LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Persis (King of Kings - Glenpool, Oklahoma) and her team attended the conference and presented how they responded to a local disaster in Oklahoma with their church’s L.E.R.T. team. They also shared what the LCC K-9 Ministry teams have done and can do in other areas of the country after a disaster in partnership with local L.E.R.T. teams.

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.

Share the Comfort Event
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.

These master’s degree students from across the globe wanted to hear how L.E.R.T. responds to disasters so they could learn how to assist their churches and organizations prepare and care for a disaster-filled world.

The students were divided into three groups and given real-world scenarios to discuss/solve before they were provided with how the scenarios actually played out. They asked questions and then toured the St. John’s L.E.R.T. trailer.
 
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.

Lutheran Church Charities L.E.R.T. volunteers completed work at thirteen homes as a result of these recent storms. We continue to be available to serve as needed.

If you are so moved, please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund or LCC 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.

Last week, Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response received our new MT-100 Mini Bobcat from Atlas Bobcat.

Many thanks to the LCMS Disaster Response for a grant and our generous donors for making this purchase possible. When invited, this will be used when responding to disasters, both locally and in other states, to safely move storm-damaged trees, limbs, and debris.
 
LCC staff and L.E.R.T. leaders were given maintenance and operation instructions. We are ready to respond with this new piece of equipment when the next disaster occurs. Praise God for all those that support and serve in the LCC Disaster Response ministry!

On Wednesday, July 12, the Northern Illinois District was struck by fourteen tornadoes within a three-hour time period. The only EF-2 tornado was in South Elgin, which heavily damaged a neighborhood.

On Friday, July 21, Kevin Krage, Bill Pietsch, and Larry Zagorski from Lord of Life, LaFox L.E.R.T. team returned to this hard-hit neighborhood to cut and remove a very large downed tree from a homeowner’s yard with a bobcat. The homeowner was very appreciative of their assistance, as he could have never cut or removed this on his own. He couldn’t believe how quickly and willingly the L.E.R.T. team completed the work.

If you are so moved, please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund or LCC 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.

Please pray for all of the communities affected by these devastating storms, including the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff that help during the recovery process.
 
LCC works in coordination with LCMS Disaster Response national and local districts of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

On Wednesday, July 12, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Northern Illinois District was struck by fourteen tornadoes within a three-hour time period. Two days later, on Friday, July 14, another two tornadoes occurred.
 
Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response immediately reached out to all of the churches in the affected areas to see if they, or any of their congregation members, were affected. Fortunately, most were EF-O tornadoes causing minimal and localized damage that was able to be cleaned up by owners, neighbors, and public works.

Several sites required the lift to remove multiple dangerous hanging limbs and the big bobcat to move very large damaged tree trunks after they were cut. L.E.R.T. volunteers worked very hard on these last big projects and all of the homeowners expressed their appreciation to each volunteer for returning each day and treating their property as if it was their own.

Mrs. B said, “This tornado was devastating to us. It could have been worse I know. But watching neighbors help each other and seeing your team come each day and ask all of us what you can do for us has just been amazing. You have made this disaster so much more manageable for us. Thanks just doesn’t seem enough!”

One of the women in the neighborhood told us she prayed all day after the tornado happened for God to send angels to clean up the yards and He did. He sent neighbors helping neighbors, the township, and your L.E.R.T. team. She thanks God for answered prayers.
 
LCC Disaster Response is still receiving requests for assistance. It is a privilege for LCC and our L.E.R.T. volunteers to serve in the name of the Lord!

If you are so moved, please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund or LCC 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.

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

For ten days, Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, and twenty-seven LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers served with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Southern Illinois District in Nashville, Addieville, Okawville and Ashely, Illinois. These communities were struck by a derecho (land hurricane) and 90 mph straight-line winds on June 29 and 30.

Lutheran Church Charities and Southern Illinois District L.E.R.T. teams spent 980 volunteer hours assisting sixty-one families by removing trees, damaged limbs, and debris with chainsaws, boom lift, bobcats, and tractors.

This woman lost her husband three years ago and, until this disaster, has been maintaining her own property. She felt overwhelmed by the damage to her many trees and didn’t know what she would do.
 
She couldn’t believe the work the volunteers got done to make her property safe again. While she watched the team work, volunteers also sat and talked with her.
 
The team carved a cross in one of her trees and presented her with a cross slice signed by all. Through many tears of happiness and hugs, she thanked everyone over and over.

