many are in pain. Many are suffering. Many are grie...
08/10/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

There is a lot happening in our broken world. Many are in pain. Many are suffering. Many are grieving. Please join me in prayer to the One who "is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18).

Merciful Father in heaven, you are our refuge and strength in every trouble. Look with compassion upon those around the world who are suffering because of war, earthquakes, fires, tornadoes, floods, and other disasters. Comfort those who are hurting and grieving. According to your good and gracious will, protect those in danger and minimize further loss and suffering.

Give strength, courage, wisdom, and compassion to all who are responding and serving. Bless their efforts to rescue, comfort, and restore those in need.

Above all, Lord, empower your people to proclaim the comfort found in Jesus Christ. Remind those who suffer that our Savior entered this broken world, bore our sins, died on the cross, and rose again. Because Christ lives, sin, suffering, and death do not have the final word. Give us courage to share this sure and certain hope with those who are hurting.

Keep us faithful in serving our neighbors until the day when you make all things new and there is no more death, mourning, crying, or pain.

Through Jesus Christ, our risen Savior, we pray. Amen.

Pastor Dan Sims
Director, WELS Christian Aid and Relief

08/04/2026

A devastating tornado hit Menasha, Wis., and the surrounding area on Monday, July 27. Bethel, Menasha, a bilingual WELS church with about 500 members, sustained some structural damage and WELS Christian Aid and Relief is providing support. Learn more in this video and this article.

Dear friends in Christ,I ran out of time to post an update yesterday, so here's the latest from Menasha.Yesterday was an...
08/03/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

I ran out of time to post an update yesterday, so here's the latest from Menasha.

Yesterday was another full day of work. More than 30 volunteers helped clear additional trees and debris from the campus of Bethel Lutheran in Menasha. Thanks to their hard work, the campus is now free of fallen trees and debris. There is still work to be done on the building, but the congregation's spirits remain high.

Today, a smaller team assisted several WELS members with tree removal on their properties. At this point, we have completed all current requests for this type of assistance, so we are concluding our deployment for now. We will continue to stay in close contact with local church leaders and are prepared to redeploy if new needs arise. In the weeks and months ahead, we will also be working with our congregations to provide financial assistance to members recovering from the storm.

I continue to be amazed by what I've witnessed in Menasha. Everywhere you look, people are helping their neighbors.

Today, I was standing on the porch of a WELS family as our volunteers prepared to remove trees from their backyard. The family still doesn't have power. As we talked, a woman and her son walked up and handed them a $20 gift card to help purchase fuel for their generator. They had been walking through the neighborhood distributing gift cards that they—and many others—had generously donated. Stories like that aren't uncommon here right now. It's a beautiful reminder that God often cares for his people through the kindness and generosity of others.

Our volunteers also reflected the love of our compassionate Savior. They worked tirelessly and selflessly in his name, using the skills God has given them to serve those in need. I couldn't be more thankful for them. All glory belongs to the God who fills the hearts of his people with such love and compassion.

None of this would be possible without your generous support and faithful prayers. Thank you for partnering with us in this ministry. May God continue to bless all who have been affected and all who are serving.

In Christ, our compassionate Savior,

Pastor Dan Sims
Director, WELS Christian Aid and Relief

Volunteer: www.welsdisasterrelief.org
Give: wels.net/CARgift

So thankful for our volunteers. Rockstars. Every one.
08/01/2026

So thankful for our volunteers. Rockstars. Every one.

Lunches packed for our crew. 🥹
07/31/2026

Lunches packed for our crew. 🥹

After a lengthy registration process with local emergency management, work has begun! Praise God! Prayers for safety and...
07/31/2026

After a lengthy registration process with local emergency management, work has begun! Praise God! Prayers for safety and productivity appreciated.

Dear friends in Christ,Here's a brief update on the situation in the Menasha area.We have a team serving tomorrow at Bet...
07/30/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

Here's a brief update on the situation in the Menasha area.

We have a team serving tomorrow at Bethel in Menasha and in the surrounding neighborhood. (Note: We have all the volunteers we need for that opportunity.) I've also posted additional volunteer opportunities for Saturday and Sunday. Registered volunteers can learn more and sign up by visiting www.welsdisasterrelief.org.

