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On June 24, the U.S. Geological Survey recorded a pair of earthquakes in northern Venezuela that totaled 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude. The earthquakes occurred 40 seconds apart and caused widespread damage throughout Venezuela. More than 6,500 people have been reported dead, more than 225,000 were injured, and tens of thousands are still missing many months later.
WELS’ One Latin America Team sent Missionary Luis Acosta to the affected area in July to provide gospel comfort and to deliver $10,000 in funds from WELS Christian Aid and Relief to the Christians that the team is working with there. Here is the report from Acosta following that trip:
We finally got in Venezuela. The entrance into the country was not trouble free, but nothing that the Lord couldn’t solve. The same day, we went to Puerto Cabello to visit Nimia Fuentes and her group. We had a devotional/Bible study focused on answering with God’s Word why the earthquake happened, and I encouraged them to spread the gospel with a sense of urgency. We also prayed, thanking God for the protection and blessings received along with our petitions for the country and all people affected. The manifestations of deep thankfulness toward God for the humanitarian aid received were overwhelming, not a dry eye in the room. . . .
From Puerto Cabello we traveled to Acarigua and visited Maireli and José Toyo’s group. As happened before, we shared God’s Word to the group and provided much needed encouragement. Here we saw also how timely and needed was the humanitarian aid they received.
The week ended in Guatire, 40 minutes east from Caracas, with a visit and worship with José Roldan’s group.
Following Acosta’s visit, Nimia Fuentes wrote, “I want to thank our heavenly Father first, and also you, for your diligence in caring for the brothers here in Venezuela after the earthquake. Through Pastor Luis Acosta you sent us an offering that was of great value to us. . . . I am very grateful for the attention given to my group and to me. Thank you.”
Throughout the summer, WELS Christian Aid and Relief also helped congregations in the United States that were affected by flooding, tornadoes, and wildfires. It also provided funding to congregations in Colombia following a major earthquake and to the Hmong Evangelical Lutheran Church in Vietnam following severe flooding.
“Every disaster is hard and painful,” notes Dan Sims, director of WELS Christian Aid and Relief, “but each one is also an opportunity to show hurting people the compassionate love of our Savior.”
Learn more about WELS’ outreach in Latin America and about WELS Christian Aid and Relief.
Top featured image: In the weeks following the earthquakes in Venezuela, Luis Acosta (foreground) visited Christians in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, to support them with God’s Word and with relief funds provided by WELS Christian Aid and Relief.
Volume 113, Number 10
Issue: October 2026
