Working with LCMS Florida-Georgia District Disaster Response Coordinators to Help Impacted Churches, Individuals and Families in Hardest-Hit Areas with Recovery Efforts Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms ever to strike the US mainland, battered southwest Florida with high winds, rain, and storm surges as it moved inland. The death toll reported is now more than 100 as search and rescue teams continue to go door to door throughout impacted communities. As the storm swept ashore in southwest Florida, it raged across the state with catastrophic 150 mph winds and a deadly storm surge of up to 18 feet. Estimated to be about 140 miles wide, it was downgraded from a high category 4 hurricane to a tropical storm as it moved slowly northeast, causing vast destruction and major flooding. Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response Director Kathy O'Day and Ed Boerman, Northern Illinois District Disaster Response Coordinators, are working with the LCMS Disaster Response and District Disaster Response Coordinator Jay Wendland from the Florida-Georgia District. On Sunday, October 9, eighteen LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers arrived in Florida with chainsaws, heavy equipment, and servant-hearts to begin the massive recovery effort in our designated communities of Venice, Port Charlotte, and Englewood until the end of October. Additional L.E.R.T. volunteers will arrive throughout the deployment. As of Monday, five churches, four pastors, and thirty-one congregation members from five different churches need immediate property assistance. Assessments began upon arrival, and some of the homeowner damage is so bad that homes are uninhabitable. Additional assessments will continue throughout the three-week deployment. Lakeside Lutheran Joyfully Serves Community through L.E.R.T. On Monday, LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers completed all of the property clean-up at the host church, Lakeside Lutheran, in Venice, Florida. Pastor David Dahlke and congregation members are very welcoming and supportive of our team members. They are amazed at all of the work done to clean up their property so quickly. Lakeside’s mission is “to joyfully serve,” and they have been joyfully serving our L.E.R.T. volunteers so that we can represent them as we serve in their communities. Restoring Hope at Redeemer Lutheran Church
LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers will provide chainsaw, heavy equipment, boom lift assistance, and some mucking and gutting of a flooded church sanctuary. Our teams will also provide spiritual and emotional care as many people took shelter in their homes and endured horrific conditions while the hurricane passed through their cities. Residents are overwhelmed with the devastation and need the reassurance and hope found in Jesus Christ. LCC never goes where we are not invited. We NEVER charge those we serve! 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 the residents in the impacted communities and all of the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff during our deployment to the hardest-hit areas of Florida to help during the long recovery process.
This past week, Deaconess Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, attended and presented at the National Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Disaster Response Conference held at the Concordia Theological Seminary of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Participating in the conference were also LCC L.E.R.T. team leaders Marty and Anna Johnson, Pete and Christel Springmire from St. John, Wheaton, Illinois, and Mark and Beverly Brueggemann from St. Paul, Grafton, Wisconsin. It was a very informative conference, including planning for the LCMS response to Hurricane Ian.
Working with LCMS Florida-Georgia District Disaster Response Coordinators to Help Impacted Individuals and Families in Hardest-Hit Areas with Recovery Efforts Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms ever to strike the US mainland, battered southwest Florida with high winds, rain, and storm surges as it moved inland. More than 2.5 million homes and businesses were left without power as the storm swept ashore in southwest Florida on Wednesday afternoon, bringing “catastrophic” 150 mph winds and a deadly storm surge of up to 18 feet. Hours later, the storm – estimated to be about 140 miles wide – was downgraded from a high category 4 hurricane to a tropical storm as it moved slowly northeast, causing major flooding. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said it brought “historic” damage to the state. “We’ve never seen a flood event like this,” DeSantis said. Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response has been carefully monitoring the path of Hurricane Ian since it began. Kathy O'Day and Ed Boerman, Northern Illinois District Disaster Response Coordinators, have been collaborating with the LCMS Disaster Response and District Disaster Response Coordinators Joel Mathews and Jay Wendland from the Florida-Georgia District. Rev. Ross Johnson, Director, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) Disaster Response and Jay Wendland have asked Kathy O’Day and L.E.R.T. team leader Marty Johnson to travel to Florida next week to be part of the assessment team. 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 the safety of those in the path of Hurricane Ian, including all of the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff, as we deploy to the hardest-hit areas of Florida to help during the long recovery process. Joyfully serving together in Christ, Lynda Streich
Interim President/CEO Lutheran Church Charities LCC works in coordination with LCMS Disaster Response national and local districts of the LCMS. 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. 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 |
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