Lutheran Church Charities has been invited by Gary Kessler, Globally Engaged in Outreach (GEO) Missionary to Belize, and Rev. Dr. Allan Buss, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Northern Illinois District President, to remove multiple dead and storm-damaged trees from properties in Belize: Concordia Mission House grounds in Belmopan, a local partner church in Orange Walk and at the Belize Zoo in La Democracia. The storm occurred many months ago, but none of the organizations could afford to hire crews to do the cleanup. They are all very happy to finally have their properties made safe for visitors. The following Northern Illinois District Lutheran Church Charities Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) members volunteered for this mission trip to Belize and will be serving January 24 – 30: • Larry Zagorski, Max Metz - Lord of Life, LaFox • Marty Johnson and Anna Piro - St. John, Wheaton • Pete and Christel Springmire - Immanuel, DeKalb The teams will be taking their own chainsaws, ropes, rigging, and personal protection equipment. Once in Belize, they will also be renting a tractor with a grapple and lift to use for the week. The Northern Illinois District Missions and Lutheran Church Charities, through donations, have committed to fund this team’s trip expenses, which are estimated to be approximately $8,000. Gary Kessler and Rev. Dr. Allan Buss appreciate LCC’s disaster response team's commitment to serve in Belize and the opportunity to help support this endeavor. Please prayerfully consider donating to help fund LERT mission trip to Belize to serve those in need. Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response and Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT) have been asked to remain on standby at this time in responding to the tornadoes that tore through Tennessee and Kentucky on Saturday, December 9. The Montgomery County, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (EMA) has told Pastor Trae Fistler of Faith Lutheran Church in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, through which LCC LERT volunteers would be working to provide assistance for the community, they cannot accept any more volunteers to assist with tree and debris removal at this time. The roads are impassable in much of the town, utilities are still in the restoration phase, and residents are being overwhelmed by those coming into the town as they are still trying to assess their own damage. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Mid-South District Disaster Response Coordinators will remain attentive to needs and continue to be available for assessments, and remain in communication with the EMA director in these upcoming weeks in order to determine when a response will be more beneficial for the community.
Lutheran Church Charities, the Northern Illinois District Disaster Response Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT), has been asked by Jan Simko, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Mid-South District Disaster Response Coordinator, to deploy to Faith Lutheran Church in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, to provide assistance from an EF-3 tornado with 150 mph winds that occurred on Saturday, December 9. This tornado was on the ground through Clarksville, Tennessee, and multiple rural towns in Kentucky for 43 miles and just over an hour, causing the loss of three lives, many injuries, and significant damage to hundreds of homes, businesses, schools, infrastructure, and vehicles in both states. Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, and Chainsaw Team Leader Pete Springmire will arrive in Hopkinsville on Friday, December 15, to assist Pastor Trae Fistler in assessing the damage. LCC LERT volunteers will arrive on Sunday, December 17, to begin work on Monday, December 18, continuing through Saturday, December 23
We look forward to BEING THERE to provide the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are in need at this time.
Thank you for your faithful prayers and support for all of the communities affected by the catastrophic tornadoes and those responding to assist. BE THERE with LCC to show them the love and presence of Jesus! LCC President/CEO, Rev. Chris Singer, along with HMC Project Manager, Tim Laabs, have arrived in Maui to work with Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Kahului to prepare and place 99 Hearts of Mercy & Compassion at a memorial site uniquely chosen for this purpose in Lahaina Leif Sjostrand (Congregational President), Russell Wilson (Head Elder), and Diane Wilson (Church Secretary) from Emmanuel have arranged for volunteers and newly trained Maui LERT team members to assemble the crosses and add names to the hearts for those who lost their lives in the Maui wildfires. Friday morning, volunteers will move the hearts and crosses to the memorial site located on Hokiokio Place in Lahaina, between the Lahaina Bypass and Honoapiilani Hwy. Saturday morning, November 11th, volunteers specifically trained to offer comfort and hope to those visiting the site will return to the memorial site with Pastor Singer. The Dedication Ceremony honoring the lives lost will take place at 10:00 a.m. Attendees are invited to write messages of hope and healing on the hearts, which will then be presented to the families. Thank you for your faithful prayers and support for all of the communities affected by the wildfires who are now facing the long process of recovery. BE THERE with LCC to show them the love and presence of Jesus! BE THERE with Lutheran Church Charities |
Rev. Chris Singer, Lutheran Church Charities President/CEO, and Deaconess Kathy O’Day, Director of Disaster Response, attended The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) annual Disaster Response Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Also attending were LCMS Northern Illinois District Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) chainsaw instructors and volunteers Mark and Bev Brueggemann, Marty Johnson, Anna Piro, and Pete and Christel Springmire. There were ninety-five LCMS L.E.R.T. District Disaster Response Coordinators, instructors, and volunteers from thirty LCMS districts present. All heard presentations on many topics relevant to responding to disasters and providing spiritual and emotional care to disaster survivors. |
While attending the conference, L.E.R.T. team member Christel Springmire assisted Forged by Fire, an LCMS Recognized Service Organization (RSO), to cook and serve southern food for Concordia Seminary students at the annual Jambalaya Fest they host.
