Spiritual Accompaniment in Disaster

During the past year our South Dakota communities have suffered power outages from ice, fields and forests destroyed by fire, homes and pastures ravaged by tornadoes, and a fear of major illness and death caused by the avian flu pandemic. As important members of communities, churches have a role to play in times of crises. We don't know what the next crisis will be, but we know we will have one. Preparation will enable us to be more helpful when the next disaster strikes.

Earlier this year the Association of Christian Churches signed on as one of the sponsors of a Spiritual Advocacy in Disaster workshop held in Rapid City. This workshop was very well received by the people involved, with the only downside being that we could have hosted a lot more people. This same workshop is being held in Aberdeen (Oct 19) and Sioux Falls (Oct 20) in 2006, sponsored by Lutheran Social Services of SD and Lutheran Disaster Response. The workshop can be very helpful to pastors, and also to nurses and other leaders in the churches, particularly in small communities. For a .pdf copy of the workshop brochure, download SAID brochure p.1 and SAID brochure p.2, or call Karen at 1-800-568-2401 ext 132.