On March 31, an EF-3 tornado at 165 mph tracked just over thirty-four miles from West Little Rock through North Little Rock, Sherwood, and Jacksonville leaving a path of destruction, injury, and death.
 
FEMA now reports that 3,000 structures have major damage or were destroyed throughout the LCMS Mid-South District in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, and Jacksonville, Arkansas. Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers from multiple states and districts, including ours, have been volunteering to serve those in need.

Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, and seven LCC L.E.R.T. chainsaw volunteers joined with other volunteers from different states to serve those in need in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, and Jacksonville, Arkansas.

L.E.R.T. volunteers completed work at twenty-eight sites in two weeks, with several of these multi-day work sites due to the extent of the damage on large properties. They were able to provide debris removal, utilize chainsaws and bobcats to remove many downed and damaged trees from tornado-devastated properties, and provide emotional and spiritual care to families who lost their homes.

In one neighborhood, several pine trees fell on and between four yards of homes. None of the homeowners knew how they would be able to remove these large trees. They were very appreciative of L.E.R.T. assistance, care, and crosses given to them.

The LCMS Mid-South District sincerely thanks the Lutheran Church Charities L.E.R.T. volunteers from the following churches that served those in need:

Illinois
Immanuel, Dundee – Matt Flynn
Immanuel, Shobonier – Fran Collier
Lord of Life, Elburn – Vince Miller, Larry Zagorski
St. John, Wilmette – Tom Morrison
 
Iowa
Trinity, Davenport – Ken Stotmeister
 
Wisconsin
Brookfield, Brookfield – CJ Kraft

In two weeks, we made a difference in the lives of those we served with chainsaws and emotional assistance, as well as offering the hope and love of Christ to a hurting community.

Please pray for all of the communities affected by these devastating tornadoes, including the LCMS and LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff that help during the long recovery process.
 
LCC works in coordination with LCMS Disaster Response national and local districts of the LCMS.

On Saturday, April 22, LCC held a Basic LCMS L.E.R.T. training for new and recertifying team members at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in LaFox, Illinois, led by Deaconess Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response.
 
There were a total of eighteen in attendance from the following teams or churches in Illinois:
 

• Hosanna, St. Charles
• Lord of Life, LaFox
• Prince of Peace, Palatine
• St. John, Wheaton
• St. Peter, Schaumburg
• Trinity, Genoa

 
It is good to see how the disaster response ministry is continuing to grow with volunteers willing to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ in service to those suffering and in need.

On Saturday, April 15, the LCMS NID Shine/Immanuel Lutheran School Serve Event was held in East Dundee, Illinois. Immanuel's school asked the local L.E.R.T. team to clear the overgrown bushes, burrs, and trees along the sides of the walking path and playground where kids' balls roll into.

Immanuel Lutheran School extends thanks to the following L.E.R.T. and congregation volunteers:

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Devorah (Redeemer - Fort Collins, Colorado) and her handlers were honored to be present at the first Shield616 Event for Larimer County, Colorado.

During the ceremony, which was held at Timberline Church in Fort Collins, Larimer County Sheriff’s Deputies were gifted potentially life-saving armor. Community members were also invited to Adopt a Larimer County Deputy to support now prayerfully and in the future as they perform their duties.

The President and CEO of Shield616, Jake Skifstad, told how his vision for “Angel Armor” evolved. He is a retired Police Officer and SWAT Officer from Colorado Springs. He was involved with the New Life and Planned Parenthood shootings in Colorado Springs in 2007, in which the shooters used assault rifles, and one officer was killed, and others were injured.

After 14 years as an Officer, God asked him to do more. He and his team are now working tirelessly to show that first responders are being protected, loved, and supported. Shield616 was founded to provide rifle protection for first responders who sacrificially serve our communities, including police, sheriff, fire, and EMS. 616 is for Ephesians 6:16, which begins, “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith…”.

Newly elected Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen spoke passionately about his faith and stated, “Before putting on the rest of my gear, first I put on the armor of God.”

Each Deputy was given new Angel Armor vests, a Bible with a thin blue line on the cover, and a challenge coin given to the person who “Adopted” them. The Angel Armor only weighs 2.2 pounds and can stop bullets from assault rifles. Their current body armor weighs over 20 pounds and can only stop bullets from a pistol.

The church was filled with Deputies, their families, friends, and community members. Devorah greeted people as they came in and stayed until everyone left. Her handlers, Bonnie Fear and Jody Lockwood  adopted a Deputy and plan to share their names with their team so everyone can include them in their prayers.

