Lutheran Church Charities held a Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) Chainsaw Training and Service Event Workday at Walcamp in Kingston, Illinois, on April 29-30. On Friday evening, the Basic LCMS Chainsaw class was co-led by LCC/LCMS Chainsaw Certified Instructors Marty Johnson and Pete Springmire.

On Saturday, twenty-six basic and advanced chainsaw certified LCC staff and L.E.R.T. team members worked as chainsaw and heavy equipment operators and draggers to clear downed and dead trees, limbs, and brush along the camp roads. Bill Indelli, Walcamp Executive Director expressed his sincere thanks for all of the work completed to prepare for campers.

The ten first-time chainsaw operators received individual instruction and guidance from advanced team leaders as they began to safely practice felling and cutting trees and limbs, as well as serving with chainsaw team members.
 
A new chainsaw operator stated, “I never thought I would learn so much about chainsaws and safe operation - and have so much fun with a group of people I had never known before. I definitely want to serve in this way.”

These L.E.R.T. team volunteers came from the following Illinois and Wisconsin churches:
 
Illinois
 
Good Shepherd, Frankfort – Joel Powless
Immanuel, Belvidere – Karyn Salgado
Immanuel, DeKalb – Pete Springmire
Immanuel, Dundee – Michael Brocato, Matt Flynn, Terry and Denise Fuelling, Doug and Kelley Hoyt
Immanuel, Palatine – Chris Johnson
Lord of Life, Elburn – Kevin Krage, Max Metz, Vince Miller, Larry Zagorski
Our Savior, Chicago – James Hampe
St. Paul, Rockford – Dean and Carol Ulrich
St. Peter, Rockford – Ken Kiviranta
St. John, Wheaton – Steve Chester, Byron Heidorn, Marty Johnson, Jeff Johnston, Anna Piro
Trinity, Lisle – Ed Boerman
Zion, Beecher – Jan Schulz
 
Wisconsin
 
St. Paul, Grafton – Mark and Beverly Brueggemann

One of the participants sent the following note of thanks after the training:

“Thank you all for a great time spent with the group at Walcamp. As always, the presentation on Friday was done so well and Saturday's work was very beneficial for the new people. We enjoy the company of such dedicated people and always come away uplifted.”

The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund so that, when invited, we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

At weekend worship services on April 30 and May 1, Lutheran Church Charities was the Featured Mission Partner at Prince of Peace (POP) Lutheran Church in Palatine, Illinois.

The K-9s were able to visit with the Sunday School classes and the Adult Bible Study to bring love and comfort to the participants.

Deb Baran, LCC Director of Communications thanked the congregation for their continued support of all LCC Ministries, and Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, thanked the congregation for their generous support of LCC Disaster Response. Jim Beckley, Prince of Peace L.E.R.T. Team Leader, spoke to the congregation about how the Palatine L.E.R.T. team serves three ways - the congregation, local communities, and deployments to other states as requested.
 
The Palatine L.E.R.T. team is assembling Blessing Buckets, which are specific items that can be given to a disaster-affected family by a L.E.R.T. team member as they are being ministered to and served in the name of the Lord.
 
LCC is grateful to Prince of Peace and its members for their partnership, support, and prayers.

The fourth and final LCC Disaster Response team arrived at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, Kentucky, to work in tornado-affected towns again this week. Over the past four weeks, thirty-eight LCC Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.) volunteers were able to assist thirty families in several hard-hit communities of Kentucky begin their long recovery process by removing trees, damaged limbs, and debris with chainsaws, boom lift, bobcats, and tractors.
 
Each of these communities were in the direct path of the EF-3 & EF-4, 270-mile long tornado, which at times was 1-1/2 miles wide. The teams were able to help many families that will be displaced from their homes for some time and to offer the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those in need.

This week’s LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers were able to assist three families to remove trees and dangerous damaged limbs from their multi-acre properties in Mayfield and Gilbertsville, Kentucky.
 
Each of these homeowners were so thankful that the following LCC Disaster Response team volunteers had come from so far and were willing to help them in their time of need:
 
Illinois
Immanuel, Batavia – Bill Pietsch
Zion, Ottawa – Dave and Cindy Reif
 
Iowa
Trinity, Davenport – Ken Stotmeister
 
Wisconsin
Brookfield, Brookfield – Laura Ciletti, Cheryl DeLair

The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response General 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.

