Trainings & Deployments From: LCMS Disaster Response & Training

This LERT (Lutheran Early Response Team) Training Event is for obtaining new or renewing/reviewing volunteer certification, enabling volunteers to be received at disaster clean-up sites. This training prepares groups to be on a local team that stands ready to respond when disasters happen, and where victims of storm damage are in need of assistance.

A registration fee of $30 per person will pay for lunch, training materials, certificate/ID card, and LERT volunteer t-shirt. LCMS Youth who are 14 years of age or older may earn LERT certification.

Training will take place at St Paul Lutheran Church, South Bend from 9am to 1:30pm. Doors will open at 8:30am, and participants should enter the doors underneath the awning.

Schedule for the day:

8:30am -- Registration
9:00am -- Welcome and Session 1
10:00am -- Break
10:15am -- Session 2
11:30am -- Lunch
12:15pm -- Session 3 and closing

Please send registration fees to "St Paul Lutheran Church", 51490 Laurel Rd, South Bend, IN 46637. Please note "LERT Training" on the memo line of your check.

Have questions regarding the location or lunch? Contact Jeff at weissj87@gmail.com or Doris at stpaulsboffice@gmail.com

Please consider attending LCMS LERT (Lutheran Early Response Team) volunteer training offered by Lutheran Church Charities. Federal guidelines indicate that volunteers responding to a disaster should be trained and certified. Should a disaster strike, you could deploy to a disaster site and serve those affected in a church and community. This training will inform LERT team volunteers on the safety, work, and ministry of Lutherans as Early Responders. This training is part of a Synod-wide disaster response program, facilitated by a national network of District Disaster Response Coordinators and Teams. After the training, you will receive a certificate, ID badge, and T-shirt.

In the chaos of disaster, it's important to stay focused on the task at hand.  This training will help you focus on the most important thing to remember as you prepare for or to respond to a disaster in your community or beyond.  At the center of our LERT Volunteer training is one thing:  MERCY!  Christ's mercy is the basis for everything we say and do.  This training event will equip you to be an effective volunteer should a disaster strike your community.  After a brief introduction regarding the goals and theological rationale of LCMS Disaster Response, the LERT volunteer training will address the following:  

 This training will be hosted by Faith Lutheran Church in Grand Blanc, MI

Please consider attending LCMS LERT (Lutheran Early Response Team) volunteer training offered by Lutheran Church Charities. Federal guidelines indicate that volunteers responding to a disaster should be trained and certified. Should a disaster strike, you could deploy to a disaster site and serve those affected in a church and community. This training will prepare LERT team members for credentialing and will focus on the safety, work, and ministry of Lutherans as Early Responders. This training is part of a Synod-wide disaster response program, facilitated by a national network of District Disaster Response Coordinators and Teams. After the training, you will receive a certificate, ID badge, manual, vest and a T-shirt.

In the chaos of disaster, it's important to stay focused on the task at hand. This training will help you focus on the most important thing to remember as you prepare for or respond to a disaster in your community or beyond.  At the center of our LERT Volunteer training is one thing:  MERCY!  Christ's mercy is the basis for everything we say and do.  This training event will equip you to be an effective volunteer should a disaster strike your community.  After a brief introduction regarding the goals and theological rationale of LCMS Disaster Response, the LERT volunteer training will address the following:  

This training will be hosted by:

      St. John Lutheran, 185 S. Center St, Orange, CA 92866

     Registration: 11:30 a.m. - Noon; Basic LERT Training: Noon to 4:00 p.m. 

The LERT trainer will distribute all materials.

Please consider attending LCMS LERT (Lutheran Early Response Team) volunteer training offered by Lutheran Church Charities. Federal guidelines indicate that volunteers responding to a disaster should be trained and certified. Should a disaster strike, you could deploy to a disaster site and serve those affected in a church and community. This training will prepare LERT team members for credentialing and will focus on the safety, work, and ministry of Lutherans as Early Responders. This training is part of a Synod-wide disaster response program, facilitated by a national network of District Disaster Response Coordinators and Teams. After the training, you will receive a certificate, ID badge, and a T-shirt.

In the chaos of disaster, it's important to stay focused on the task at hand.  This training will help you focus on the most important thing to remember as you prepare for or to respond to a disaster in your community or beyond.  At the center of our LERT Volunteer training is one thing:  MERCY!  Christ's mercy is the basis for everything we say and do.  This training event will equip you to be an effective volunteer should a disaster strike your community.  After a brief introduction regarding the goals and theological rationale of LCM Disaster Response, the LERT volunteer training will address the following:  

 This training will be hosted by the Trinity Lisle LERT Team. A pizza dinner and snacks will be provided during registration.

A Basic Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) training class will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 3100 Starkey Rd, Trinity, FL from 9 - 2 on Saturday November 15, 2025.  Participants will be introduced to the LCMS Disaster Response program, learn basic nature of disasters, the opportunities to respond to personal needs and how Lutherans can support families, congregations and the public as the hands and feet of Jesus during a disaster.  

