Aug. 5, 2026
Dear Northwest Intermountain Synod,
This afternoon, pastors from Spokane to Wenatchee and I met with Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) staff and volunteers. LDR is part of the ELCA and is also a partner with the Washington State VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster). You might be seeing adds for Lutheran World Relief, which is now Corus International, great with international disasters and of course please sending them your quilts! However, we are encouraging you to give to LDR during this time of wildfires.
To designate a gift to Lutheran Disaster Response for wildfire response, follow this LINK.
For those of you in the Spokane area, we want you to know about this website:
https://www.spokanecommunityresources.org
As I write this, we know that around nine ELCA families in the Spokane area who have lost their homes. All our church structures are still standing, though one building remains in the evacuation zone, and, as one pastor reminded us during the call, the church communities are still alive and well, sharing Jesus’ love with their words and actions.
The wildfires, of course, are still burning across our synod and the wildfire season is far from over. Please continue to pray for those fighting the fires, those evacuated, those who have lost their homes, and those providing care.
Peace,
Bishop Manlove