Kathy O’Day, Anna Piro, Marty Johnson, and Pete Springmire spoke with seminary students about what LCMS L.E.R.T. is and how its program and volunteers can be the church and serve those affected by a disaster. For many seminary students, this is their first introduction to L.E.R.T.
During the conference, Rev. Chris Singer was invited to speak at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Missouri, about the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog, Disaster Response, Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, and Human Care ministries.
On the evening of September 6, Rev. Singer had a unique opportunity to meet with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams local to the St. Louis/St. Charles area. He shared some exciting updates about Lutheran Church Charities and enjoyed answering questions and listening to feedback and suggestions from this excellent group of leaders. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Esther & Jordan (Holy Cross - Collinsville, Illinois), Noah (Timothy - St. Louis, Missouri), Tabby (St. Paul’s - Des Peres, Missouri), Persis (King of Kings - Glenpool, Oklahoma), and Zillah (Immanuel - St. Charles, Missouri), along with their handlers, were in attendance. Many thanks to Immanuel St. Charles for hosting this wonderful fellowship opportunity, complete with a great compliment of desserts and coffee, and to the LCC K-9 teams and others who gave their time to be there and share the comfort. |
116 Confirmed Deaths; Hundreds Still Missing 12,000+ People Displaced; Families Left Homeless On Tuesday, August 8, a firestorm fueled in part by fierce winds from the Category 4 Hurricane Dora’s 140 mph winds triggered raging fires on the island of Maui. Hard hit is the historic town of Lahaina, a popular tourist destination and economic hub. The wildfires also impacted the communities of Kihei and Kula. As of this week, the death toll from the Maui wildfires climbed to 116. On Friday, the FBI released the known names of 348 people confirmed missing to the public, and there are still many unknown others. This has been very difficult for the people of Maui to read and process who has been lost. |
An estimated 12,000 people are displaced. This wildfire caused more than a loss of homes and land, but a loss of identity, loss of heritage, and a loss of ohana (family) as known here. These fires have affected everyone on the Island of Maui directly or indirectly, and all are suffering and mourning their losses. With businesses destroyed, there is also a massive loss of jobs, income, and tourism.
Rev. Chris Singer, LCC President/CEO, Jeanette Singer, and Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, have been serving in Maui. In the last two weeks, they have met with Russell Wilson, Head Elder, Diane Wilson, Church Secretary, and Josh Rempfer, Emmanuel Lutheran School Principal, many times to assist them in determining the best way to help their community in the recovery process.
Lutheran Church Charities and Emmanuel Lutheran Church were invited by the Hawaii VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) to provide spiritual, emotional, and trauma care to displaced residents staying in hotels. Rev. Rod Hall, Licensed Counselor, and Rev. Mark Hannemann, President/CEO of GracePoint Institute for Relational Health, have continued to minister to these displaced residents. This ministry will continue with professional counselors provided by GracePoint Institute for Relational Health at the request of the CNH District.
Emmanuel Lutheran Early Response Team in Action
Recently trained Emmanuel Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers will provide spiritual and emotional care at hotels and other places of business at the request of the Hawaii VOAD. So many people just need and want someone willing to listen to their story, offer a hug, a prayer, and the hope that can only be found in Christ. They are also able to provide a gift card to the family to use as needed. |
Parents Housing Extended Family Trust God Will Provide
Another son lost his belongings in a rental in Lahaina. They are now all living with their parents. His third son is a police officer who has been searching for remains and then notifying relatives of their loss, affecting him greatly. He is very worried for all of his family but trusts that God will provide.
Kathy gave him gift cards and offered a word of prayer. Overcome with emotion, he expressed his gratitude with a big hug. Emmanuel members will continue to follow up with this family.
Helping Displaced Residents through Food Pantry
Within 24 hours of its arrival, Emmanuel Lutheran Church members divided the cargo and delivered everything to three distribution sites. Another large shipment will be arriving in the coming weeks to help serve families in need.
Lutheran Early Response Team Training for Our Savior Lutheran Church in Oahu
On Saturday, August 26, Deaconess Kathy O’Day provided LCMS Basic Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) training to fifteen congregation members at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Aiea on the Island of Oahu. As church L.E.R.T. volunteers, they received spiritual and emotional caregiving ideas to assist Maui residents and provide support to Emmanuel Lutheran Church and School leadership and families during the immediate and long-term recovery process. On Sunday, August 27, Rev. Rod Hall, his wife, and Kathy O’Day were warmly welcomed at both services. Nancy Gowan, Pastor Mitch Gowan’s wife, and Kayla McGowen, Director of Christian Education from Our Savior, presented LCC with a generous donation to support Maui families in need. |
Providing Tuition Assistance for Emmanuel School Families
In addition, many families have taken in and are supporting other family members who have lost everything, increasing their household size and expenses. Emmanuel did not want to lose any family at a time when they need the most support.
