Tornado damages WELS church and school

new roof from tornado in Bethel, Menasha, Wis — Initial impressions of the damage to Bethel, Menasha, Wis., following the July 27 tornado looked grim, but the roof was covered quickly so that interior damage was minimal. Repairs are necessary but are not planned to interrupt Bethel’s ministry.

Around noon on Monday, July 27, a tornado ripped through northeastern Wisconsin, causing damage to Bethel, Menasha, a bilingual WELS church with about 500 members. The tornado also damaged the Menasha location of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Preschool, which is located on Bethel’s property and is a shared ministry of Bethel and Mount Calvary, Harrison.

The National Weather Service classified the tornado as an EF-3 with sustained winds of 140 miles per hour. The tornado traveled 12.1 miles, significantly damaging property in Menasha, Appleton, and several other nearby communities. No fatalities were reported.

WELS Christian Aid and Relief is supporting Bethel and area WELS members with recovery efforts and financial aid as needed. From June 30–Aug. 3, about 75 volunteers helped clear fallen trees and clean up properties damaged by the storm.

“The volunteers got an amazing amount of work done,” says Ethan Cherney, pastor at Bethel. “We had so many trees down that it looked like they cleared a small forest. It was so nice to have lots of hands on deck to help.”

two men cutting down trees wearing safety equipment and send 2 serve shirts — Jim Bublitz (left) has volunteered for WELS Christian Aid and Relief for more than 10 years and has helped with recovery efforts in Florida, Texas, Michigan, and Wisconsin. “Once you get a chance to come and volunteer, you’re almost addicted,” he says. Bublitz is pictured with fellow volunteer Peter Behrens during cleanup from the tornado that tore through Menasha, Wis.

Jim Bublitz, a member of St. John, Juneau, Wis., served as project manager of the cleanup efforts for WELS Christian Aid and Relief. Bublitz has volunteered for many relief efforts like this over the past 10 years. He notes, “I’m not a preacher. I’m not a school teacher. But I can operate a chainsaw and bring comfort to someone by telling them that God is with them and Jesus is their Savior.”

Cherney was able to share that gospel comfort with his members on the Sunday following the tornado. Members came together to worship in a special service at Eternal Love, Appleton, a nearby WELS church. Counselors from Christian Family Solutions, a WELS-affiliated ministry that offers counseling care and services, were available after worship.

Although parts of Bethel’s roof and some trusses were damaged, the interior suffered minimal damage, so Cherney believes that Bethel’s worship services will continue as normal going forward and that Shepherd of the Valley will be able to open for the first day of school at the end of August.

“Overall, we just are filled with gratitude,” says Cherney. “Gratitude to God for the support being offered and gratitude to those who are offering that support.”

Learn more(opens in new tab) about how to assist WELS Christian Aid and Relief in recovery efforts.

Watch a video(opens in new tab) about the cleanup efforts.

Volume 113, Number 09
Issue: September 2026