Matt Bierman and Bryce Cramer, Lutheran Church-Missouri (LCMS) Southern Illinois District Disaster Response Coordinators (DDRC), and Pastor David and Rachel Benning from Trinity Lutheran Church in Nashville, Illinois extend their sincere thanks to the following volunteers:

Illinois
Good Shepherd, Elgin – David Vollrath
Immanuel, DeKalb – Pete Springmire
Immanuel, Dundee – Matt Flynn
Immanuel, Palatine – Chris Johnson
Lord of Life, LaFox – Mark Holstein, Max Metz, Bill Pietsch, Larry Zagorski
Messiah, Sterling – Jacob Beets
St. John, East Moline – Bill and Debbie Girard, Ken and Janet Hill
St. John, Wilmette – Tom Morrison
St. Peter, Schaumburg – Missy Dieckman, Ken and Vicki Kiviranta
Trinity, Lisle – Ed Boerman, Wayne Scott
 
Indiana
St. John, Dillsboro – Steve Black, Ruth Weisbrod
 
Wisconsin
St. Paul, Grafton – Mark and Beverly Brueggemann, Stu Natale, Kaye Voss
St. Paul, Janesville – Lark Sanders

If you are so moved, please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund or LCC 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.

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

Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, and LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers are deployed and serving in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Southern Illinois District to serve impacted homeowners from Thursday, July 6, through Saturday, July 15.

On Monday, July 10, Rev. Chris Singer, LCC President & CEO; Rev. Ross Johnson, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Director of Disaster Response; Pastor David Benning, Matt Bierman, and George Acosta, LCC Chief Operating Officer joined Kathy in Southern Illinois to visit affected homeowners and see the L.E.R.T. volunteers in action.

On June 29 and 30, a derecho (land hurricane) and straight-line winds moved through Southern Illinois. Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) Disaster Response was invited by Matt Bierman and Bryce Cramer, Lutheran Church-Missouri (LCMS) Southern Illinois District Disaster Response Coordinators (DDRC), to deploy to Trinity Lutheran Church in Nashville, Illinois, to provide chainsaw assistance with heavy equipment and debris removal. We give thanks to Pastor David and Rachel Benning for their hospitality and the congregation members of Trinity Lutheran for hosting, feeding, and supporting us as we serve in their community.

They have assessed approximately 100 homeowner sites for damage and a possible response. They have completed work at 37 sites and have another 35 in the queue to complete.

Helping Farm Owner with Property Clean-Up
This congregation member told us he did not need help to clean up his farm property but reluctantly accepted it with some urging. After the work was done, he was happy with the result and how professional we were. He posted a sign on the main highway in and out of town thanking the L.E.R.T. volunteers for all to see this week. It was a surprise and brought smiles to all of us.

Kathy O’Day went to Mrs. P.'s home to assess the damage. When she arrived, Mrs. P. answered the door and was in tears. Her insurance adjuster had just left and told her that since she had several tree limbs on her mobile home roof, he would just total the unit as he stated it wasn’t worth fixing, and she could move. She was so upset as she is elderly and has a very nice home.
 
Kathy called one of the LCC L.E.R.T. teams that were serving that day, and they came directly over to her home. They removed the tree limbs from her roof, patched a hole, reattached loose siding and a roof vent, and then tarped the roof to protect it from leaking into her home. Kathy even sent the pictures of the repairable hole and work done to protect the roof to the adjuster, who, after looking at them, called Mrs. P. and told her they would repair the roof.
 
Over the time we were there, she went from tears to smiles. She was so pleased and kept telling us we were her angels sent by God to take care of her.

The LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers served at two homes owned by a father and son. The father was 89 years old and thoroughly enjoyed sitting on his porch and watching all the work being completed to remove the many fallen and damaged trees and limbs from his roof, shed, and around both properties (lead photo).
 
He also enjoyed visiting with the team, especially during the lunch break. He was very pleased with the cross presented to him.

Serving a Family with Property Damage while Young Daughter Was in the Emergency Room
Last week Bryce Cramer and a few LCC and Southern Illinois District L.E.R.T. volunteers went to work at a home. The homeowner told them they could work, but he needed to leave immediately as his four-month-old granddaughter was being put into the hospital with pneumonia and difficulty breathing. Before he left, the team prayed with him. On Monday night, the mother posted a thank you to the L.E.R.T. team on the Washington County Talk Facebook page that was forwarded to us.
 
To the wonderful group who cleared our trees: we can't thank you enough. Not only did you help us clear damage we couldn't, but you were there for us in other ways. Today was a scary day for our little family. You didn't know us yet when you heard our daughter was being sent to the ER, and you held a prayer for her with my father. That's small to some, but to this mom, it meant the world. Thank you for your kindness, we needed it on a week like this. I hope our community treats you well, and you know how much we appreciate you. I hope whoever you are, you see this.
 
This reminds us that we do make a difference in the lives we touch by providing the mercy, compassion. presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

If you are so moved, please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund or LCC 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.

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

Due to daily storms, the holiday, and widespread damage, the assessment and planning process is ongoing. Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, and LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers will deploy to the Southern Illinois District to serve impacted homeowners on Thursday, July 6, through Saturday, July 15.

If you are so moved, please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund or LCC 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.