Our Story
Faith Responders was born out of a simple conviction: when disaster strikes, the church should be the first to respond. Founded by a group of pastors and volunteers who witnessed firsthand the devastation of natural disasters in the Gulf Coast region, we set out to build a ministry that could mobilize trained, compassionate teams quickly and effectively.
What began as a small network of local churches has grown into a multi-state ministry deploying hundreds of volunteers each year. From Louisiana flooding to major hurricanes in Florida, our teams have served alongside thousands of families — tarping roofs, clearing debris, gutting flood-damaged homes, and offering the hope of the Gospel in the middle of crisis.
We believe disaster response is not just humanitarian work — it is ministry. Every nail driven, every tarp secured, and every prayer offered is an act of worship and a witness to the love of Christ.
Our Mission
"To mobilize the body of Christ to respond to disasters with compassion, competence, and Christ-centered care — rebuilding homes and restoring hope one family at a time."
Faith Responders Impact in 2025
What We Stand For
Faith First
Every deployment, every training, and every relationship is grounded in our faith in Jesus Christ and our calling to love our neighbors.
Servant Hearts
We show up ready to work — not to be seen, but to serve. Humility and hard work define our teams in the field.
Trained & Safe
We equip our volunteers with the skills and safety knowledge to serve effectively without putting themselves or survivors at risk.
Church-Centered
We believe the local church is God's primary vehicle for community transformation. We partner with and strengthen congregations.
Whole-Person Care
We address physical, emotional, and spiritual needs — because true recovery goes far beyond a repaired roof.
Long-Term Commitment
We don't just show up for the cameras. We stay — through the long, unglamorous work of recovery — until families are truly restored.
Board of Directors
Dedicated leaders guiding Faith Responders' mission to equip and mobilize the church in disaster response and recovery.
Elizabeth Chryst
Elizabeth currently serves as Chair of Faith Responders, Inc. She previously chaired the Wesleyan Covenant Association Global Council and served on the executive board of the Florida WCA. She is also a past chair of Habitat for Humanity of Marion County Florida. Earlier in her career, she was elected as an officer of the United States Senate, serving as the U. S. Senate Secretary for the Majority.
Steve Painter
Steve is a retired Naval Oceanographer and business executive from the military sector with more than 45 years of experience. He served as a board member including as its chairman for the National Center for Simulation based in Orlando for more than 14 years. He and his wife Lisa have been a member of University Carillon GMC since 2003 involved in church leadership, international missions to the Bahamas and Cuba, and formation of the Serve Response Team – a church wide organization helping individuals in need from the local community and those impacted by natural disasters.
Laura Peluso
Laura has had the privilege to watch God lead and grow Faith Responders since its inception in 2023. She is a member of the Housing Disaster Resilience and Recovery team at Habitat for Humanity International, and she holds a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University in the City of New York. Laura's volunteer and professional experience inform her participation in Faith Responders, and her commitment to its mission is anchored in her relationship with Jesus Christ and her hope that God's kingdom on Earth will flourish as Christians love the foreigner as we love ourselves (Leviticus 19:33-34) and open wide our hands to the needy and to the poor (Deuteronomy 15:11).
Chris Rodriguez
Chris was born in NY and raised in Peachtree City GA. She obtained her BS from the University of South Alabama and worked for the Department of Defense Schools, both overseas and stateside. She has been a part of the Georgianna Church staff in Merritt Island FL since 2005. As the Missions Pastor, Chris helped to establish a vibrant ministry locally and globally. Under Chris' leadership, Georgianna began a Natural Disaster Relief Ministry in 2019. This new mission has blessed families in AL, the Bahamas, FL, KY, LA and TN with teams who have assisted with clean up and the rebuilding of homes.
Phillip Coleman
Phillip R Coleman is has over 35 years in franchise concept development and growing those concepts. He is also a CPA. Phillip has a passion for Early Response serving with his local church ERT group in over 2 dozen trips over the last 12 years. He also is strong believer in the power of faith based organizations such as Faith Responders who bring God’s love to survivors around the country, primarily in the Southeast.
Russ Kamradt
Russ Kamradt has dedicated his life to serving others through disaster response, community outreach, and Christian ministry. He has deployed to more than 50 national and several international disasters, primarily in logistics management roles with the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Mission Harvest International, and Faith Responders. A former United States Marine, Russ is also a retired General Operations Manager who oversaw distribution centers throughout Northeast Florida. He is a life member of the Marine Corps League and has served as Commandant of two Marine Corps League detachments. Russ’s commitment to community service spans decades. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Waste Not Want Not and has volunteered with the organization for 25 years. He also served for 12 years on the board of the American Cancer Society and has been an active member of The Salvation Army Advisory Council for 16 years. Driven by his faith and a lifelong passion for helping those in need, Russ has held numerous leadership positions within the Methodist Church, including Council Chair, Lay Leader, and Missions and Outreach Leader. His wife, Kathy, and their Bible study class helped establish one of the first Global Methodist churches in Florida, where they continue to serve in leadership.
Luis Morales
Luis retired from the US Air Force in 2012, after 34+ years of total military service, mostly as a registered nurse. His last 12 years were as an International Health Specialists. In addition to a variety of nursing leadership roles, he planned and executed many humanitarian assistance and disaster planning training missions around the world.
Holly Moody
Holly Moody is a South Florida attorney specializing in real estate transactions, estate planning, probate, and trust administration. A native of Fort Lauderdale, she is also the proud mother of two grown daughters.
Laura Lambert
Laura Lambert is a GMC pastor, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Faith Responders Disaster Response Ministry. Laura has a passion and calling for connecting the church to the world through missions, evangelism, and offering Christ in tangible ways to those affected by disasters.
Join the Mission
Whether you volunteer, donate, or mobilize your church — there is a place for you in this work.