WELS Christian Aid and Relief

06/04/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

Today we approved a disaster relief grant to help rebuild two LCCA churches in Malawi that were destroyed by flooding from Cyclone Freddy. The photo shows members of one congregation standing where their church once stood. Thanks to your support, these congregations will soon have a place to gather again for worship, sheltered from the sun and rain.

Thank you for your faithful and generous support. Through your gifts, we are able to assist Christian brothers and sisters around the world and share Christ’s love in times of need.

May God continue to bless this work and those it serves.

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

06/01/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

Today marks the beginning of another Atlantic Hurricane Season (June 1-November 30). Please join us to pray:

Lord God, heavenly Father, you rule over all creation and command the winds and the waves. As we enter another hurricane season, we ask for your mercy and protection for all who may be affected by storms. Preserve lives, homes, and communities according to your gracious will, and give peace and confidence to those who face uncertainty and fear.

Bless and protect first responders, utility workers, medical personnel, relief agencies, and volunteers who serve others during and after disasters. Give them strength for their work and keep them safe from harm.

Open our eyes to opportunities to show Christ’s love to those who are hurting. Move us to acts of compassion and generosity and give us courage to share the good news of Jesus, who is our refuge and hope in every trouble.

Into your hands we commend ourselves and all people, trusting in your wisdom, mercy, and unfailing care; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

As always, we thank you for your prayers, volunteer service, and generous support of our ministry of mercy. God bless you!

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

05/25/2026

A few photos from our deployment at St. John in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Grateful for Good Fellers (Greg Colson) who is leading this effort on Memorial Day.

05/24/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

We are deploying a small team to St. John Lutheran Church in Two Rivers, Wisconsin to help with clean up following the storms this week. Registered volunteers can join this effort by responding to the opportunity at welsdisasterrelief.org. Thanks for your help!

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

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04/29/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

Yesterday, the Christian Aid and Relief Commission met with leaders from WELS Home and World Missions for our annual Humanitarian Aid meeting. Each year, we review requests from missionaries seeking support for projects that strengthen gospel ministry both here in the U.S. and around the world.

Through these efforts, we’re able to provide essentials like clean drinking water, food, medical care, mosquito netting, vocational training, and school supplies. These acts of compassion are tangible expressions of Christ’s love for those in need.

I’m thankful for the dedicated members of our team and our partners in WELS Missions. What a privilege it is to work together—serving people in need while sharing with them the life-changing message of our Savior.

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

04/26/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

We are gathering a crew of 8 to help with flood cleanup in New London, Wisconsin on Tuesday, April 28. All of the details are found in the link below. You will need to register as a volunteer before you can join the crew. Thanks for your willingness to serve!

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

https://www.welsdisasterrelief.org/need/detail/?need_id=1255950

04/25/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

I’d like to share another update on the situation in New London and the surrounding communities. I know many of you are eager to come and help, and we’re grateful for that willingness to serve.

At this time, however, the water still needs to recede before we can safely begin work such as pumping out basements and clearing debris. That process is moving slowly, and with more rain forecast for Monday, conditions may remain challenging for a bit longer.

In the meantime, please know that we are actively assessing needs, reaching out to those affected, and staging supplies and equipment so we are ready when the time comes. We simply are not ready to deploy volunteers just yet.

Thank you for your patience and your heart to help. Please continue to keep those impacted in your prayers and stay tuned for further updates.

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

04/23/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

I want to share an update from New London.

We have arrived on site, set up our mobile office, and begun organizing supplies for deployment. God willing, we expect to access the hardest-hit areas tomorrow as floodwaters continue to recede and roads and bridges reopen. This will allow us to assess needs more fully and begin making plans to provide assistance—not only here, but also in nearby communities that have been significantly impacted.

In the meantime, Emanuel has become a central distribution hub for essential supplies such as food, water, clothing, and personal items. Thanks to the generous support of individuals and organizations, more than 100 people each day are receiving help. Even more encouraging, they are being welcomed by compassionate Christians whose kindness reflects Christ’s love. It is truly a beautiful thing to witness.

Many of you have asked how you can help. Here are two important ways:

1. Give financially
The most effective way to support disaster relief efforts is through financial gifts. You can give online at wels.net/CARgift (please designate your gift for disaster relief), or mail a check to:

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

2. Volunteer
You can also serve by registering at welsdisasterrelief.org. After completing three simple steps—a liability waiver, background check, and safety video—you will be certified as a WELS disaster relief volunteer. We will then contact you as opportunities become available, which we expect soon.

We are deeply grateful for your prayers and generous support. We thank God for you.

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

04/20/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

Thank you for your patience as we’ve worked to assess the impact of the recent storms. Because these storms covered such a wide area, gathering accurate information has taken time—and that process is still ongoing. Here’s what we know so far:

Rochester, Minnesota area
Tornadoes caused significant damage to many homes. Two WELS families lost their homes entirely. We thank God that they are safe and currently have the support they need. We continue to work with their pastors to identify any longer-term needs.

Wausau, Wisconsin area
At least 75 homes were damaged or destroyed by tornadoes. Remarkably, none of our WELS members’ homes were seriously damaged. Cleanup efforts are already underway, and we are coordinating with local congregations to determine how best to assist the broader community.

Flooding in Wisconsin
Communities including Janesville, New London, and surrounding areas experienced significant flooding. We are communicating with local churches and are planning a volunteer deployment for flood cleanup. Our base of operations will be Emanuel Lutheran in New London, with work expected to begin later this week and continue into the weekend.

How you can help:

1. Give financially
The most effective way to support disaster relief efforts is through financial gifts. You can give online at wels.net/CARgift (designate your gift for disaster relief), or mail a check to:

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

2. Volunteer
You can also serve by registering at welsdisasterrelief.org. After completing three quick steps (liability waiver, background check, and safety video), you’ll be certified as a WELS disaster relief volunteer. We will then be able to contact you with opportunities to help.

Thank you again for your patience—and even more, for your compassion and generosity. We praise our gracious God for the love he is working through you!

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

NXT-Christian Aid and Relief

04/16/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

I want to share a brief update. Severe weather has impacted many areas across Wisconsin, including tornadoes, heavy rain, and flooding. We are in contact with pastors and local leaders to assess needs and determine how best to provide support.

It’s still early, and more information will come as the situation develops. We will keep you updated as we learn more. In the meantime, please keep all those affected in your prayers.

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

Heavy rains Monday night into Tuesday morning have brought flood warnings to several areas of northeast Wisconsin.