Delmont South Dakota Tornado - 2 updates

This past Sunday there was a tornado in South Dakota, which happened to destroy the town of Delmont's Lutheran Church and Parsonage.  The Sunday School children huddled in the basement of the church praying the Lord's Prayer as the tornado destroyed the sanctuary over their heads.  

On my vicarage, one of our Lutheran Student Fellowship members was from that town and congregation, and is still a friend today.  

Also, the pastor from Delmont, Rev. Brian Bucklew was a year behind me in the seminary.  I had several classes with him.  

There is more information, and the opportunity to help the members of this congregation financially located in the attached link.  I'd encourage you to consider how you might show Christian care to their congregation at this time.  If you'd prefer to give something on Sunday towards helping them, please label it in a separate envelope for "Tornado Care."  We'll make sure it goes where it needs to.  

LCMS Blog article on Torndao with "Give Now" link

UPDATE FROM LCMS:  CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES

UPDATE FROM PRESIDENT BANECK: 

This was Rev. Daryl Rothchild’s first Call where he served Zion Lutheran Church for 5 1/2 years.  They also lived in the parsonage that was destroyed.  They have talked to several of the parishioners that they knew and many sustained damage.  

UPDATE FROM PASTOR ROTHCHILD:

Also, some of you might remember a vicar, Richard Weeman, who served at Faith, Towner quite a few years ago.  Richard followed me at Zion, Delmont.  Delmont is in Arie Bertsch’s home circuit.  Nabil Nour our synodical VP is in the congregation next door at Armour and I know he has been over to Delmont to help. 

The pastor, Brian Bucklew, was on vacation when all this happened but is now back in the Delmont area.