Sunday Morning with Mike Huseth

Executive Director,
Lutheran Episcopal Services
in Mississippi, 48, Jackson

Tell us about your background.

I grew up in Chicago and my grandfather saw his first Cubs game before they built Wrigley Field so I am very familiar with the concept of perseverance. I attended Southern Methodist on a track & field (high jump) scholarship and graduated with a degree in Economics. I received a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Memphis and a Masters in Biblical Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary here in Jackson. I am a member of Ascension Lutheran Church and a member of the Southeastern Synod Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. I worked in health care administration for 15 years in Memphis and Jackson before I came to Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi.

What is the mission of Lutheran Episcopal Services?

Guided by Christ's love and grace Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi serves as an instrument seeking to bring dignity, healing, justice, hope and encouragement to all.

How are you funded?

We receive our funds from a number of entities. The largest donors are Episcopal Relief and Development, Lutheran Disaster Response, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Episcopal Dioceses of Mississippi. We received a $250,000 grant from the Mississippi Realtor's Association last year that went towards our Affordable Housing Rebuilding program on the Coast. We took part of that $250,000 to address a need that was not and still not filled––repair of rental housing. On the second anniversary of Katrina, the National Association of Realtors is awarding us a $500,000 grant to expand the rental property repair program.

What has been the role of your organization in aftermath of Katrina?

There are four volunteer camps on the cost (Ocean Springs-Camp Victor, Biloxi-Camp Biloxi, Long Beach-Camp Coast Care and Waveland - Mission on the Bay). We continue to rebuild for those in need on the Coast through our case management program and with the help of our volunteers who have come from every state and 16 foreign countries.

From your perspective, how is the recover going? What needs remain?

As I travel around the country, it becomes obvious that people have no idea of the existent devastation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We communicate to the nation that although Mississippi has made great strides in clearing up the Coast, the rebuilding of lives, properties and infrastructure is a monumental project that is in its infancy. There are still over 17,000 FEMA trailers and over 60,000 people living in them. East of the Bay of St. Louis, the devastation is beyond comprehension. LESM's hospitality camps continue to need  volunteers. We need folks to pound nails, float and tape sheet rock, paint and many similar tasks for labors, skilled and unskilled.

What experience in the Gulf Coast recovery has had the most impact on you?

A few months ago, a Lutheran church from Montana contacted Camp Coast Care and stated that they wanted to  bring members of their congregation to build a house. About that same time, an Episcopal church from New Jersey wanted to fund the rebuilding of a house. The Lutherans had the skill and the Episcopalians had the funds. It was literally a match made in Heaven. Our case managers identified a family that needed a total rebuild and had already gone through the interviews and needed documentation, Some additional volunteers from St. James Episcopal Church, here in Jackson, went down and the two congregations, working with LESM's construction staff joined with the family in celebration by providing a barbeque when the house was completed. Our case managers and other staff joined in, finishing with a house blessing. This particular situation represents so much of what this work is about – faith-based organizations working with volunteers across the country to help rebuild lives on the Coast. In the process, everyone's life was enriched.

What has been your impression of the faith-based efforts on the Coast.

As discouraging as the numbers above look, it has been tremendously rewarding to see how all of the faith-based organizations have worked together to respond to this catastrophe. We have all looked beyond our doctrinal differences and focused on the needs of others. The results have been truly impressive and inspiring, yet we have so much more to do.

Do you still need volunteers?

Absolutely! For some reason, the numbers of volunteers are down in August all along the Coast. I cannot imagine why folks would not want to come down to Mississippi and work outside at this time of year. Joking aside, we do need people to continue to come dawn and one of my responsibilities is to communicate that we still need their help. The mission has changed down there from mucking out houses and handing out sandwiches to rebuilding property and lives. We need skilled volunteers with big hearts.