Southern California Wildfires Response
March 26, 2025 – Holding Fast to the Promises of Jesus Lutherans Engage Article.
January 22, 2025 – The LCMS Pacific Southwest District contact for disaster response coordination is PSD COO Jon Niederbrach. Email disaster.response@psd-lcms.org or call 949.854.3232 ext. 222. The PSW District thanks you and is endeavoring to respond to the many calls and emails they receive within 24 hours.
If you are able financially to support the church’s response to wildfires in California, please also prayerfully consider a contribution to:
- The LCMS Disaster Response—Strategic Use fund. Visit lcms.org/give/disaster or mail a check to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, or LCMS, at P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-6861. On the memo line, write “Disaster Response—Strategic Use (TR9206).” This fund allows our Synod to continue its care and support, as the demands warrant, of those still suffering in North Carolina and other parts of the Southeast as well as those affected by the wildfires in California.
- The LCMS Wildfire Relief (only) fund. Your gift will only be utilized to help those impacted by wildfires. Visit lcms.org/disaster and select the “Disaster Response — Wildfires” option in the “Giving opportunities” or mail a check to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, or LCMS, at P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-6861. On the memo line, write “Wildfire Relief Only.”
Special note: The LCMS encourages individuals, groups and congregations located within California, including the Pacific Southwest District and the California-Nevada-Hawaii District, to donate through the PSD website to help your closest neighbors.
January 14, 2025 – LCMS Reporter Article
January 13, 2025 – The LCMS Pacific Southwest District (PSW) has shared the most effective ways to help right now is to pray and donate. The PSW District is working with first responders from the LCMS Synod office and Lutheran Church Charites to best serve the congregations and communities in the path of the wildfires. For updated information and to make a donation towards emergency relief click here.
Hurricane Response
Florida, Georgia
Congregations across the Florida/Georgia District are cleaning up after hurricanes Helene and Milton. Volunteers and donations are needed! Contact Jay Wendland directly if you are willing and able to volunteer.
LCMS Disaster Response
The LCMS is working with Districts, providing support relief and mercy efforts for Helene and Milton victims in the southeastern United States. For more information, click here. Latest video. December 2024 Reporter article.
North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia
The Southeastern District page has updated information on the recovery effort. To financially support the effort, please click this link: secure.myvanco.com/L-ZJJD/campaign/C-154TR
Tennessee
Mid-South District – More information can be found at mid-southlcms.org/disaster-response-update/.
West Virginia
The Ohio District lists resources that can provide assistance to those who have been affected by a disaster, including contact and donation information.
Orphan Grain Train Helps Fund Mission Mules
A total of $48,000 from Michigan donors enabled Orphan Grain Train – Michigan to assist four relief entities helping families hurt by Hurricane Helene. One quarter of those funds was given to Mission Mules, a Christian relief outreach that carries supplies into inaccessible hollows and mountain areas to which access by normal vehicles is impossible. To learn more about OGT and to donate, visit ogt.org/branches/michigan/
Become a Trained Christian Volunteer
A disaster may happen anywhere at any time. Are you prepared to respond? Join us at the Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) volunteer training program provided by the LCMS Office of National Mission. This 6-hour program will help you serve as a trained Christian volunteer, focusing on the most important things to remember as you prepare for–or respond to–a disaster in your community or beyond. Become Certified
An unparalleled opportunity stands before us to share Christ by offering Christian care in times of disaster. Christ’s mercy is at the center of LERT training and is the basis for everything we do.
After you complete the LERT training, you will receive your certificate and volunteer certification badge from LCMS Disaster Response and the LCMS Office of National Mission
Latest LCMS Disaster Response Information
For up-to-date information concerning Disaster Response, visit LCMS World Relief and Human Care.
Here is also a Quick Reference Guide for Disasters and Pandemics by the LCMS Disaster Response. (added 5/12/2020)