A lunch will be provided. The registration fee is $35 - individual, $60 - couple, or $75 - family, and will cover the costs of manuals, ID Badge, trainer expenses and a T-shirt. Cash or checks, payable to "Florida-Georgia Lutheran Early Response" or "FGLER", or credit card (3% fee added).

Training material will be distributed on the day of training by your LERT Trainer, and afterwards by the coordinator. Registration should be completed two weeks prior to the training date. For questions or additional information, please contact Mark Trivilino, (913) 209-9324, TMA41@yahoo.com. 

In the chaos of disaster, it's important to stay focused on the task at hand. This training will help you focus on the most important thing to remember as you prepare to respond to a disaster in your community or beyond. At the center of our LERT Volunteer training is one thing: MERCY! Christ's mercy is the basis for everything we say and do. This training event will equip you to be an effective volunteer should a disaster strike your community. After a brief introduction regarding the goals and theological rationale of LCMS Disaster Response, the LERT volunteer training will address the following:

*Christian care in times of disaster

*A Ministry of Presence

*The LERT Program and how it works with other responders 

*Introduction to Disaster Response

*Service Opportunities after a Disaster & Safety Protocol

A Basic LERT Training class will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Atchison, Kansas. Participants will be introduced to the LCMS Disaster Response program and learn about the basic nature of disasters, opportunities to respond to personal needs in their aftermath, and how we, as Christians, can serve families, congregations and communities as the hands and feet of Jesus during trying times.

A registration fee of $35 per person helps cover the cost of lunch, training materials and LERT T-shirt. 

Has it been a while since you completed the Basic LERT course, and you want to refresh your working knowledge? Are you considering the Train the Trainer class in the near future? This would be an excellent opportunity to be introduced to the updated 2025 LERT training material. You may audit this class for $15 (covers your lunch).  

Please make checks payable to Trinity Lutheran Church and mail your registration fee to:

Trinity Lutheran Church
603 N. 8th St.
Atchison, KS 66002

Be sure to include "LERT Training December 6" in the check's memo line.

Registration must be received by November 22, 2025.

Walk-ins are welcome on a limited basis, as materials will be limited.

Questions? Please contact Jason T. Burgess at burgess2006harley@yahoo.com or Donna Williams at ksddrc@gmail.com

How long will training last? The course will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 6,  2025. Please arrive by 9:30 am to complete registration and sign in.

Training event is facilitated by: NE Training Team-Gardner

Lunch will be provided.

What will we study?
There are three main sections:

1) An introduction to the LCMS Disaster Response program

2) Congregation preparedness: I'm a trained LERT volunteer......now what?

3) Lutheran Early Response Teams: Who we are. What we do and why. How we function.

Who can be trained?
Anyone 14 years and older who is interested is welcome to attend this LERT training session and will receive certification as LCMS LERT volunteers (Youth Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult). You will receive your certificate of participation, volunteer ID card, and T-shirt from LCMS Disaster Response after the training is complete. Your LERT trainer will distribute all the LERT materials before and after the class.

A Basic LERT Training class will be held at King of Glory Lutheran, Williamsburg VA on Friday, January 16, 2026. The class will focus on how we can respond in times of disasters.  We will explore how Christ has shown mercy to us, and how we can show our community that same Christ-like mercy. The goal is to prepare congregations and individual members to be better prepared when a disaster strikes and to help them know how to respond within their families, congregations, and in word and deed, within the greater communities.

The class fee is $35.

A Basic Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) training class will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 12200 McCormick Rd, Jacksonville, FL, from 6:30 - 10:00 PM on Friday, January 30, 2026.  Participants will be introduced to the LCMS Disaster Response program, learn basic nature of disasters, the opportunities to respond to personal needs and how Lutherans can support families, congregations and the public as the hands and feet of Jesus during a disaster.  

A light dinner will be provided for those who arrive early. Class will start promptly at 7:00.

The registration fee is $35 for an individual, $60 for a couple, or $75 for a family, and covers the cost of manuals, ID badges, trainer expenses, and a T-shirt. Training materials will be distributed on the day of training and after the session by your LERT Trainer.

Registration should be completed at least two weeks prior to the training date. For questions or additional information, please contact Beth Mark at Markfamily342@gmail.com

In the chaos of disaster, it's important to stay focused on the task at hand. This training will help you focus on the most important thing to remember as you prepare to respond to a disaster in your community or beyond. At the center of our LERT Volunteer training is one thing: MERCY! Christ's mercy is the basis for everything we say and do. This training event will equip you to be an effective volunteer should a disaster strike your community. After a brief introduction regarding the goals and theological rationale of LCMS Disaster Response, the LERT volunteer training will address the following:

*Christian care in times of disaster

*A Ministry of Presence

*The LERT Program and how it works with other responders 

*Introduction to Disaster Response

*Service Opportunities after a Disaster & Safety Protocol