Your generous donations make it possible for the school to operate effectively, providing continued education and ministry to struggling and hurting families.
You Can Continue to Be There with LCC
The greatest need is for financial donations to help the people of Maui. They do not have the ability to take in any more donations of items. If you are so moved by this disaster, please donate generously so that we can help survivors with this unfathomable loss.
Lutheran Church Charities is ready to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence, and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need. We only go where we are invited and we never charge those we serve.
LCC works in coordination with LCMS Disaster Response national and local districts of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
“OHANA IS EVERYTHING IN HAWAII”
114 Confirmed Deaths; |
This wildfire caused more than a loss of homes and land, but a loss of identity, loss of heritage, and a loss of ohana as known here. Everyone on the Island of Maui has been affected directly or indirectly by these fires, and all are suffering and mourning their losses.
An estimated 12,000 people are displaced, with people in shelters that will be closing soon, placed in hotels by the American Red Cross for the next 45 days, or living in their vehicles, tents in the park, on the street, or with family and friends. With businesses destroyed, there is also a massive loss of jobs, income, and tourism
Rev. Chris Singer, LCC President/CEO, Jeanette Singer, and Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, arrived in Maui on Thursday, August 17. They immediately met with Russell Wilson, Head Elder, Diane Wilson, Church Secretary, and Josh Rempfer, Emmanuel Lutheran School Principal, to discuss what they were experiencing and hoping to accomplish during our stay.
“I heard stories of survival from displaced residents receiving free meals who lost their properties. One adult son who had been visiting his parents raced to their home with the fire bearing down onto their neighborhood. His parents were not in the house and, with just mere minutes, he grabbed a few photos that he could carry and ran to a safe distance onto the beach and watched his parents’ home burn. His mother and father recounted the details to me through tears. A hotel worker shared that their home was burned to the ground and that his wife and children were now being housed at the hotel where he worked.
There were so many stories shared with our ministry team, who sat with each person in their grief. Our very presence alone brought so much comfort. Each person was moved to gratitude that could only be expressed by tears as we told them of the outpouring of financial support, the hundreds of prayers being lifted on their behalf, and LCC’s commitment to continue to be there through ongoing support of their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.”
On Friday, we met with the school staff. Rev. Singer led devotions and explained LCC’s role and partnership with Emmanuel. Rev. Rod Hall and Jeanette Singer, Licensed Counselors, offered individual emotional and spiritual care opportunities to them and their students. Pastor Rod and Jeanette were invited to visit and talk to students in three classrooms. The children expressed many things they had heard from their parents and were reassured to “have faith in God.” Several staff members were also ministered to privately.
Reaching Those in Need through Food Pantry
Orphan Grain Train (OGT), a Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS) Recognized Service Organization led by Rev. Ralph Schmidt on the Island of Maui, will be partnering with Emmanuel Lutheran Church to provide requested items to designated sites. A shipment will arrive in Maui this week for those in need.
Tears of gratitude appeared on cheeks as all discussed the deeper ministry that occurs through relationships started through meeting one’s basic physical needs.
Providing Spiritual, Emotional, and Trauma Care
This entire team of servants has been ministering to those affected by this disaster at distribution and feeding centers, hotels, and other community businesses and sites, as well as first responders and National Guard soldiers.
Rev. Singer shared Matthew 15:21-28 and Jesus’ recognition of a faith that is trusting even when the “WHY” is not answered and God appears silent. During Bible Study, Pastor Mark Hannemann leaned into this as he instructed on Christian Care and the fact that the “WHY” question should be replaced with “WHAT” does Jesus want for us through this.
Inspiration from a Sunday School Student
“Me and my brother went to Lahaina to go help out the people stuck there. All you could smell was smoke if you rolled down your windows or through the AC vents, it was tragic. We gave water to all the people who were living on the beach. We gave them water to drink and to shower, and we gave them food to eat, but the one thing they were looking for was hope and happiness, which is what we did. We had made them so happy that they cried tears, and they were hugging us so hard that it was hard to breathe. After that, we went home and we prayed for them so they hopefully could rebuild what they had lost.”
“What amazing faith,” shared Rev. Singer. “May each of us have our eyes and hearts open to the grief around us and respond with the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus!”
Lutheran Early Response Team Training for Church Members
The greatest need is for financial donations to help the people of Maui. They do not have the ability to take in any more donations of items. If you are so moved by this disaster, please donate generously so that we can help survivors with this unfathomable loss.
Lutheran Church Charities is ready to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence, and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need. We only go where we are invited and we never charge those we serve.
LCC works in coordination with LCMS Disaster Response national and local districts of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
They hope to serve people from a uniquely Christian perspective in disaster ministry, emergency management, humanitarian aid, and public and mental health fields.
It is a privilege to be asked by Joy Lee and Jamie Aten from the Humanitarian Disaster Institute to share with the incoming class each year.
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