On January 25, a 500 feet wide, 150 mph EF-3 tornado was on the ground for 9.5 miles through Fultondale, Alabama, leaving a path of destruction that killed and injured residents as well as destroyed homes, schools, and businesses. This tornado was located just a few miles from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gardendale, where Pastor Ed Brashier, Southern District Disaster Response Coordinator, serves. They are now one of the churches in this community that have committed to serving the disaster-affected residents for the long road of recovery they are currently facing.

Pastor Ed Brashier expresses his gratitude to Lutheran Church Charities, and its donors for the financial assistance received that is being used to help provide assistance for several families from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and community members that suffered a loss of their homes, belongings, and livelihoods. This financial assistance will help families with hotel costs, rent, and security deposits as they seek alternative housing to repair or rebuild their lives and homes.

 
The Franks, a family of four, are one of the members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church that experienced tornado damage to homes and autos. They had major damage to their roof and back rooms of their home. They are anticipating at least 4 months of living in a hotel while their home is being repaired. They also lost three cars, which are needed for work, and are now facing about $8,000 in deductibles for the loss of their home and autos. This is one of the many financial burdens that most tornado-affected families are now experiencing.
 
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will be serving their disaster-affected congregation, school, and community members in the name of Jesus Christ, through this long-term recovery process. Please prayerfully consider donating to help Good Shepherd support these families as they recover from this devastating disaster.

Corporal Terri Albright of the DuPage County Sheriff’s Department has joined the K-9 Ministry as LCC K-9 Police Ministry Coordinator Volunteer. In her role, Terri will be working with all of K-9 Ministry Affiliates to engage ministries in serving first responders and their families, with an emphasis on the law enforcement community.
 
Terri joined LCC as the LCC K-9 Police Ministry Coordinator in February 2021. She is the K-9 Police Ministry law enforcement handler for LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Julia at King of Glory Lutheran Church, Elgin, Illinois. Terri has been with the DuPage Sheriff’s Office since 2004 and currently serving as a Corporal with the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office Community Resource Unit.
 
Terri holds a Masters in Mental Health Counseling and developed the Sheriff’s Post Crisis Response Team. The LCC K-9 Police Ministry's primary focus is serving first responders and their families, with an emphasis on the law enforcement community. Terri will be working with all LCC K-9 Ministry Affiliates to raise awareness and engage ministries in this outreach.

Bonnie Fear, LCC K-9 Ministry Top Dog at Redeemer, Fort Collins, Colorado, has joined LCC in the role of LCC K-9 Crisis Response Coordinator. In her role, Bonnie will be working with LCC and the K-9 Affiliates to plan and coordinate responses to crisis and disasters situations with boots and paws on the ground within 24 hours from the invite (if possible) to bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence, and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need.
 
Bonnie joined LCC in November of 2015 as a handler for LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Cubby at Redeemer. She has deployed with Cubby Comfort Dog to 11 crisis/disaster deployments since 2016. In 2017, she became Top Dog for the K-9 Ministry team at Redeemer. She was also instrumental in getting a second Comfort Dog at Redeemer with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Devorah's placement in November of 2020. Before joining LCC, Bonnie was employed by AAL in Appleton, WI (now Thrivent) for 14 years.
 
LCC would like to thank Patrick Quinn for his faithful service in heading up the LCC K-9 Police Ministry with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Shiloh. Patrick will still be involved in the K-9 Police Ministry in serving Law Enforcement and their families. Thank you, Patrick – "well done, good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:23)

LCC’s Partnership with St. John Lutheran Church of Schaumburg and Salam Christian Fellowship has blessed several ministry partners with their donations enabling these ministries to continue to serve people in the name of Jesus.

Christ the King, Chicago, Illinois, will be receiving a gas stove to replace the non-working stove in their senior house that is a home for five seniors. They will also be receiving a freezer that will enable them to store frozen food until they can give it out to people in the tent cities they serve or the people that come to their pantry at the church for food.

On Tuesday, the Midwest Veterans Closet received a donation of men's and women’s clothing and shoes. Thank you to LCC volunteers Terry Styka and Margo Kritzka, who delivered the donation. On Wednesday, LCC's volunteer Roger Plummer delivered a load of draperies and linens for the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and living rooms with his SUV. They will soon be receiving donations of household items, kitchen dishes, pots and pans, small appliances, electrons, and children’s books.

On Thursday, LCC's volunteer Ginny Feldmann and a crew from a moving company came to pick up furniture to furnish a safe house for Muslim women who have converted to Christianity and are victims of contracted honor killings. According to the tenants of Islam, because they have brought shame on their families, the families disown them and hire someone to kill them. The furniture donations will help to furnish the bedrooms for the women who will find a sanctuary there.

On Monday, February 25, LCC Volunteer, Bob Morris, presented donations received to Christ the King Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, Illinois. Pastor John and Principal Geri Brazeal continue to be overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity, which always arrives at a perfect time. Their whole community ministry is not only with the students of the school and the congregation, but they also serve senior citizens with housing and food needs. Your donations are Making a Difference in the lives of so many who are served by Christ the King.