Greetings in Christ, LERT team members. Since our first update the logistics of our response has been developing quite well.
Please note the update:
1. Contact has been made with a command center made up of City officials from St. Charles, MO in coordination with neighborhood leaders where about 85 homes have been effected by the recent flooding.
2. Regional DDRC Kris Schuldt, (Immanuel, Wentzville) will receive all LERT team deployment and coordination inquiries.
3. LERT team leaders should be the ones to make contact with him. If you don't have one, work with the nearest LERT team leader, your congregation's pastor or designated administrator to reach out to Kris when you have assembled a group of interested respondents from your congregation.
4. Share with your congregation that two local LERT trainings are taking place at Immanuel, St. Charles in order to prepare new volunteers who may be interested in helping.
5. Funding from congregations can be used to support your local LERT team to deploy. Please coordinate with your church treasurer. Gifts for these deployments can be sent to the MO District. A synod grant from LCMS Disaster Response-LCMS is being submitted to assist with the purchase of drywall & associated supplies to be installed. Please see your LERT team leader for guidance and your LERT training manual for ideas to fund your team's response.
6. Deployments dates will be opening up as the 85 homes are visited and assessed. Keep in mind that LERT teams may start work as soon as next week and be opening up additional dates as team leaders coordinate with Kris.
7. It is estimated that for this particular flood response, even though flood buckets have been given out to many residents, more may still be called upon. The current rains are hitting ground that is already saturated. Thanks to those who keep them at the ready!
8. Specific skill sets needed: Our upcoming team deployments are going to need people to can handle installing drywall and/or teaching their team members how to and the associated tasks.
9. Pastor Ryan Taylor in the local congregation of Immanuel, St. Charles is the host congregation of this series of deployments.
Again, thank you for being involved in MO District LERT and keeping our LERT teams in prayer. May the Almighty provide for those effected by the flooding through the mercy our Lord Jesus.
In Christ,
Marty
Previous Announcement:
Brothers & Sisters in Christ,
Significant flooding has effected the greater St. Louis area and perhaps other areas.
I have been notified that dozens, if not more than 100 flood buckets and a number of LERT teams are poised and at the ready for use.
Although I have only heard of one congregation actively utilizing some of these buckets, there are several churches that I have yet to hear from in the effected area.
If you are in one of those effected areas, please reach out to me or one of your regional DDRC's to let us know of needs or contacts that you have made. Review your LERT manual or the new Quick Reference Guide as an encouragement regarding logistics and the ministry goals of your response.
God is at work in all things and through you by the power of God's Word & Holy Spirit (Col. 1:15-17)
Our contact info is as follows:
Here are your Regional DDRC’s with local LERT teams waiting to provide assistance.
- St. Louis Area: Kris Schuldt-Immanuel, Wentzville, pitchatent@centurytel.net; Rev. Charlie Schultz-St. Paul, Imperial, pastorschultz@att.net
- Kansas City Area: Rev. Karl Gibbs-Immanuel, Carollton, pastorkarlgibbs@gmail.com
- Central MO Area: Kent Kunkel-St. Paul, Concordia; kkunkel@splhs.org
- Southwest MO Area: Richard King-Immanuel, Joplin; pmrichardking@yahoo.com
- Southeast & District DDRC: Rev. Marty Hasz-Good Shepherd, Cape Girardeau; marty.hasz@mo.lcms.org
In Christ,
Marty Hasz