Thank you for your overwhelming response to the tremendous need in Menasha. I simply can't keep up with all the emails, texts, phone calls, and messages from people eager to help. Your compassion has been truly encouraging, and I thank God for each of you.

Please continue to be patient with the process. Disaster relief is complex, and it takes time to organize volunteer efforts that are both safe and effective. We are working closely with local leaders to ensure our response is well coordinated and meets the greatest needs.

Please continue to keep the people impacted by the tornado, our volunteers, and local church leaders in your prayers.

I will continue to share updates as more opportunities become available.

In Christ, our compassionate Savior,

Pastor Dan Sims
Director, WELS Christian Aid and Relief
Volunteer: www.welsdisasterrelief.org
Give: www.wels.net/CARgift

Dear friends in Christ,I want to provide you with another update.First, thank you for your patience throughout this proc...
07/29/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

I want to provide you with another update.

First, thank you for your patience throughout this process. I know many of you are eager to get out and begin helping those who have been affected by these storms. Believe me—I share that eagerness. However, this is still an active disaster zone, and access remains limited. Local leaders are asking organizations to avoid bringing in large volunteer groups at this time.

Yesterday, our assessment team met with local pastors and church leaders. We also visited Bethel Lutheran Church in Menasha and the surrounding neighborhood (see photos). The devastation we witnessed was heartbreaking. At the same time, it was encouraging to see people already beginning the long process of cleaning up and rebuilding. Those we spoke with were in remarkably good spirits despite the challenges they face.

Today I plan to connect with local emergency management officials to determine how we can best assist. If we receive the go-ahead, we hope to launch a disaster relief deployment based at Mt. Calvary Lutheran in Harrison. We would begin on Friday with a small team to help remove trees and debris from the Bethel's church property and the surrounding neighborhood. If conditions allow, we hope to expand those efforts on Saturday and Sunday. Should the need continue, we may extend our work into next week.

As soon as we know what opportunities are available, I will contact our registered volunteers by email with details on how they can serve.

Please note that we are not collecting donations of food, water, clothing, personal items, or other supplies at this time. Those immediate needs are already being met.

Once again, thank you for your compassionate hearts. So many of you have reached out asking how you can help, and it has been a tremendous encouragement. It is a beautiful reminder of the compassion of Christ at work in his people.

I will continue to keep you updated as we learn more.

God bless you all!

In Christ, our compassionate Savior,
Pastor Dan Sims
Director, WELS Christian Aid and Relief

To donate: www.wels.net/CARgift
To volunteer: www.welsdisasterrelief.org

Dear friends in Christ,I want to provide you with a brief update.This morning I am traveling to the Menasha area with ou...
07/28/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

I want to provide you with a brief update.

This morning I am traveling to the Menasha area with our assessment team to survey the damage, meet with church leaders, and begin developing a plan for how and where we can help.

Many of you have already reached out asking how you can assist. Thank you! Here are three ways you can help:

1. Give a gift for disaster relief. You can make a donation by visiting wels.net/CARgift and designating your gift for disaster relief. You may also mail a check to:

WELS Christian Aid and Relief
N16W23377 Stone Ridge Drive
Waukesha, WI 53188

2. Volunteer. Sign up to serve at welsdisasterrelief.org. The registration process includes a liability waiver and a background check so that we are prepared to deploy volunteers safely and efficiently.

3. Pray. Please remember everyone affected by these storms, as well as those providing assistance. Your prayers are a powerful blessing.

Please be patient as this process unfolds. It takes time to organize a deployment that allows us to serve safely, effectively, and in an orderly way. We are not first responders, but we are committed to providing Christ-centered assistance as soon as it is appropriate to do so.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out with offers of help and encouragement. I am deeply grateful for your support and will continue to provide updates as I am able.

In Christ, our compassionate Savior,

Pastor Dan Sims
Director, WELS Christian Aid and Relief
www.wels.net/CARgift
www.welsdisasterrelief.org

Address

N16W23377 Stone Ridge Drive
Waukesha, WI
53188

Telephone

+14142563204

Website

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