LCC Care Team on the ground in Oklahoma after tornado

The powerful winds, indeed, sounded like a freight train, they said.

As residents of Beggs, OK, continued to sort through the debris and remnants of their homes, the trauma of surviving an EF-3 tornado on March 6 was still very real.

This week, an LCC Care Team from Christ The Redeemer Lutheran in Tulsa, OK, stepped into the heartbreak with compassion, presence, and hope, serving on the ground for three days with Spiritual First Aid™ and tangible assistance for those whose lives are unexpectedly upended.

“One of the things we noticed right away was how much people’s faces reflected their emotional pain,” one team member shared. “As they told their stories, you could see they were reliving the event.”

Throughout those three days, the team encountered people in every stage of shock and grief. They sat with individuals who had lost their homes, listened to first responders carrying the weight of what they had witnessed, and met community members still shaken from rushing out of harm’s way. Many shared vivid accounts of the storm, their voices echoing the urgency and fear of those moments.

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Joined by Persis Comfort Dog (Christ The Redeemer – Tulsa), the team delivered a Heart of Mercy & Compassion to the town’s mayor remembering Todd and Becky McClelland, an elderly couple from Beggs who perished in the storm. Residents who visited a relief station in town filled the heart with encouragement and messages of hope amid their own heaviness.

With gentle presence, the LCC Care Team created space for residents for their stories to be told. They listened without rushing, offered prayers rooted in hope, and reminded each person they encountered that they were not alone. They also helped connect individuals to a local church community for ongoing support and care.

Spiritual First Aid™ was a vital part of the team’s response. They listened for and addressed emotional and spiritual needs early, which often helps foster initial healing and can lessen the long-term effects of trauma.

In moments where words often fall short, simply being present, grounded in faith and compassion, became a powerful ministry.

Across neighborhoods, gathering points, and recovery areas, the team showed up. Their presence became a quiet but steady reminder of God’s love in the midst of loss. They offered reassurance that even in devastation, hope remains.

Through listening hearts, prayerful support, and faithful presence, they brought light into some of the community’s darkest moments, sharing the hope of Jesus and affirming that every person they encountered is deeply loved by God and by others.

As Beggs begins the long journey of recovery, the Care Team’s work is not finished.

They plan to continue reengaging with those impacted, walking alongside individuals and families as healing unfolds in the weeks and months ahead. Their ongoing presence will serve as a reminder that care does not end when the immediate crisis passes, it continues through relationship, faith, and steadfast love.

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