LCC received the following request from Pastor Hesham Shehab, Salam Christian Fellowship, Lombard, Illinois:

Dear Friends,
 
We have an urgent request! Ahmed, who has a mental illness, was approved for low-income housing at DuPage County through a miracle. Last week, Ahmed, still a Muslim, knelt at the cross and prayed to Jesus to intervene in his housing dilemma. This would be the end of his suffering, as he has been homeless for one year. Ahmed now sees the hand of Jesus in his life.
 
The security deposit for that apartment is $525, which is a one-time fee.
 
Please show the love of God to this neighbor who is very close to the waters of baptism.
 
In Christ,
 
Pastor Hesham Shehab
Salam Christian Fellowship
Lombard, Illinois

The DuPage County Sheriff's Office is mourning the loss of Deputy Eric Bykowski, who was 46 at the time of his passing. Deputy Bykowski served the citizens of DuPage County for more than 20 years.

LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dogs Candace (LCC Staff), Charity (Brookfield - Brookfield, Wisconsin), and Eve (St. John’s - Lombard, Illinois) with their LCC K-9 Police Ministry handlers Ken, James, and Michael, and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Julia (King of Glory - Elgin, Illinois) and her handlers were there to support and share the compassion of Jesus with Deputy Bykowski's colleagues, friends, and his family. LCC K-9 Police Ministry Coordinator Terri Albright was also present but was serving with Dupage County Sherriff's Department as Deputy Eric Bykowski was her colleague of 20 years.

Deputy Bykowski's wife, two children, and his parents were the focus of the LCC K-9 Ministry teams service as they shared the quiet and calming presence of the comfort dogs present. The handlers and ministry partners were at Deputy Bykowski's visitation and funeral to see, listen, love, and comfort the grieving.

Family members of Deputy Eric Bykowski were given  Hearts of Mercy and Compassion that were signed by those who knew and loved him. The family was also given a Mini Stuffed LCC K-9 Comfort Dog as another form of comfort when needed.

We pray for the hurting family and colleagues of Deputy Eric Bykowski.

On Wednesday, February 9, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Cubby and Devorah (Redeemer - Fort Collins, Colorado)  and their handlers were present at the Table Mesa King Soopers store in Boulder, Colorado,  for the reopening ceremony.  Last March a gunman shot and killed 10 people at the store. The ceremony was held to welcome employees and community members and to once again invite the community to shop at the store. Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett were present on stage, along with several store management employees from King Soopers statewide.

Upon arrival, people noticed Cubby and Devorah and came to pet them during the ceremony. As the ceremony ended, employees walked into the store through a human tunnel on the red carpet as the song “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” played. (People who attended gathered and made a tunnel walkway on each side of the red carpet as people cheered them on, shouting words of love and encouragement.) It was a very moving moment and almost a joyful release of emotion for all in attendance, especially the King Soopers employees.

After the employees entered the store, Cubby and Devorah and their handlers walked the red carpet into the store and were present for people to interact and love on Cubby and Devorah. A few people remembered them from being present last year right after the shooting. They met Cubby and Devorah at the memorial site, so it was a reunion for us as well. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog team from Redeemer, Fort Collins, was very thankful to be there to show their support and share the love, compassion, and presence of Jesus with them. The King Soopers store management was grateful that Cubby, Devorah, and their team could be there for their employees. They are #BOULDERSTRONGER.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Eunice (LCC Staff), Julia (King of Glory - Elgin, Illinois), and Samson (Zion - Marengo, Illinois) visited Burlington Central Middle School to be with the students for their reading program. The students rotated between reading and visiting with the Comfort Dogs. It was a great visit with a terrific group!

Last weekend the Air National Guard held their Yellow Ribbon Event for pre and post deployers at Santa Clara, California.

"The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP) is a Department of Defense-wide effort to promote the well-being of National Guard and Reserve members, their families, and communities by connecting them with resources throughout the deployment cycle. Through Yellow Ribbon events, Service members and loved ones connect with local resources before, during, and after deployments. Reintegration during post-deployment is a critical time for the National Guard and Reserve members, as they often live far from military installations and other members of their units."

LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Aaron (St John’s - Napa Valley, California), and LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Micah (Light of the Valley - Elk Grove, California), and Rahab (St Andrews - Stockton, California) traveled to Santa Clara to be there for those who serve with the Air National Guard and their families. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were part of their “Yellow Brick Road to Success,” which helped connect the Air National Guard men and women with local resources.

It was good to bring smiles and some joy to those that the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their handlers met on Saturday. The LCC K-9 ministry teams were honored to serve the Air National Guard at the Yellow Ribbon Event.

Thanks to your generous donations, Christ the King Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, Illinois, received new computers after multiple computers broke down that were essential to their ministry.
 
All computers were installed this week. Principal Geri Brazeal and Christ the King students are overjoyed and grateful for the new equipment!
 
Thank you for your support of Christ the King as Pastor John Brazeal and Principal Geri continue to touch the lives of countless families and individuals in the south side of Chicago.