Trainings & Deployments From: LCMS Disaster Response & Training

Basic LERT Chainsaw Training will take place on Saturday, June 27 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Conover, NC from 8:30am to 3:00pm. Classroom training will be at St. Peter's Lutheran with field training to follow at a private residence. This training is intended to increase LERT volunteer’s skills, knowledge and safety in chainsaw operation so they can provide a critical service to those who do not have the skills or means to perform this dangerous work following a disaster.

This class is limited to 12 participants as their will be 2 LERT Chainsaw Instructors onsite. Cost for class is $35.00. Lunch will be provided. Checks may be made payable to Shepherd's Heart Ministry. Please note on the check that this is for Chainsaw training.

During the training, participants will learn:

Safe operation of a chainsaw and pole saw Personal protective equipment (PPE) Injury preventionHow to buck and limb storm damaged trees How to properly clear debris in safe and beneficial manner and Proper saw maintenance. 

To be an authorized LCMS LERT Chainsaw Operator and use a chainsaw on LERT disaster responses sites, you must attend BOTH the morning classroom and afternoon "hands-on" sessions.  

ALL REGISTRATION IS ONLINE at at www.lcms-lert.org.

Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Tampa FL is sponsoring a Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) BASIC CHAINSAW TRAINING on Saturday, June 27, 2026.  This training is intended to increase LERT volunteer’s skills, knowledge and safety in chainsaw operation so they can provide a critical service to those who do not have the skills or means to perform this dangerous work following a disaster.  The training is  for those who want to operate a chainsaw on aLERT event.  It is being held at:

Family of Christ Lutheran Church, 16190 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33647  (Building 3)

Participants may arrive at the site at 7:30 a.m. to register.  Class will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m.  Your LERT Trainer will distribute all material for, and after, the class.

You must have previously completed the LERT Basic Training Class to participate in this class.  

During the morning classroom training, participants will learn:

Safe operation of a chainsawPersonal protective equipment (PPE)Injury preventionHow to buck and limb storm-damaged treesHow to properly clear debris in a safe and beneficial manner andProper saw maintenance

The afternoon session is hands-on training in field chainsaw operation, where participants will learn and demonstrate chainsaw skills.  This training is limited to 10 participants.

To be an authorized LCMS LERT Chainsaw Operator and use a chainsaw on LERT disaster response sites, you must attend BOTH the morning classroom and afternoon "hands-on" sessions.  

Class registration must be made at www.lcms-lert.org

Cost of Training: 

Registration (includes training, lunch and snacks) -- $50. (Couples: $85) Pay at the time of training; Checks payable to “Family of Christ Lutheran Church – LERT” or pay online at FGLER.org

Participants should bring (if you have them):

Chainsaw, bar oil, gas/oil or synthetic fuel mix.Chaps and other Personal Protective Equipment (helmet, eye protection, ear protectors, gloves, and steel-toe boots).Participants must wear steel-toed boots. Tennis shoes or sandals/flip-flops are not allowed in the afternoon field session.Outdoor work clothes and boots appropriate for the weather at the time. Shorts are not allowed.

LCMS LERT Chainsaw Trainer Joel Mathews will lead the training event. If more information is needed, contact the site coordinator, Donnie Moore,  dmoore@familyofchrist.org,  615-981-1162 (Cell / Text)

Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Tampa FL is sponsoring a Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) BASIC CHAINSAW TRAINING for non-operators on Saturday, June 27, 2026.  The training is for those who want to know how to work within a chainsaw team, how to be safe working around them, and general information (but not operate a chainsaw).  Open to anyone age 16 and up. Maximum of 30.  It is being held at:

Family of Christ Lutheran Church, 16190 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33647  (Building 3)

Participants may arrive at the site at 7:30 a.m. to register.  Class will begin promptly at 8:00 am and conclude at 12:00 pm(Noon).  Your LERT Trainer will distribute all material for, and after, the class.

You must have previously completed the LERT Basic Training Class to participate in this class.  

During the morning classroom training, participants will learn:

Safe operation of a chainsawPersonal protective equipment (PPE)Injury preventionHow to buck and limb storm damaged treesHow to properly clear debris in safe and beneficial manner andProper saw maintenance

This training is limited to 30 participants.

Class registration must be made at www.lcms-lert.org/need

Cost of Training: 

Registration (includes training, lunch and snacks) -- $15. Pay at the time of training; checks payable to “Family of Christ Lutheran Church – LERT” or pay online at FGLER.org

LCMS LERT Chainsaw Trainer Joel Mathews will lead the training event. If more information is needed, contact the site coordinator, Donnie Moore,  dmoore@familyofchrist.org,  615-981-1162 (Cell / Text)

The Mid-South District will provide LERT Basic Chainsaw training on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at Belvoir Christian Academy, 800 Belvoir Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37412.  Chainsaw training strengthens our LERT volunteers' ability to help people who lack the means or skills to perform this dangerous work after a disaster. The District wants to equip LERT members with the ability to provide this service safely and efficiently.

Snack and lunch will be provided.  Bottled water will be furnished at the site.

You must have previously completed the Basic LERT Training class to participate in LERT chainsaw training. If you haven't, please register for the Basic LERT training on 6/26/2026.  

During the training, you will learn the following:

Safe operation of a chainsaw Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Injury Prevention How to buck and limb fallen trees How to clear debris in a safe and efficient manner

Those ages 14-17 may attend the classroom portion and become a dragger, but will not be able to become a puller or chainsaw operator until they have reached the age of 18.

The morning session is a classroom lecture.  All LERT qualified volunteers are invited to attend.  The afternoon session is hands-on with a chainsaw.  The morning session MUST be attended to participate in the afternoon (operations) session.  To be authorized to use a chainsaw on LERT disaster responses as an LCMS Chainsaw Operator, you MUST attend BOTH the classroom and hands-on sessions. LERT Trainer will distribute all class materials.

Afternoon hands-on participants should bring, if they have: chainsaw, bar oil, gas/oil or synthetic fuel mix, chaps and Personal Protective Equipment (helmet, eye protection, gloves, and steel-toed work boots).

Participants must wear steel-toed work boots. Tennis shoes or sandals/flip-flops are not allowed during the afternoon session. Outdoor work clothes and boots appropriate for the weather at the time.  Shorts are not allowed.

Some chainsaws and PPE will be available for training if you do not have your own.  Those who are under the age of 18 will not be allowed to operate a chainsaw or work near saw operations.

Training costs: 

Morning and afternoon (LERT Qualified Chainsaw Operator) - $50.00  Non-operator (Safety portion of the class) - $15.00  Pay at the time of training.  Cash in the appropriate amount and checks payable to Faith Lutheran Church - memo line: chainsaw training. 

Class capacity is 15.

Should you have any questions, please contact the chainsaw trainer Rev. Trae Fistler at 515-571-1378 or traefistler@gmail.com.