The week after New Year’s, Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, Jamie Miller, LCC Staff, and the third LCC Disaster Response team arrived at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, Kentucky, to work in surrounding tornado affected towns. They will be returning with a fourth team this week to continue to serve hard-hit communities.
 
Last week, the LCC Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.) volunteers worked in the hard-hit towns of Mayfield, Benton, Fulton, and Gilbertsville, Kentucky. Each of these communities were in the direct path of the EF-3 & EF-4, 270-mile long tornado which at times was 1-1/2 miles wide. The damage is devastating with many businesses, schools, and homes completely leveled or severely damaged. There are many uprooted trees everywhere, landing on property, homes, and cars. The team helped several families that will be displaced from their homes for some time as they are just beginning the long recovery process.

Helping Displaced Homeowner Remove Large Tree on Roof

Kathy and Jamie met one of these displaced families, Ms. J, at the hotel she has been staying at since the tornado had struck. A large tree had fallen through her roof and her home needs major repairs before she can move back. She asked if we could possibly help her. She did not have the funds to remove the large tree so she could begin roof and home repairs. She told the team how she took shelter in her home and didn’t think she would survive.
 
She also told us how very upsetting and disorienting it is to go back to her home as so much of her town of Mayfield and neighbors’ homes are totally destroyed. She and her parents couldn’t believe that we cut and removed the very large fallen tree and cleaned up all the debris in her yard at no cost to her.
 
LCC received the following thank you note from her parents:
 
Words cannot express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for your disaster response to the tornado on December 10 in Mayfield, which resulted in the cutting and removal of a very large tree from our daughter’s home. Your team has certainly shown the compassion set forth to those in need. God Bless You!

The team returned to the property of Mr. H this week. He is a young man with a family who was in the process of building a home on his parent’s 55-acre ranch property. He is an excellent woodworker and has his own mill. The tornado destroyed his home, barns, tools, workshop, and vehicles. His mill was spared though but sits very near a creek. Many downed trees were now blocking the water flow of the creek and, with recent rains, was backing up onto his property, threatening his mill. We were able to clear much of the creek bed to open the flow of water again.
 
Mr. H sent this note of thanks to Brian Mead, Volunteer Site Coordinator:
 
I can’t thank you and the ones that came out in the freezing cold and snow enough. I know it may have seemed like why cut trees out in the middle of a field and in a creek. But it saved my mill with the heavy rain we got. I had over 10 feet of trees away from the edge of the creek before the tornado. Y’all saved my building from this rain, no doubt. I still have work to do, and shoring up the bank will be the first thing on my list.
 
If y’all weren’t here to help, I couldn’t have done it. From the bottom of my heart, thank all of you so much. Please let the crew know that their work was the only way I still have a mill now. Thank you, and God bless y’all!!!

This week’s team was able to assist 14 families to remove trees and dangerous damaged limbs from their structures and property utilizing chainsaws, bobcats, and a boom lift.
 
All of the homeowners were so thankful that the following LCC Disaster Response team volunteers had come from so far and were willing to work all day in the cold and snow to help them in their time of need:
 
Illinois
Good Shepherd, Elgin – David Vollrath
Heartland, Normal – Tony Buchberger
Immanuel, Charleston – Gary and Karen Hanebrink
Immanuel, Shobonier – Fran Collier
Lord of Life, LaFox – Larry Zagorski
St. John, East Moline – Ken and Jan Hill
St. John, Wheaton – Marty Johnson, Dave Schlesselman, Rich Wren
St. John, Wilmette – Tom Morrison
 
Indiana
St. John, Dillsboro – Steve Black, Ruth Weisbrod

The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response General 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 keep the church and the families affected by the tornadoes in your prayers, including all of the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff as we deploy to the hardest-hit areas of Kentucky to help during the long recovery process.

The week after Christmas, Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, Jamie Miller, LCC Staff, and the second LCC Disaster Response team arrived at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, Kentucky, to work in surrounding tornado affected towns. They will be returning with a third team this week to continue to assess damages and serve in hard-hit communities.

