Lutheran Church Charities Attends Annual LCMS Disaster Response Conference in St. Louis, Missouri

Rev. Chris Singer, Lutheran Church Charities President/CEO, and Deaconess Kathy O’Day, Director of Disaster Response, attended The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) annual Disaster Response Conference in St. Louis, Missouri.
 
Also attending were LCMS Northern Illinois District Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) chainsaw instructors and volunteers Mark and Bev Brueggemann, Marty Johnson, Anna Piro, and Pete and Christel Springmire.
 
There were ninety-five LCMS L.E.R.T. District Disaster Response Coordinators, instructors, and volunteers from thirty LCMS districts present. All heard presentations on many topics relevant to responding to disasters and providing spiritual and emotional care to disaster survivors.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Persis (King of Kings - Glenpool, Oklahoma) and her team attended the conference and presented how they responded to a local disaster in Oklahoma with their church’s L.E.R.T. team. They also shared what the LCC K-9 Ministry teams have done and can do in other areas of the country after a disaster in partnership with local L.E.R.T. teams.

While attending the conference, L.E.R.T. team member Christel Springmire assisted Forged by Fire, an LCMS Recognized Service Organization (RSO), to cook and serve southern food for Concordia Seminary students at the annual Jambalaya Fest they host.
 
Kathy O’Day, Anna Piro, Marty Johnson, and Pete Springmire spoke with seminary students about what LCMS L.E.R.T. is and how its program and volunteers can be the church and serve those affected by a disaster. For many seminary students, this is their first introduction to L.E.R.T.

Share the Comfort Event
During the conference, Rev. Chris Singer was invited to speak at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Missouri, about the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog, Disaster Response, Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, and Human Care ministries.

On the evening of September 6, Rev. Singer had a unique opportunity to meet with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams local to the St. Louis/St. Charles area. He shared some exciting updates about Lutheran Church Charities and enjoyed answering questions and listening to feedback and suggestions from this excellent group of leaders. 
 
LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Esther & Jordan (Holy Cross - Collinsville, Illinois), Noah (Timothy - St. Louis, Missouri), Tabby (St. Paul’s - Des Peres, Missouri), Persis (King of Kings - Glenpool, Oklahoma), and Zillah (Immanuel - St. Charles, Missouri), along with their handlers, were in attendance. 
 
Many thanks to Immanuel St. Charles for hosting this wonderful fellowship opportunity, complete with a great compliment of desserts and coffee, and to the LCC K-9 teams and others who gave their time to be there and share the comfort.