Multiple LCMS groups assist with tornado response

Volunteers with Forged by Fire and Lutheran Early Response Team assist with food distribution in North St. Louis following a tornado that hit the greater St. Louis area on May 16. (Forged by Fire)

By Brianna Dehn

On May 16, a powerful storm system went through parts of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky, leaving a trail of devastation behind it. St. Louis was one of the areas affected by the storm — notably Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL), and Bethlehem Lutheran Church, North St. Louis, both of which sustained damage from the same EF3 tornado.

According to the Rev. Dr. Ross Johnson, director of Disaster Response for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), the LCMS is currently assisting six congregations across the St. Louis area; supporting CSL with volunteer deployment; providing aid to Bethlehem for roof and HVAC replacement; and coordinating a two-week deployment to Springfield, Mo., for chainsaw work. Johnson anticipates that the total amount of Synod support for the tornado response will be over $250,000. In addition, in the days immediately following the storm, the work of approximately 50 Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) volunteers likely saved the seminary more than $200,000 in tree and debris removal costs.

Meanwhile, Bethlehem has become an active hub for assisting those in the surrounding community. Lutheran churches in the greater St. Louis area are collecting items and delivering them to Bethlehem to distribute, including Immanuel Lutheran Church in Festus/Crystal City, Mo., which donated over 2,000 water bottles and 26 tarps to Bethlehem, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Des Peres, Mo., which donated thousands of water bottles, baby items, food items and hygiene products. Christ Community Lutheran School (CCLS) in St. Louis raised over $10,000 for the effort.

“Our brothers and sisters at Bethlehem are family, and just as we celebrate together in times of joy, we also stand together in times of hardship,” said the Rev. Dr. Matthew Hoehner, executive director of CCLS. “Supporting Bethlehem’s neighborhood is more than disaster relief — it’s a tangible expression of sharing life with our neighbors through the love of Christ.”

On May 21, volunteers from Historic Trinity Lutheran Church of St. Louis; Messiah Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Mo.; The Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens in Webster Groves, Mo.; and CCLS helped serve breakfast and dinner at Bethlehem. In addition, the Recognized Service Organization Forged by Fire worked with LCMS Disaster Response and LERT to provide 3,000 meals over a three-day period.

“We were blessed to be able to share a hot meal with those in need, but also the hope that we have in Jesus Christ,” said the Rev. Paul Ernewein, director of Forged by Fire.

Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, St. Louis, also helped with food needs, purchasing around $1,000 worth of grocery store gift cards to help replenish perishable items lost on the seminary campus during a weeklong power outage. Chapel of the Cross is also housing volunteers who have traveled to the area to assist with cleanup from the tornado.

“We are blessed to have the opportunity and means to help,” said the Rev. Ted Laesch, senior pastor.

Concordia Publishing House (CPH) is supporting the response via donations of thousands of Bibles and devotionals to hand out to tornado victims. “Through our Concordia Gospel Outreach, we have a history of reaching out to Lutheran congregations that are in the midst of disaster-related relief for communities,” said Jonathan Schultz, president and CEO of CPH. “We’re privileged to be a part of this … as so many people are decimated from the tornadoes that came through.”

CPH employees have also collected $2,500 to support Bethlehem’s efforts.

“I am overwhelmed with thanks for how so many congregations and organizations have linked together to help the people of North St. Louis,” said the Rev. Dr. Gerard Bolling, senior pastor at Bethlehem. “We are truly changing the landscape here and helping to rebuild a community that always needed this type of outpouring of love and support. [It is] good to see God’s people pull together.”

Brianna Dehn (brianna.dehn@lcms.org) is a staff writer for LCMS Communications.

Posted June 6, 2025