 Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) chainsaw teams were invited by Angela Fowler, Congregation President from Beautiful Savior in Olive Branch, Mississippi, to assist with tornado recovery in their community. On January 10, the towns of Olive Branch, Hernando, and Lewisburg in DeSoto County experienced two tornadoes in the early morning hours. The first of two reported tornadoes was rated an EF-1 storm by the National Weather Service with an estimated wind peak of 100 miles per hour, was 200 yards wide, and traveled 11.3 miles. The second tornado was rated an EF-2 storm with an estimated peak wind gust of 120 miles per hour, was 300 yards wide and traveled 8.25 miles.  LCC Director of Disaster Response, Kathy O’Day and twenty-six L.E.R.T. chainsaw certified team members are currently deployed this week, serving those affected by the tornadoes and will be returning home on Saturday, February 1. They are working through Beautiful Savior in partnership with Eight Days of Hope – Rapid Response, a non-denominational Christian, non-profit organization that exists to demonstrate the love and hope of Jesus Christ by serving those in need based in Tupelo, Mississippi.  L.E.R.T chainsaw volunteers serving from Illinois and Indiana this week: Illinois Good Shepherd, Elgin – David Vollrath Good Shepherd, Frankfort – Joel Powless Lord of Life, LaFox – Larry Zagorski Immanuel/Prince of Peace, Palatine – Jim Beckley, Steve MacKay, Dan and Bobbie Swyndroski St. John, Shobonier – Fran Collins St. John, Wheaton – Rachel Chester, Steve Chester, Palmer and Judy Goodwin, Marty Johnson, Jeff Johnston, Roy Rose, Ken Rosenwinkel, Dave Schlesselmann, Rich Wren St. Paul, Rockford – Dean and Carol Ulrich St. Peter, Schaumburg – Ken Kivarata Trinity, Lisle – Mike Kostecki Zion, Ottawa – Dave and Cindy Reif Indiana St. John, Dillsboro – Steve Black, Ruth Weisbrod  On Sunday, January 27, Dr. Rev. Roger Paavola, Mid-South District President, attended worship with the LCC L.E.R.T. members at Beautiful Savior in order to meet and personally thank them for their willingness to serve in their district and to let them know what a blessing they are for what they do. It was very special that he took the time to come and express his appreciation to all.  L.E.R.T. volunteers spent the first few days cutting and removing many fallen and damaged trees that completely covered the yards of several homeowners, as well as removing dangerous leaning and dangling tree limbs. Vance, one of the homeowners, told the team about how he heard the tornado coming toward him at 4:30 am. He barely had time to make it into a closet for cover before it was over him. He told of hearing the trees cracking and falling, his roofing shingles popping off, and he truly expected his big trees to crash through his house on top of him. He said it felt like an eternity but it was over in 6 seconds. When he came out of his house, there were about 40 trees down and twisted all around his house.  Many were resting on his roof, but not crashing through, blocking his driveway, his shed twisted, and his deck destroyed – but no major damage to his house. He said he knew God was watching over him and it was a miracle. He had no idea how he was going to clean up any of the extensive damage to his property. He was so thankful for the LCC L.E.R.T. assistance over the two days it took to clear the mess the tornado had left behind and everyone enjoyed taking the time to talk and pray with him. The LCC L.E.R.T. team will continue to work this week, serving as many as possible during their deployment. Please continue to keep all those affected by disasters in prayer as they begin the arduous recovery process.  LCC never goes where we are not invited. We NEVER charge those we serve. We pick up all of our travel, lodging, and meal costs. We put boots on the ground within 24 hours (often fewer) from the time we get the invite.
Please consider a donation to the LCC Disaster Response General Fund or LCC Disaster Response Equipment Maintenance & Fuel Expense Fund so that we may continue to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.
The LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry January “22” Dinner and Program was very special. This month's event began the fifth year the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry has hosted this monthly dinner and program. The purpose of the event is to bring attention to the 22 veterans who take their lives every day. In addition, more than sixty guests and volunteers had an opportunity to listen to Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Allen J. Lynch. Allen shared the story of his life and how those life experiences had prepared him for his act of heroism. Allen’s life is described in his recent memoir, “From Zero to Hero.”  "22" Dinner  On Thursday, January 23, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Anna (Trinity – Toledo, Ohio), Bethany (Trinity – Danville, Illinois), Dinah (Trinity – Auburn, Illinois), Eve (St. John’s – Lombard, Illinois), Job (Christ the King – Memphis, Tennessee), Mercy (Our Savior – Louisville, Kentucky), Noah (Timothy – St. Louis, Missouri), Tabby (St. Paul’s – Des Peres, Missouri), and Tobias (Lord of Glory – Grayslake, Illinois) and their handlers returned to Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky to mark the second anniversary of the school shooting that tragically took the lives of two students. The relationship between the community and the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams has grown over the last two years. Many in the community follow the dogs on Facebook and interact with them regularly.  The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and the handlers have a unique relationship with the Marshall County community. After most crisis deployments, we do not have an opportunity to return and experience the continuation of the community’s story beyond the original event. The Comfort Dogs and teams have been embraced by the people of Marshall County and they continue to invite us back each year to bring comfort and love during their healing process. All of the LCC K-9 Ministry teams arrived on Wednesday, January 22 and went to dinner at a local restaurant. As word got out in the area that the Comfort Dogs were there, several students and staff that were at the school at the time of the shooting but are no longer there came to the restaurant to see the Comfort Dogs and renew their relationships. On Thursday, January 23, the Comfort Dogs and their teams returned to the school and were welcomed with open arms.  The K-9 Ministry handlers have been told that each time we return to the school, we became part of their on-going story from when we first visited, and we continue to be part of their story each year. The students, staff, and community members thank us each year for remembering them and their community as they continue to heal and learn to live their stories after it took an unexpected turn on that tragic day, January 23, 2018.  The people of Marshall County will always hold a special place in the hearts and prayers of those who have served them over the last two years. Please continue to keep the Marshall County, Kentucky community in your prayers.
LCC never goes where we are not invited and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry NEVER charges those we serve. We pick up all of our travel, hotel, and meal costs. We also always put boots and paws on the ground within 24 hours (often fewer) from the time we get the invite. LCC received a heartfelt note from Anila and Gulfam Emmanuel to all who helped with preparations, sorting household goods and moving furniture for the arrival of Gulfam's brother, Pastor Alfred and his family from Pakistan to the United States. A very, very big thank you to LCC providing truck and nice furniture. And big thank you to Kathy O’Day, Jim and Karen Beckley, Richard and Bonnie Habegger, Bob Desiron and Steve MacKay for all you guys have done for our family! This is God's miracle! We are so blessed to be believers and blessed to be in USA! Have no words to explain the love, support and prayers. May God bless you all!
Please prayerfully consider donating to help Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Palatine, Illinois continue to support the family members following their arrival this Saturday. LCC will share more in the coming weeks as they transition to their new life in the United States.
 210 Homes Damaged or Destroyed in DeSoto County “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) chainsaw teams have been invited by Angela Fowler, Congregation President from Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Olive Branch, Mississippi, to help impacted families recover from devastating damage as a result of back-to-back tornadoes that hit the same county. On January 10, the towns of Love, Hernando and Lewisburg in DeSoto County experienced two tornadoes on the same day. The first of two reported tornadoes was rated an EF-1 storm by the National Weather Service with an estimated wind peak of 100 miles per hour, was 200 yards wide, and traveled 11.3 miles. The second tornado was rated an EF-2 storm with an estimated peak wind gust of 120 miles per hour, was 300 yards wide and traveled 8.25 miles. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency reports that 210 homes have been damaged or destroyed in DeSoto County.  LCC Director of Disaster Response, Kathy O’Day will be arriving in Olive Branch, Mississippi on Thursday, January 23 to begin assessments and meet with Beautiful Savior and Eight Days of Hope. Approximately 29 L.E.R.T. chainsaw certified team members will deploy January 25 through February 1. We will work with Beautiful Savior in partnership with Eight Days of Hope – Rapid Response, a non-denominational Christian, non-profit organization that exists to demonstrate the love and hope of Jesus Christ by serving those in need based in Tupelo, Mississippi. They are already on the ground cleaning up damage and deploying volunteers out of Longview Heights Baptist Church in Olive Branch. According to Mrs. Fowler, Longview Heights is one of the largest churches in their local ministerial association, which has the capability to house and feed large groups of volunteers willing to serve their communities. Join LCC in keeping our volunteers and this community in your prayers as they begin to work through the recovery process.
LCC never goes where we are not invited. We NEVER charge those we serve. We pick up all of our travel, lodging, and meal costs. We put boots on the ground within 24 hours (often fewer) from the time we get the invite. Please consider a donation to the LCC Disaster Response General Fund or LCC Disaster Response Equipment Maintenance & Fuel Expense Fund so that we may continue to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.
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