Last week, the LCC Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.) volunteers again worked in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. This community was in the direct path of the EF-3 & EF-4, 270-mile long tornado which at times was 1-1/2 miles wide. The damage is devastating with many of the homes completely leveled or severely damaged. There are many uprooted trees everywhere, landing on property, homes, and cars. The tornado was so fierce that some trees literally pierced through homes.

The LCC L.E.R.T. team completed chainsaw work at another eight homes this week. We were able to show the mercy and presence of Jesus Christ and that people could be trusted to do what we said we would with no cost. Several of these sites were large two-day projects.

Each of the homeowners was thankful that the following LCC Disaster Response team volunteers had come from so far to help them in their time of need:

Illinois
Good Shepherd, Frankfort – Joel and Lori Posless
Immanuel, Dundee – Matt Flynn
Lord of Life, LaFox – Nicole Karabetsos, Jeff Straughn
Messiah, Sterling – Jacob Beets
St. John, Wheaton – Marty Johnson, Anna Piro
 
Iowa
Trinity, Davenport – Ken Stotmeister

Building Trust and Giving Hope to Homeowner
 
Mr. Stan and his family lost their home during the tornado and are now living in his damaged business. He had multiple trees down all around his business and on his attached land housing cattle and pigs. Shortly after the tornado, his business was broken into, so he had been very reluctant to ask for any assistance or trust that someone would not steal what he had left. He watched us work at other homes around him before he approached us to ask for help. Our team spent two days clearing trees from both properties, and he was very grateful.

Mr. H is a young man with a family who was in the process of building a home on his parent’s 55-acre ranch property. He is an excellent woodworker and has his own mill. The tornado destroyed his home, barns, tools, workshop, and vehicles. He and his father had 70 head of cattle and now have only 20 left. Mr. H. told us he is still regaining his strength after an extended hospitalization and rehab from COVID-19.
 
He is overwhelmed and sometimes emotional about the many losses he, his family, and friends have now experienced, but he has a strong faith that God is with him. He was very appreciative to have fellow brothers and sisters in Christ come to his help. He knows that with the number of trees down, it will take months to clear his land and put fencing back up so they can return to raising cattle and other animals as they did before. As Mr. H stated, “any assistance the teams can give will get him further down the road to recovery.”

The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response General 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 keep the church and the families affected by the tornadoes in your prayers, including all of the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff as we deploy to the hardest-hit areas of Kentucky to help during the long recovery process.

On Monday, January 3, LCC held a Basic LCMS L.E.R.T. Training for new members at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, Kentucky, led by Deaconess Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response. This is the church that L.E.R.T. teams from around the country are working out of to serve those affected by the multiple tornadoes in Kentucky in December.

The 13 new L.E.R.T. volunteers are from the following churches:
 
Kentucky
St. John, Lexington
St. Paul, Paducah
 
Tennessee
Grace, Murfreesboro
Shepherd of the Hills, Crossville
 
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.

The week before Christmas, Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, Jamie Miller, LCC Staff, and LCC Disaster Response teams arrived at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, Kentucky to begin work in surrounding tornado affected towns. They have returned with a second deployment team this week to continue to assess damages and serve in hard hit communities. A third LCC Disaster Response team will deploy the first week of January to continue helping homeowners with their recovery.

Last week, the LCC Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.) volunteers worked in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. This community was in the direct path of the EF-3 & EF-4, 270 mile long tornado which at times was 1-1/2 miles wide.
 
The damage is devastating with many of the homes completely leveled or severely damaged. There are many uprooted trees everywhere, landing on property, homes, and cars. The tornado was so fierce that some trees literally pierced through homes.

Helping Eight Neighbors on Decimated Street

The first LCC L.E.R.T. team completed chainsaw work at eight homes on the same street. All of these homeowners had accepted help from someone who offered to clear trees for a fee, but this person cut and took only the sections of trees he could sell to make money and left a huge mess for those homeowners to deal with on top of the tornado damage. Several of these property sites were large two-day projects.
 
LCC Disaster Response teams were able to show the mercy and presence of Jesus Christ and that we could be trusted to do what we said we would at no cost to the homeowner.

