Trainings & Deployments From: LCMS Disaster Response & Training

Eternal Shepherd Lutheran Church in Seneca, SC, is hosting LERT Basic Chainsaw training on December 12-13, 2025. The training will be held at Eternal Shepherd (220 Carson Road, Seneca, SC). The training will consist of 4 hours of instruction-based (Classroom Portion) on Friday and 4 hours of operational-based (Hands-On Portion) on Saturday. The cost of the training is $35.00. Cash in the appropriate amount and checks made payable to Lutheran Servants for Christ (memo line: LERT training) will be accepted. Snacks and lunch will be provided.

Class registration must be made at www.LCMS-LERT.org.  Participants are urged to pre-register before December 10, 2025, so we have the proper materials for everyone. All participants will need to wear steel-toed boots.

You must have previously completed the LERT basic training class to participate in this class.

During the training, you will learn the following:

Safe operation of a chainsawPersonal protective equipment (PPE)Injury preventionPhysics of cutting treesHow to buck and limb fallen treesHow to clear debris in a safe and beneficial manner

Bill Barthel, LERT Chainsaw Trainer, will lead the training session. If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Nicole Beattie, jnb137sc@bellsouth.net

The Southern Illinois District will provide Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) Basic Chainsaw training on Saturday, December 13, 2025. The chainsaw training serves to increase our dedicated LERT volunteer’s capabilities to help those who haven’t the means or skills to perform this dangerous work following a disaster. The District wants to equip LERT members with the ability to provide this service safely and efficiently. This training consists of two parts, a morning classroom session and an afternoon hands-on session that will be outdoors. Afternoon participants will be doing actual chain saw activities. 

The morning classroom session will be held at the Zion Lutheran Church, 609 E. Warren, Bunker Hill, IL  62014. Class will start promptly at 8:00 a.m., please arrive by 7:45 a.m. to complete registration and to receive class material.

The afternoon session will be outdoors several miles south of Bunker Hill, Directions will be provided during the morning session. Those participating in the afternoon hands-on session should bring a sack lunch to eat outdoors, as well as water for the afternoon session. 

You must have previously completed the LERT basic training class to participate in this class.

During the training, you will learn the following:

Safe operation of a chainsaw Personal protective equipment (PPE) Injury prevention How to buck and limb fallen trees How to clear debris in a safe and beneficial manner Those at the age of 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 classroom lecture style. All LERT qualified volunteers are invited to attend.

The afternoon session is hands-on with a chainsaw. Those wishing to participate in the hands-on training must attend the morning classroom session.

Those wishing to volunteer as draggers or pullers only, need not attend the afternoon session. 

Those wishing to attend both sessions should register for both. 

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

Afternoon hands-on participants should bring, if they have:

Chainsaw, bar oil, gas-oil or synthetic fuel mix Chaps and other Personal Protective Equipment (helmet, eye protection, gloves, steel-toed boots) Participants must wear steel-toed work boots. Tennis shoes or sandals/flip-flops are not allowed in the afternoon session. Outdoor work clothes and boots appropriate for the weather at the time. Shorts not allowed. Some chainsaws and PPE will be available for training if you do not have your own.  Those that are under the age of 18 will not be allowed to operate a chainsaw. 

Training Costs: 

Morning and Afternoon (LERT qualified Chainsaw Operator) - $25.00, includes training manual, certificate, new ID. The fee includes the afternoon session for those participating.  Pay at the time of training, checks should be made to Zion Lutheran Church. 

 

Please contact Kurt Elsesser, kurtelsesser@yahoo.com or 618-315-7316 for additional information or questions.

Hope Lutheran church, Wake Forest NC is hosting LERT Basic Chainsaw training on Saturday, January 24, 2026. The training will be held at Hope Lutheran, 3525 Rogers Rd, Wake Forest, NC. The training will consist of 4 hours of instructional-based (Classroom Portion) on Saturday morning and 4 hours of operational-based (Hands-On Portion) on Saturday afternoon. The cost of the training is $35.00. Cash in the appropriate amount and checks made payable Lutheran Servants for Christ (memo line - LERT training) will be accepted. Snacks and lunch will be provided.

Class registration must be made at www.LCMS-LERT.org.  Participants are urged to pre-register before January 5, 2026, so we have the proper materials for everyone. All participants will need to wear steel-toed boots.

You must have previously completed the LERT basic training class to participate in this class.

During the training, you will learn the following:

Safe operation of a chainsawPersonal protective equipment (PPE)Injury preventionPhysics of cutting treesHow to buck and limb fallen treesHow to clear debris in a safe and beneficial manner

David Hedrick, LERT Chainsaw Trainer, will lead the training session. If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact David Hedrick at David.Hedrick@clevelandcliffs.com

The Florida-Georgia District will provide Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) Chainsaw training at Grace Lutheran Church, 12200 McCormick Rd, Jacksonville, Fl  32225 on Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 8 - 5. The chainsaw training serves to increase our dedicated LERT volunteers' capabilities, share the love of Christ by helping those who don't have the means or skills to perform this dangerous work following a disaster. The District wants to equip LERT members with the ability to provide this service safely and efficiently.

To participate in this class, you must have previously completed the LERT Basic Training class. (A class is scheduled for 1/30/26 at 6:30 PM.)

During the training, you will learn the following:

Safe operation of a chainsaw
· Personal protective equipment (PPE)
· Injury prevention
· How to buck and limb fallen trees
· How to clear debris in a safe and beneficial manner

When you sign up, select the shifts for your desired level of training:
· Morning (4 hrs) - LERT Chainsaw Safety (classroom only)
· Afternoon (4 hrs) - LERT Chainsaw Operator (morning classroom and hands-on)

The morning session is a classroom lecture open to all LERT qualified volunteers, even if you do not plan to operate a chainsaw.

The afternoon session provides hands-on training with a saw and is open only to those who attend the morning safety session.

Anyone 16 and older may attend. Participants aged 16 up to their 18th birthday cannot operate a chainsaw, but may train and serve as draggers or swampers. Those attending both sessions must have the same safety gear required for chainsaw operators.

To be authorized as an LCMS LERT Chainsaw Operator for disaster responses, you must complete both the classroom and hands-on sessions (sign up for both).

Afternoon hands-on participants should bring the following items, if available:

- Chainsaw, bar oil, gas-oil or synthetic fuel mix
- Chaps and other Personal Protective Equipment (helmet, eye protection, gloves, steel-toed boots)

- Participants must wear steel-toed work boots. Tennis shoes or sandals/flip-flops are not allowed in the afternoon session.
- Outdoor work clothes and boots appropriate for the weather at the time. Shorts not allowed.
- Some chainsaws and PPE will be available for training if you do not have your own.

Training Costs: 
· Morning classroom only (Work on LERT chainsaw team but not as chainsaw operator) –  $15 per individual or $25 per couple.
· Morning and Afternoon (LERT qualified Chainsaw Operator) – $50 per individual, $85 per couple, or $100 per family (3 or more).

Please contact Beth Mark at 904-485-0610 for further information, if needed.