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Executive Director Buss Announces Plans to Step Down; Board Begins Search for Successor
January 21, 2010 (Updated February 4, 2010)-
(Executive Director job posting at bottom of page.)
After almost five years of working in and leading the Hurricane Katrina and Rita recovery effort in the Southern District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Recovery Assistance, Inc. (RAI) Ministries’ Executive Director Rev. Dave Buss has announced his resignation, effective upon the hiring of his successor or August 29, 2010 (The fifth anniversary of Katrina making landfall).
“I was placed in an incredible place at an incredible time in U.S. history,” reflected Buss. “What a blessing it has been to be part of this powerful ministry - which continues to witness to the hope that we have in Jesus Christ in the aftermath of our country’s most destructive storms. I thank God for this opportunity and I thank the people of God for their response!”
Pastor Buss plans to return to parish ministry after his replacement is found.
In August of 2005, Buss helped lead the Trinity Lutheran-Baton Rouge response before being asked to coordinate the volunteer effort for the Southern District and then for Lutheran Disaster Response until March of 2006. In August of 2006, Buss took over as head of the Southern District LCMS Disaster Team from Rev. Dave Lewis and from it, founded RAI Ministries, a legally separate corporation to continue the long term response. Buss’ achievements:
-Organized early volunteer camps and the centralized reservation system for managing tens of thousands of “muck-out” and construction volunteers.
-Founded and incorporated RAI Ministries as an ongoing mission serving those in need on the Gulf Coast.
-Directed the effort to:
o Repair and restore over 6,000 homes of families who survived Katrina,
o Rebuild four Lutheran church buildings (a fifth is in progress).
o Assist 40 affected LCMS congregations (and many non Lutheran congregations) in their recovery efforts.
o Equip tens of thousands of volunteers from all over the nation and world to share the hope of Jesus Christ.
-Positioned RAI to be awarded multiple FEMA case-management grants providing case management and recovery plan assistance to thousands of families living in FEMA-assisted housing.
“On behalf of the Board, we thank Dave for his tireless service to the cause for over four years,” commented Woody Keim, RAI Ministries Board Chairman. “His work has been a true blessing to thousands and he will be sorely missed.”
A nationwide search to fill the position will begin immediately. The RAI board plans to hire a CEO with the intention of expanding RAI’s impact on recovery efforts and ministry in the Gulf Coast for years to come. A job description and instructions for inquiries and nominations can be downloaded here.
RAI Ministries is an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization incorporated in the State of Louisiana. RAI’s mission is “To restore faith, home and community in the name of Jesus to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.”