RE: What's REinstitute's Mission?

REinstitute is an outreach ministry that actively prepares and involves people for building faith, home and community after disasters.

RE: Is REinstitute affiliated with any anyone?

REinstitute is an arm of  Southern District Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Recovery Assistance, Inc., a 501(c)3 long-term recovery organization working primarily along the Gulf Coast.  Donations to REinstitute are tax deductible if made out to Recovery Assistance with REinstitute in the memo line.  Thank you for your support!

RE: What does the "RE" in REinstitute stand for?

RE stands for Restoration Education, Restoration Evangelism and Restoration Events but it can also stand for quite a few other things. Here are some of our favorites one-word RE's:

REstore (Our Camp in New Orleans)
REady
REbuild
RElief
REnew
REach
REnovate
REstore
REpair
REvive
REsearch
REsponders
REformation

RE words are an integral part of the vision for REinstitute-New Orleans. Based at Camp REstore, we address disaster scenarios with REsearch, we RElate to the people involved, we REspond to their needs, we REvive their community with hope and REform their systems for the future.

REinstitute is a faith-based organization. We are followers of Jesus who desire to REflect Him and find ultimate hope in REsurrection.

Become part of our team! 

RE: What is Director Kurtis Smith's Story?

You'll hear our director exclaim, "I love my job!"

Smith's background in volunteer management, mission outREach and communications fits ideally for directing REinstitute. As the son of international educators he traveled extensively, living in Asia and Africa, and then himself served professionally in roles that took him around the globe while based in St. Louis, New York City, Chicago and Nebraska.

Smith has lived and served in outREach leadership roles in Greater New Orleans for the past four years. Since the hurricane, he states, "Katrina bonded my family to the people of Louisiana. New Orleans is our home."

A rostered Director of Outreach in the LCMS, Smith is a Fellow with the International Academy of Apologetics, Evangelism and Human Rights. He is professionally certified through FEMA's Emergency Management Institute, and is a founding board member of Northshore Disaster Recovery, Inc.

Kurtis and his wife, Teresa, have four young children: Sophia, Naomi, Ellesha and Kennedy. The family enjoys caring for their two birds and a dog, Duke, that moved in with them after hurricane Katrina.

Because of some water damage to their house, the Smiths were out of their home in Slidell, LA, for three months after Katrina. The home was REpaired--largely by volunteers for whom the Smiths are very grateful.

RE: How did REinstitute - New Orleans begin?

Hurricane Katrina's massive devastation brought about the need for an extensive participation by non-governmental agencies including Faith-Based Organizations. "The scope of the catastrophe created a revival of sorts for volunteer agencies," says REinstitute Director Kurtis Smith, "it's been a wonderful opportunity to share hope through thoughtful actions and messages of care--in my case, while leading part of the Lutheran Disaster Response."

Smith led two faith-based camps that facilitated thousands of volunteers during the early response after Katrina: one on the Northshore of Lake Ponchartrain in Slidell at Lamb of God Lutheran Church called, "Camp Hope," and one on the Southshore called "Camp Atonement" near New Orleans' Louis Armstrong Airport, at Atonement Lutheran Church. His activity earned him the Slidell Chamber of Commerce "Member of the Month" award as well as the Channel 6, WDSU "Making a Difference" award. During this time he helped to establish Northshore Disaster Recovery, of which he is now a board member.

Smith's success in his work brought about the desire to share the learning with others.

"The key to success for such groups as ours was responding in an informed, helpful manner. REinstitute gathers experts and then shares the wisdom we've learned through this and other critical incidents. It is a vision that God placed on my heart."

"We also wanted to connect disaster outreach with the Lutheran Ablaze! movement which focuses on critical events: sharing Good News about Jesus with those who are yet uncommitted to Him."

As Smith says, "REinstitute helps turn negative critical incidents into positive critical events."

He continues, "REinstitute answers the call when it comes to addressing your needs. Instead of you wondering what to do and say about disasters, we can teach you and your team members through the wisdom and experience of our staff. We'll also help churches and organizations plan ahead and be REady when disaster strikes."