Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, and our L.E.R.T. members responded to a request to assess the damage and help homeowners in the Chicago suburbs after strong storms over the weekend.

L.E.R.T. volunteers helped an LCMS congregation member cut and remove a tree that was split in half and fell across their front yard and the neighbor’s driveway. The homeowners appreciated the much-needed assistance at no cost and responding with such willing hearts of service.

LCC thanks the following L.E.R.T. volunteers for their hearts to serve: Bob Royce, Ken and Vicki Kiviranta from St. Peter, Schaumburg, and Jim Beckley from Prince of Peace, Palatine, Illinois.

The L.E.R.T. volunteers were happy to serve and show the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those in their congregations and communities affected by recent storms.

Last week, Tropical Storm Cristobal moved up from the plains and into the Great Lakes Region of Northern Illinois and Indiana. This caused microbursts of 60-80 mph intense wind gusts that resulted in many downed power poles, trees, and limbs in several communities surrounding Lutheran Church Charities.

This same team also helped a congregation member remove two trees that had large dangerous limbs, also known as “widowmakers”, hanging from the storm and a third tree left-leaning. Kathy O’Day received a thank you note from the homeowner after the team's work.

“Thank you for being there with the volunteers today. I certainly could not have done that work by myself (and lived). The team worked in sync and it was something to see. Again, our thanks and appreciation.”

LCC thanks the following Immanuel & Prince of Peace, Palatine, Illinois L.E.R.T. volunteers for their hearts to serve: Jim and Karen Beckley, Richard Habegger, Steve MacKay, Jason Stallard, and Dede Thut.

L.E.R.T. volunteers from St. John, Wheaton, Illinois helped one of their congregation members remove a tree that uprooted and fell on their garage during the storm utilizing the LCC boom lift.

LCC thanks the following St. John, Wheaton, Illinois L.E.R.T. volunteers for their hearts to serve: Steve Chester, Byron Heidorn, and Marty Johnson.

The homeowners were very appreciative for all of their hard work, and in addition to their thanks, sent each of the men home with chocolate chip cookies.

Everyone was happy to serve and show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those in their congregations and communities affected by this recent storm.

LCC never goes where we are not invited. We NEVER charge those we serve. We put boots on the ground within 24 hours (often fewer) from the time we get the invite.

Tropical Storm Cristobal moved up through the plains and into the Great Lakes Region of Northern Illinois and Indiana yesterday. Multiple storms went through the region with a possible tornado, outbursts of 60 - 80 mph wind shear and strong thunderstorms. There have been many reports of downed trees, power lines, roof, and home damage in many communities surrounding Lutheran Church Charities. Many more storms, powerful winds, and tornadoes are still possible today.

Lutheran Church Charities is making plans for Basic L.E.R.T. training and a Chainsaw Certification class as our Northern Illinois District churches are beginning to reopen in Phase 3 of the “Restore Illinois” plan.

The federal guidelines indicate that volunteers responding to a disaster should be trained and certified. Lutheran Church Charities provides LCMS training for Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.) through churches in the Northern Illinois District. Should a disaster strike, these teams would be put on call and may be asked to deploy in 72 hours or less to the disaster site. This training will prepare team members for credentialing and will focus on the safety, work, and ministry of Lutherans as Early Responders.

NEW: LCMS Disaster Response has developed new guidelines for youth participation so that L.E.R.T. training can now be offered to youth, ages 14 – 17, so they can also assist in general disaster response safely and under the guidance of their own youth leadership.
 
Trained and certified L.E.R.T. members are ready with willing hearts and hands to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need after a disaster.
 
If your church is interested in hosting a L.E.R.T. training, or if you or someone you know is interested in becoming L.E.R.T. certified, please contact LCC's Director of Disaster Response, Kathy O’Day at 866-455-6466 to schedule or discuss further. If you live outside the Northern Illinois District, please contact your LCMS District Disaster Response Coordinator to schedule a training.

Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) Disaster Response L.E.R.T. (Lutheran Early Response Team) chainsaw teams were invited by Rev. Ross Johnson, Director of LCMS Disaster Response and Rev. Dr. Roger Paavola, LCMS Mid-South District President to assist Pastor Keith Enko at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Hermitage, Tennessee with tornado recovery in their community. On March 3, Nashville and surrounding towns experienced seven tornadoes in the early morning hours. Two of the reported tornadoes were rated an EF-4 storm by the National Weather Service. The tornadoes were on and off the ground for 150 miles, leaving a trail of destruction and sadly taking the lives of 24 people and injuring countless others. 
 
Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, LCC Staff and fifty L.E.R.T. chainsaw certified team members are deployed this week, serving those affected by the tornadoes and will be returning Saturday, March 14. 

LCC thanks our L.E.R.T. volunteers for their hearts to serve:
 
Illinois
 
Good Shepherd, Elgin – David Vollrath
Good Shepherd, Frankfort – Joel Powless
Heartland, Normal – Tony Buchberger
Immanuel, Belvidere – Tony Newton
Immanuel, DeKalb – Pete Springmire
Immanuel, Dundee – Matt Flynn, Lark Sanders
Immanuel, Palatine – Steve MacKay
Lord of Life, LaFox – Matt Byars, Ken Johnston, Ken Kivaranta, Kevin Krage, Terry and Mary Kramer, Jeff Straughn, Larry Zagorski
Messiah, Sterling – Jacob Beets
Prince of Peace, Palatine – Jim Beckley, Danny and Bobbie Swyndroski
Redeemer, Peoria – Ken and Rhonda Kruse, Rebecca Lindholm
Shepherd of the Hills, McHenry – Alan Holm
St. John, Wheaton – Jim Braun, Steve Chester, Jan Gerveske, Marty Johnson, Dave Mummah, Anna Piro, Tom Prickette, Rich Wren
Trinity, Bloomington – Keith Marshall
Trinity, Lisle – Mike Kostecki, Richard Schaefer
Trinity, Roselle – Kristin Bilar
Zion, Mascoutah – Jesse Baxter, Josh Peterson
 
Other states
 
Good Shepherd, Ft. Myers, Florida – Manfred Cholodewitsch
Life Fellowship, Lewisburg, Tennessee – John Martin
Messiah, Hayes, Kansas – Bob Warfel
St. John, Lincolnville, Kansas – Ira Walker
St. John’s, Dillsboro, Indiana – Steve Black, Ruth Weisbod
St. John’s, Portage, Wisconsin – John Matheny

Dr. Rev. Roger Paavola, LCMS Mid-South District President toured the areas of Hermitage, Mt. Juliet, Donelson and Lebanon with Pastor Enko and Kathy O’Day. They also met with homeowners and LCC L.E.R.T. team members on site to offer prayers and to personally thank them for their willingness to serve those in need. It was very special that he took the time to come and express his support to the congregation and team.
 
Repeatedly we heard stories of survival that occurred as families heard the warnings to take shelter in the middle of the night. We have seen homes, schools and businesses destroyed, belongings lost, lives disrupted – but have also listened to thanks and praise to God for being with them in the midst of the storm and surrounding them with His protection.

“It’s an incredible mission and ministry that they have. LCC has changed so many lives. They made an impact on us as a congregation, an impact on me as a pastor, and an impact on this community as well – one that won’t be forgotten!” – Pastor Keith Enko, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Hermitage, Tennessee

Urgent Donations Needed to Help Emmanuel Early Childhood Center Preschool Families

Pastor Enko informed us that two families who send their preschool children to Emmanuel’s Early Childhood Center have lost everything due to the tornado. A single family home and an apartment building have been completely destroyed. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund so that we can help Emmanuel support these two families with the overwhelming task of starting over.

Giving Hope and Safety to a Recent Widow

Suzanne, a recent widow, told us how all her doors were blown in and bent and, therefore, she had to jump out of a broken window to exit her house. She, then, saw her neighborhood badly damaged and the trees her husband had planted uprooted and destroyed. She said she felt like those trees, now feeling uprooted from the safety of her home and what she holds dear damaged and destroyed. She appreciated that the LCC L.E.R.T. team listened to her story and cleaned up her property, but more importantly offered her hope that, through Christ, all will be made safe again.

Helping Neighbors with Extensive Tree Damage

An elderly gentleman and his two neighbors lost about 60 trees on top of the hill behind their homes. When we offered assistance to clear the trees and brought heavy equipment that could tackle the hill, they were overwhelmed with gratitude, as they did not know how they could have ever done all this work or been able to afford someone to do it.

Providing Compassion and Property Assistance to Elderly Couple

The LCC Disaster Response L.E.R.T. volunteers will continue to serve those in need by showing the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ.
 
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 L.E.R.T. 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.

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.

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.

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.