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. FOURTH TEAM IN KENTUCKY THIS WEEK ![]() 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! Continuing to Serve Homeowner with Damaged Business on Property ![]() 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. LCC Disaster Response Continues Helping Homeowners in Kentucky Following Devastating Tornadoes1/4/2022
ON-GOING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO HELP FAMILIES 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. Serving Faithful Homeowner with Property Recovery ![]() 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. L.E.R.T. MERCY IN ACTION 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. ON-GOING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO HELP FAMILIES 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. Serving Elderly Couple with Extensive Property Damage
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. LCC Disaster Response Helping Homeowners this Week in Kentucky Following Devastating Tornadoes12/22/2021
LCC NEEDS YOUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP FAMILIES 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!” 78 Confirmed Dead in Kentucky |
On Saturday, thirty-seven 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 very overgrown paths of downed and dead trees, limbs and brush. These walking paths will now connect the family campground area to the recreational fields on the other side of the creek. Bill Indelli, Walcamp Executive Director, expressed his sincere thanks for all of the work completed to restore access to camp areas for those that visit. |
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!

Good Shepherd, Elgin – David Vollrath
Immanuel, DeKalb – Pete Springmire
Immanuel, East Dundee – Matt Flynn
Immanuel, Shobinier – Fran Collier
Lord of Life, Elburn – Larry Zagorski
Shepherd of the Hills, McHenry – Alan Holm
St. John, Wheaton – Marty Johnson, Jeff Johnston
This team provided many days of chainsaw work, cutting, and removing downed and damaged trees from affected homeowners’ properties in Slidell, Hammond, and New Orleans. They worked with Pastor Ed Brashier, Southern District Disaster Response Coordinator, and a team from Flower Mounds, Texas, through the Southern District Office in Slidell, Louisiana.
The team spent the first three days clearing many large downed trees off of three neighbors' properties in Hammond. Each property had extensive home and tree damage, making their homes uninhabitable until repairs are done. They had the opportunity to speak to two homeowners who are still staying in temporary housing in Houston, Texas.
Both expressed their gratitude for all of the assistance to make their home accessible to them and start them on the road to recovery, which they know will take some time. The team left each homeowner a slice of their tree with a cross in it to remind them that Jesus Christ is with them always.
The team spent the last two days clearing four properties owned and occupied by three elderly brothers, including the strawberry farmland and home they were raised on in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. They were very appreciative of all the assistance and for the gift of a cross in a slice of their tree. The team enjoyed listening to their stories and showing them the mercy and compassion of Christ. |
Please continue to pray for all of those affected by Hurricane Ida and for all of the public works, volunteers, and LCMS and LCC Disaster Response teams who serve them. If you are so moved, please donate generously to help LCC support the recovery efforts in Louisiana.
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