Lutherans respond after massive “derecho” wind storm in Iowa

The Rev. Andy Wright, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Keystone, Iowa, calls a congregation member outside the damaged church on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. “The tornado sirens went off, so we went down into the basement of the parsonage. You could hear the wind and things just breaking, all around you, for about 20 to 30 minutes straight. At first we thought a tornado was hitting. But it was not until the storm was starting to dissipate that I looked outside, and saw trees down all around our street, and then I looked back at the church, and my mouth just dropped open.” On Monday, Aug. 10, a massive “derecho” wind storm tore through the Midwest, hitting thousands of square miles with winds of up to 112 mph. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford