The SELC and LCMS Disaster Response ministries are available to respond to immediate and long-term needs following natural and man-made disasters with Christian mercy. The Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) ministry reaches out to LCMS congregations and their communities with services that include on-site assessment, emergency relief and development grants, pastoral care for LCMS church workers and members, and other resources.
Make it your goal for your circuit to have a plan
to communicate and assist each other in times of disaster.
The SELC District Disaster Relief Coordinator (DDRC) is Steve Lehenbauer. Steve is the Chief Administrative Officer at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Oviedo FL. In the role of DDRC, he will help to coordinate any emergency needs in our district. Email Steve at cao@sllcs.org!
Every congregation of the SELC District should:
- Designate a member to serve as a disaster information officer. This person will be the liaison when other churches need help and communicate with the DDRC if help is needed.
- Promote, encourage and implement a Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT). This team should schedule regular yearly events to assist in your local community and prepare to travel regionally to assist other churches as needed.
- Contact the SELC DDRC or your local geographical LCMS district to coordinate training for LERT certification.
- Designate one Sunday a year to promote disaster preparedness. This may include collecting donations for disaster relief, providing FEMA disaster preparation information, encouraging LERT training, …..
- Create an emergency guide. See an example from St. Luke’s Oviedo. (sllcs.org/LERT)
- Create a disaster recovery plan. See examples from FEMA (fema.gov)
All individuals in the district are encouraged to:
- Register with LCMS LERT LCMS-LERT.org
- Become a FAN of the SELC District.
- Join the SELC User group. This will help us notify you for SELC needs, training, etc.
- Become a FAN of the geographical LCMS District you live in so you get notified about training and disaster responses that are happening in your area.
- Request to become LERT certified. This is a one day, 4-5 hour course that will give you the knowledge to help in a local or national disaster response. The more people in your church who request training makes it easier to set up a training date so invite your friends!