Shortly before 1 am on the morning of March 3rd, an EF-3 tornado struck Nashville. It was on the ground for 60.13 miles, traveling for almost an hour from Nashville to Cookeville. The tornado destroyed homes, churches, schools and businesses along its path. The path of the tornado came within a 1/2 mile from Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Hermitage. Thankfully there was little damage to the church building and no loss of life of our members, but there was considerable damage throughout our community in Donelson, Hermitage, Mt. Juliet, and Lebanon. The homes of two families that attend our school were completely destroyed and several members had property damage from fallen trees.
At the request of President Paavola, Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Relief Team came to assist us. They brought 50 volunteer members of the L.E.R.T. (Lutheran Early Response Team) chainsaw crew. They crew slept each night and ate dinner and breakfast at Emmanuel before going out into the community to cut down and clear trees at members’ homes and throughout the community. Through Lutheran Church Charities, Emmanuel was able to offer help, care, comfort and hope to our community. God turned this disaster into a way to be a witness of the love of Christ to our neighbors.
God is good!
— Sarah Baker
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
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