This past Sunday, the LCC K-9 Ministry team had an amazing day at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Oviedo, Florida! LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Moriah was commissioned into her service along with her ten handlers:

Greg Register, St. Luke’s Top Dog, Wanda Evans, Mary Lynn Kotnour, Elizabeth Register, Loretta Schoen, Vera Velho-Harter, Rhonda Betteridge, Jay Mack, Emily McLean, Nancy Prium

St. Luke's ministry partners were also recognized for their work and commitment to the ministry.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Moriah will represent the LCC Kare 9 Ministry and LCC K-9 Police Ministry when she makes visits with her handler Jay Mack, who is a U.S. Navy veteran and retired police detective from the Orlando Police Department.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Peace and her team from Trinity, Orlando, Florida, were at the commissioning to celebrate and support the new team at St. Luke's.

St. Luke's congregation and Comfort Dog team are excited for Moriah to start her new ministry.

As the violence and devastation in Ukraine continues, the need for support to save lives increases. Lutheran Church Charities continues to get your financial donations immediately to Ukraine through our strong partnerships.
 
LCC has been and will continue to collect financial donations to be given out “Dollar per Dollar” to help the people of Ukraine to show the Mercy and Compassion of Jesus Christ. We continue to work through churches, Christian Ministries, and leaders with direct connections to Ukraine.
 
Because of your support, LCC has passed through donations again this past week. We continue to hand out what comes in to help those suffering as a result of the Ukrainian crisis.

On Friday, March 11, LCC staff member Deaconess Kathy O’Day presented your donations to Pastor Donald Antor from Immanuel Church in Palatine to help refugees from Ukraine through Pastor Scott Yount.
 
LCC is supporting Pastor Scott Yount and his wife Lena (from Ukraine) as they have had to leave Bila Tserkva, Ukraine but are now helping to support refugees from Ukraine. Pastor Scott and Lena are personal friends with Pastor Donald Antor from Immanuel Church in Palatine. Pastor Scott is working with his ministry of Spiritual Orphans Network.

Ukrainian Lutheran Church (ULC)
 
LCC is also working directly with the Ukraine Lutheran Church (ULC) by working through the Lutheran Church here in the United States in fellowship with them!

We have literally handed out thousands of your donations this past week! See how God is at work, through His people, to show, as the Apostle Paul states – One Lord, One Faith, One Body and Spirit!
 
Please prayerfully consider donating to help Ukrainians by showing the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need!
 
Thank You for your support in being the hands and feet of Jesus to those suffering!

Lutheran Church Charities received an urgent request from Retired Missionary Rev. Dr. Bernie Lutz who works with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of South Sudan/Sudan (ELCSS/S). Twelve people were attacked and killed by Dinka herdsmen in the Boma area and 4,000 people are in need of immediate support, namely shelter and food.

This weekend, LCC President/CEO Tim Hetzner presented your donations to Rev. Walt Otten who is on the Board of Directors at Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF). LHF is sending financial assistance to Rt. Rev. Peter Anibati Abia in South Sudan.
 
Bishop Peter will see that every penny of these funds reach the intended purpose, helping to bring a sense of wellness among those who are hungry and homeless. While feeding the homeless in the Boma area (who were viciously attacked) with the Gospel, we are now able to feed them the physical food to survive.
 
Please prayerfully consider a donation to support the homeless and hungry people of Boma, South Sudan.

The McMillian family will be the first residents to move into the fully furnished Hospitality House at Trinity Galewood come April 1st. Madison and her mother, Samantha, will be Matthew's caregivers during his year-long rehab therapy.
 
In the next two weeks, there is a lot of cleaning, painting, and minor repairs to be made before the furniture for the house can be moved in.
 
If you would like to use the time and skills God has blessed you with to help get the house ready for the McMillian family to move into, please call Lutheran Church Charities at 866-455-6466 and ask to speak with Dianna or John.

Praise to God for his perfectly timed provision for the McMillian family. A special thank you to the members of Trinity Galewood who heeded God's calling and stepped out into the unknown to develop a ministry that will meet a growing need at a time such as this. Thank you to all LCC donors for their generosity and support of this family in need.

On Monday, March 14, an LCC Hearts of Mercy & Compassion was presented in honor of Lloyd Liese to his wife Joanne of 66 years and his family. Lloyd passed away on Saturday, February 19, 2022 and was the father-in-law to LCC President/CEO Tim Hetzner.
 
Lloyd had a Master of Music and Organ Performance degree from The American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, Illinois; and a Master of Arts in Education from Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, Illinois. He had received his undergraduate degrees in Science & Music from Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois. He was a parochial and public Junior High teacher for 46 years. He served on the organ bench for over 50 years in many churches while he worked as a Director of Music, Choir Director, and taught the organ. He was founder of The Bachfest Chorale which drew membership from the greater Chicago area.
 
“Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord. Always give thanks to God for everything in the name of Jesus.” Ephesians 5:19-20
 
Hearts of Mercy and Compassion, Crosses for Losses provides a physical and spiritual symbol through the giving of hearts and crosses to families and friends who have suffered loss or serious illness of a loved one. Each one is lovingly handmade for someone in need.