60+ L.E.R.T. Volunteers with Heavy Equipment are Helping those Most Impacted
“You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.” 2 Samuel 22:29
On Tuesday, March 3, at 12:45 am, Tennessee residents had a 3 – 6 minute warning that a powerful storm tracking 150 miles and producing an EF-3 tornado was hitting their community. The devastation caused at least 25 deaths, numerous injuries, massive structural damages to residential and commercial areas, and widespread power outages. There are still communities that cannot be entered for recovery efforts
Your Donations are Needed to Support 60+ L.E.R.T. Volunteers in Action!
LCC is sending a very large team of experienced L.E.R.T. volunteers for a week to make a big impact during this initial recovery effort. We need your financial assistance to help feed them for the week. All of the volunteers have driven many hours – many taking time off of work to volunteer – and are sleeping on the floors in a room at the church every night after a full day of physical work helping others. Your donations will help us take care of our volunteers!
Sixty-plus Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers brought a Bobcat, mini Bobcat, Ditch Witch, three tractors with grapples, 24’ dump trailer, 50’ boom lift, and two vehicles with 50 steel cable winches to help in tornado recovery.
Neighborhoods throughout the community have been devastated, some literally flattened. Families are still shaken by the experience and overwhelmed with the task ahead of them. LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers will be present in the communities of Hermitage, Donelson and Mt. Juliet to show residents mercy and compassion while assisting in the physical recovery of their property.
Showing the Love of Jesus with Helping Hands for Hurting Hearts!
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 keep residents in impacted Tennessee communities in your prayers, including all the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff during our deployment.
Please prayerfully 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.
Disaster Response L.E.R.T. Teams Deploy to Tennessee to Help Families with Tornado Recovery3/6/2020
Lutheran Church Charities LERT teams deployed to Tennessee to help families with tornado recovery. Your prayers, support, and donations are needed to assist LCC in helping devastated families. Tim Hetzner, LCC President/CEO, and Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, spent Thursday, March 5 assessing extensive damage and meeting with homeowners to determine needs, listen to their stories, and offer prayer and support. Sixty-plus volunteers are present to assist families suffering and in need. LCC also has a Bobcat, mini Bobcat, Ditch Witch, three tractors with grapples, 24’ dump trailer, 50’ boom lift, and vehicles with 50 steel cable winches to help in tornado recovery. Your prayers and support are desperately needed to help us help those who are in need 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. To give to our Disaster Response fund and Disaster Response Equipment fund, please visit https://luthcc.org/tennessee
CLICK HERE to read the entire appeal sent out on Tuesday, March 3.
LCC K-9 Ministry Teams Comfort Community & New Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministry Begins Six people were killed, including the gunman, after a workplace shooting on Thursday, February 27, 2020. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were invited by Pastor Rob Mrosko of Brookfield Lutheran Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin to bring comfort to the workers, families, and friends of the Molson Coors employees. In the days following the shooting, teams were invited to be with students and faculty at Story School, Milwaukee Public Schools which is located directly across from the building where the shooting took place. They were at the end of day dismissal when the lockdown was initiated. Police and SWAT team members were combing the street in front of the school. The shooting happened less than 100 yards from the school. Students and teachers were happy to have time with the comfort dogs. Prayers were said with some of the teachers and the principal. Later that evening, seventeen LCC K-9 Ministry teams greeted and spent time with people who attended a vigil at Bridge Community Church. Other private visits were made to families and workers from the Machinists Union in the next several days. On Sunday, March 1, 2020 the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were invited to a vigil at Milwaukee City Hall where hundreds gathered to hear prayer, support each other, and pay their respects at the Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Crosses for Losses. Fourteen LCC K-9 Ministry teams were there to comfort people with prayer and presence as they stood, signed hearts, and wept in front of the hearts and crosses. The following LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their handlers were present at various times during this deployment: Kare 9 Asher (Faith Lutheran – Lake Forest, Illinois) Barnabas & Isaiah (Trinity – Hobart, Indiana) Kare 9 Blitz (LCC Squad) Kare 9 Brandy (LCC Squad) Charity (Brookfield Lutheran – Brookfield, Wisconsin) Dora (LHSA of Greater Milwaukee) Police Ministry Dog Eve (St. John’s – Lombard, Illinois) Kare 9 Flex (LCC Squad) JoJo (Living Christ – Arlington Heights, Illinois) Julia (King of Glory – Elgin, Illinois) Lila (Beautiful Savior – Mequon, Wisconsin) Malachi (St. Matthew – Hawthorne Woods, Illinois) Mary (St. Paul’s – Janesville, Wisconsin) Myra (St. Andrews – Park Ridge, Illinois) Rhoda (Prince of Peace – Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin) Sage & Zoey (Concordia University Wisconsin – Mequon, Wisconsin) Susie (St. Peter – Arlington Heights, Illinois) Tobias (Lord of Glory – Grayslake, Illinois) Emma (LCC Staff) Ruthie (LCC Staff) Comfort Dog-in-Training Rahab Faith Lutheran – Appleton, Wisconsin (in process) Please continue to keep the people of Milwaukee and the families of Molson Coors in your prayers as they continue to heal. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams continue to work in Milwaukee to bring a comforting presence to the community. LCC’s new Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Crosses for Losses Ministry began January 1, 2020 after Crosses for Losses founder Greg Zanis handed over the ministry for LCC to continue. Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Crosses for Losses provides a physical and spiritual symbol through the giving of hearts and crosses to families and friends who have suffered loss or serious illness of a loved one. A caring Christian provides these symbols in order to share the hope of Jesus Christ in their time of need in Presence and Prayer. The Hearts allow people to write a message or signature on them to show their love and support for those grieving or suffering. Still in the early stages of roll out, LCC already has churches who have become Mission Partners in the new ministry. Brookfield Lutheran Church – Brookfield, Wisconsin, St. Matthew – Barrington, Illinois, Immanuel Lutheran – Belvidere, Illinois, St. Paul – Skokie, Illinois, St. John – Bakersfield, California, and Our Savior’s Way – Ashburn, Virginia are actively participating. We also have dozens of volunteers ready to build crosses, paint hearts, and deliver them with presence and prayer to those who are suffering and in need. Our first heart was delivered to a family with a loved one in hospice. With wife, children, and family members present, Rich Martin and Tim Laabs from LCC presented the heart and prayed with the family. Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Crosses for Losses responded to the deaths of the six workers from Molson Coors through Brookfield Lutheran Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Church members volunteered to paint the hearts, sign them (after Sunday services) and begin delivering them to the families of the deceased. On Sunday evening, March 1, the Hearts of Mercy & Compassion and Crosses were brought to the vigil at Milwaukee City Hall where hundreds came to pray, sign hearts and be comforted. Painting of hearts and fish continue at Brookfield Lutheran Church – Brookfield, Wisconsin, St. Matthew – Barrington, Illinois, Immanuel Lutheran – Belvidere, Illinois, and St. Paul – Skokie, Illinois. Is your church interested in becoming a Mission Partner? Click here for more information and to sign up. 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 always put boots and paws on the ground within 24 hours (often fewer) from the time we get the invite.
Please help LCC as we bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need. We know that comfort is needed to help this shocked and devastated community and the first responders who serve them. Please support us by prayer and if you are so moved, help us with travel expenses. 24 Deaths, Multiple Missing, 30 Rescue Workers Injured, Hundreds Devastated “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
In less than 8 hours, LCC Disaster Response received an invite from Rev. Ross Johnson, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Disaster Response Director and Mid-South District President Rev. Dr. Roger Paavola to go into Nashville, Tennessee. LCC NEEDS YOUR ASSISTANCE TO RAISE FUNDS TO HELP FAMILIES, HELP CHURCHES, AND PREPARE FOR DEPLOYMENT! Tim Hetzner, LCC President/CEO and Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response are deploying out this Thursday morning to meet with Mid-South District representatives and local pastors to do assessments to get things ready for L.E.R.T. Chainsaw teams to deploy. Kathy O’Day is in close contact with Pastor Keith Enko from Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Hermitage, Tennessee and Pastor Andrew Smith from Heavenly Host Lutheran Church, School and Early Childhood Center in Cookeville, Tennessee.
Pastor Smith reports that one member home has been destroyed and he still cannot make contact with 3-4 members. He cannot get through many areas of town; at least 40 homes in town totally destroyed; still trying to contact church and school families. “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 Please keep all the above people in your prayers, including all the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff as we deploy out in various locations. 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. LCC works in coordination with LCMS Disaster Response national and local districts of the LCMS.
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