Each of the homeowners were so thankful that the following LCC Disaster Response team volunteers had come from so far to help them in their time of need:
 
Illinois
Immanuel, Belvidere – Karyn Salgado
Lord of Life, LaFox – Larry Zagorski
Prince of Peace, Palatine – Jim Beckley
St. John, Wheaton – Marty Johnson, Dave Mummah, Roy and Pat Rose, Rich Wren
St. Peter, Arlington Heights – Lois Lehman
St. Peter, Schaumburg – Ken Kiviranta
Trinity, Bloomington - Keith Marshall
Trinity, Lisle – Mike Kostecki
Zion, Ottawa – Dave and Cindy Reif
 
Indiana
St. John, Dillsboro – Steve Black, Ruth Weisbrod

The LCC Disaster Response Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.) will be returning to Kentucky the first week of January to continue to serve those in need.
 
The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response General 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 keep the church and the families affected by the tornadoes in your prayers, including all of the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff as we deploy to the hardest-hit areas of Kentucky to help during the long recovery process.

The afternoon of Sunday, December 19, Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, Jamie Miller, LCC Staff, and LCC Disaster Response teams arrived at St. Paul Lutheran Church to begin work in surrounding tornado-affected towns. LCC Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.) volunteers immediately began working in Gilbertsville, Kentucky.

God Leads Us To Those In Need
 
As Kathy and Jamie were driving through neighborhoods to do assessments, Mr. M’s eyes connected with Jamie’s as they began to pass by his home. Mr. M started waving his arms and asked if they could help him, and of course, they immediately stopped to meet with him. Jamie and Kathy felt God led them to his home. Mr. M was in tears as soon as he heard they were willing to help him this week.
 
Mr. M and his wife told their story of how they waited out the devastating storm huddled in their bathroom with their two dogs, praying that God would take them quickly without pain. Their ears were popping, the house was shaking as they heard trees snapping and the roof being lifted off the house. They feared they would not survive. They described it as “20 seconds of hell!” Then there was dead silence. When they walked out of their home, they couldn’t believe the damage surrounding them and all of their neighbors’ homes that were gone. Mr. M and his wife praised God that they survived. Their faith sustained them and is now stronger than ever. Mr. M. said 'they are true believers that God listens to their prayers!”

On Friday, December 10 – Saturday, December 11, at least fifty-two massive tornadoes paved an unimaginable destructive path across seven states with 270 mph wind and 20 hail reports. Kentucky was considered the hardest state hit; eighteen counties were impacted by tornadic activity, with some areas completely devastated. Buildings, homes, and complete neighborhoods leveled, power lines down, large trees uprooted, and dangerous debris scattered.
 
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 to Kentucky and are now serving out of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, Kentucky, with Pastor David Appold.

The Gilbertsville community was in the direct path of the EF-3 & EF-4, 270-mile long tornado, which at times was 1-1/2 miles wide. The damage is devastating, with many homes completely leveled or severely damaged. There are many uprooted trees everywhere, landing on property, homes, and cars. The tornado was so fierce that some trees literally pierced through homes.
 
The LCC L.E.R.T. team has already completed chainsaw work at five homes on the same street. Each of the homeowners are so thankful that LCC Disaster Response teams have come from so far to help them in their time of need. LCC Disaster Response will continue working in this area all week.

Bringing Comfort to Employees at Amazon Edwardsville, Illinois
 
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Esther (Holy Cross – Collinsville, Illinois) and her handlers were invited to be present with those impacted by the tornado that hit the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois.
 
On Wednesday, December 15, they visited the fire station of the first responders who were on-site that night. They also attended a memorial service on Friday, December 17, to share love and compassion to the victims and first responders who are grieving the lives lost.

The LCC Disaster Response Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.) will be returning to Kentucky after Christmas and early January to continue to serve those in need.
 
The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response General 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 keep the church and the families affected by the tornadoes in your prayers, including all of the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff as we deploy to the hardest-hit areas of Kentucky to help during the long recovery process.

On Friday, December 10 – Saturday, December 11, according to the latest FEMA report, at least fifty-two massive tornadoes paved an unimaginable, 200+ mile destructive path across seven states with 270 mph wind and 20 hail reports. Four highly-impacted quad-states – Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee – as well as Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi and Ohio sustained the most damage. Eighteen counties in Kentucky were impacted by tornadic activity, with some areas completely devastated. It is believed that a catastrophic EF-5 tornado touched down in both Mayfield and Taylor Counties. Buildings, homes, and complete neighborhoods leveled, power lines down, large trees uprooted, and dangerous debris scattered.