Our brother in Christ and comrade in arms, Marvin Hanks was laid to rest on Saturday, April 22, at St. Paul Lutheran church in Mount Prospect, Illinois. Marvin was a retired Navy Veteran and part of the LCC Kare 9® Military Ministry Squad. Along with seven other veteran handlers, Marvin helped launch the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry in 2014 dedicated to serving veterans, their families and active-duty men and women.

The Ministry was represented by Squad members Army veteran handler Dale Sasse with LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Britta, Air Force veteran handler Keith Stanton with LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Butch, Navy veteran handler Gene Weisbecker with LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Flex (filling in for Army veteran handler Fred Vanstrom), and  Linda Showens with LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Spike (filling in for Army veteran handler Raleigh Showens). Squad member Bob Royce also attended. Kare 9 Nigel and Marvin’s dog Brandy were also present.
 
We pray for Marvin’s wife, Yoshiko and family as they grieve the passing of this good Christian man. 

U.S. Navy (Ret) Veteran and original LCC Kare 9® Military Ministry Dog (Brandy) veteran handler Marvin Hanks went home to his Lord on Saturday, April 8, 2023. Marvin and the other LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry veteran handlers launched the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry in August 2014.

The other Kare 9s and their handlers who launched the Ministry are Blitz (Bob Royce, U.S. Army Veteran), Brutus (Gene Weisbecker, U.S. Navy Veteran), Spike (Raleigh Showens, U.S. Army Veteran), Flex (Fred Vanstrom, U.S. Army Veteran), Britta (Dale Sasse U.S. Army Veteran), Butch (Keith Stanton U.S. Air Force Veteran), Chief (Richard Skinner U.S. Navy Veteran). These Kare 9s and their handlers are known as "The Squad."

We thank Marvin and his wife, Yoshiko, for their loyal service to their Lord and the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry.

Many of the neighborhoods we assessed in North Little Rock are completely devastated. Mr. and Mrs. C. had a beautiful house overlooking the lake. Most of these homes on the lake took a direct hit from the tornado. Their home and cars were destroyed, and most of their belongings are damaged or gone.
 
Mr. C. told us his story of survival as the tornado ravaged their home. He had just walked into the kitchen with groceries when he heard the sirens going off and could see swirling wind heading towards him. He shared that he yelled for his wife to run downstairs, but before either one of them could make it to the stairs, it hit.
 
He was flung across the room and into a wall, and his wife was buried in wood and insulation as the roof was lifted off. He states it was over very quickly, and he just kept yelling for his wife and had to unbury her from the debris.
 
They are both very traumatized and heartbroken. They are overwhelmed with all that has happened, what they have lost, and what to do to start their long recovery.

LCC and other L.E.R.T. volunteers have been assisting them with tree and debris removal and retrieving some of their items from their home and workshop. Mr. C. comes to their home every day to see what he can find and protect it from looters. Mrs. C. cannot bring herself to return as she is so devastated.
 
He appreciates the opportunity to share his story, listen to his concerns, offer hope and encouragement, and lend a shoulder to cry on. It is a blessing to be present with the love of Christ during this difficult time.

In ten days, we now have worked at six homes on this same lake. All are neighbors and greatly appreciate our willingness to spend several days to help clear their properties of many, many trees. L.E.R.T. volunteers serving this neighborhood have also taken much time to listen to their stories and share the mercy and love of Christ with them.

Mr. and Mrs. W., with their four children (ages 6 months, 3, 7, and 12), took shelter in the bathroom as the tornado sirens wailed. Their Jacksonville neighborhood took a direct hit. At least twelve very large pine and oak trees fell on their property. Unfortunately, a large oak tree fell through the center of their home, missing the family by only a foot.
 
According to his father and uncle, whom we met at the house during the assessment, Mrs. C. and the two oldest children are severely traumatized after the storm and are unwilling to come back to the house at this time.
 
Mr. C. is extremely grateful for all of our assistance. They cannot believe that we are willing to remove the fallen trees on their property at no cost for people they have never met before, as well as provide them with household items, groceries, and diapers.

L.E.R.T. volunteers also worked at four neighbors in Jacksonville that had several large evergreens uproot and fall in their yards as well as through one of the homes. They were very thankful for our willing assistance.

Please pray for all of the communities affected by these devastating tornadoes, including the LCMS and LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff that help during the long recovery process.
 
LCC works in coordination with LCMS Disaster Response national and local districts of the LCMS.