Latest FEMA Fatality/Injury Counts:
Arkansas: 2 confirmed fatalities, 24 injuries
Illinois: 6 confirmed fatalities
Kentucky: 74 confirmed fatalities, 109 unaccounted for
Missouri: 2 confirmed fatalities, 9 injuries
Tennessee: 4 confirmed fatalities, 74 injuries

Tim Hetzner, LCC President/CEO, and Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, have been monitoring storms and damage reports since the beginning. 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 to Kentucky. We will serve through Pastor Andy Toopes at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church & School in Bowling Green. Pastor Toopes also serves as a Law Enforcement Chaplain. So far, there are 13 confirmed deaths in Bowling Green, plus there are still many people missing.

LCC Disaster Response will be deploying soon to assess damage for work, chainsaw, debris removal, and ministering to those in need by supporting the church to show a Lutheran presence in their community.

A nearby LCC K-9 Ministry affiliate team will deploy as invited to be present with those impacted by the tornado that hit the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, to share love and compassion to the victims and first responders processing the grief they are experiencing.

The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response General 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 keep the church and the families affected by the tornadoes in your prayers, including all of the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff as we deploy to the hardest-hit areas of Kentucky to help during the long recovery process.

Lutheran Church Charities has set the following in-person Basic L.E.R.T. Training date. If you know someone who would be a good addition to your L.E.R.T. Team, encourage them to register and attend.
 
Saturday, November 20, 2021
Concordia University Chicago
Christopher Center – Rm. 200
(southwest corner of campus)
7400 Augusta St.
River Forest, Illinois 60305
 
Parking on the 1st or 2nd floor of the parking garage located off Bonnie Brae Rd.
 
You will be required to bring and wear a face mask while indoors on the campus.
 
Time: Registration: 8:30 - 9:00 am | Training: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Cost: $35.00 per person for new L.E.R.T. volunteers; $15 for L.E.R.T. team members attending to update their ID
 
Payments can be made online or during registration. If you have attended a previous L.E.R.T. training, please wear your ID and bring your manual with you.

Lutheran Church Charities held a L.E.R.T. chainsaw training and service event workday at Walcamp in Kingston, Illinois, on October 22-23, 2021. On Friday evening, the Basic LCMS Chainsaw class was co-led by LCC/LCMS Chainsaw Certified Instructors Marty Johnson and Pete Springmire.

The fourteen first-time chainsaw operators received individual instruction and guidance from advanced team leaders as they began to safely practice felling, cutting trees and limbs, and serving with chainsaw team members.

These L.E.R.T. team volunteers came from the following Illinois and Wisconsin churches:
 
Illinois

• Christ the King, Rockford – William Davidson, Matthew Robert
• Good Shepherd, Frankfort – Joel Powless
• Immanuel, Bartlett – Brad Kuehn
• Immanuel, DeKalb – Pete and Christel Springmire
• Lord of Life, Elburn – Nicole Karabetsos, Jeff Straughn, Larry Zagorski
• Prince of Peace, Palatine – Jim Beckley
• Shepherd of the Hills, McHenry – Alan Holm
• St. Paul, Brookfield – Brandon Greco
• St. Paul, Rockford – Dean Ulrich
• St. John, Wheaton – Steve Chester, Palmer Goodwin, Byron Heidorn, Marty Johnson, Dave Mummah, Anna Piro, Rich Wren
• St. Peter, Schaumburg – Missy Dieckman, Sean Freres, Ken and Vicki Kiviranta, Barb Royce
• Trinity, Lisle – Mike Kostecki
• Trinity, Carol Stream – Jim Long

 
Wisconsin

• Brookfield, Brookfield – Laura Ciletti, Mark and Denise Cychosz, Curt Kollell, CJ Kraft
• St. Paul, Grafton – Mark and Beverly Brueggemann, Stu Natale

 
One of the participants from Wisconsin sent the following note of thanks after the training:

Just a word of thanks for another great chainsaw training session at Walcamp. I know that many of the new cutters were impressed with the training, the camp and especially the people. As always, everything was professionally done.
 
It was good to see all of you and the group again and especially to get to know the people from other Wisconsin teams. We look forward to serving with LCC again in the future!