Tragic Deaths, Mass Shooting, Natural Disasters The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry is one of presence. When the Lord calls, we must go and serve Him. Recently, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry responded to multiple emergency site visits all over the country to provide love and comfort to all those suffering and in need following the loss of life and tragic events. Subway Shooting in Brooklyn, New York
Comforting the Community in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, after the Tragic Death of Eight-Year-Old Oliver Hitchcock Sunday evening was an emotional night for the Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, community as they gathered together to remember Oliver Hitchcock, eight years old, who was tragically killed. It was a time for people to gather to support one another and Oliver’s father, brother, and family. There were tears shed as they remembered and mourned Oliver. But also, on this night, much love and encouragement were shared with each other. Many people wore purple ribbons in honor of Oliver as that was his favorite color. Oliver and his eleven-year-old brother loved to play outdoors. According to his uncle, “They also enjoyed video games, playing together and doing YouTube videos. They were just best friends.” LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Charity (Brookfield - Brookfield, Wisconsin), Hagar (Faith Lutheran - Appleton, Wisconsin), Lila (Beautiful Savior - Mequon, Wisconsin), Mary (St. Paul's - Janesville, Wisconsin), Sage (Concordia University Wisconsin - Mequon, Wisconsin), Samson (Zion - Marengo, Illinois), and Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois), along with their handlers, were there to comfort the grieving community.
Please keep the Hitchcock family in your prayers for God’s strength, healing, and hope. We pray for them to have peace knowing that sweet Oliver is safe in God’s arms. Please pray for the first responders; those that took the call, the police, the paramedics, the fire department, and others who responded to this tragedy. We give thanks for this community that gathered together in love and support during this difficult time of loss and mourning. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3 IN THE NEWS
Helping Students and Staff of Salem High School, Indiana, Cope with Two Sudden DeathsIt was a very difficult weekend for Salem High School in Salem, Indiana, as they experienced two deaths. On Friday, Mr. Richard, their band director, died after a long illness. He was known as “Mr. T” by his beloved students. He taught for 50 years with Salem Community Schools. This loss was compounded by the death of Konnar, a senior, who died on Saturday after his battle with cancer. He also was a member of the band at Salem High School. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Mercy (Our Savior - Louisville, Kentucky) and Naomi (Holy Cross - Indianapolis, Indiana), and their handlers were there for the students and staff to give them time to share or say nothing at all. The comforting presence of Naomi and Mercy brought some smiles and a break from the sadness they were feeling. Here's a handler’s reflection of the visit: “God was there with us. We saw him in the earnest and loving words spoken by the students about their band director and their fellow student Konnar. God was there in the silent moments too. After petting Mercy for quite some time, one sweet girl smiled and said it was as if Mercy was absorbing the sadness. She said she was able to smile again and hadn’t been able to do that at all earlier in the day.” We pray for God’s love and healing to be with them all. Bringing Comfort to Kingfisher High School in Oklahoma after a Tragic Death of a Freshman LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Miriam (Emmanuel - Kingfisher, Oklahoma) and Rufus (St. Mark - Edmond, Oklahoma) with their handlers responded with an immediate visit on Friday to Kingfisher High School in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, after the accidental shooting death of 15-year-old Luke, a freshman. Miriam and Rufus were there to catch their tears and provide some peace from all the pain and confusion the students and staff were experiencing. On Monday, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Persis (King of Kings - Glenpool, Oklahoma) joined Miriam and Rufus for a follow-up visit as this has been a difficult loss for the students and staff
Bringing Smiles to Students and Teachers in Jacksboro, Texas, after Devastating Tornadoes The elementary school and the middle school of Jacksboro, Texas, were damaged in the tornados a couple of weeks ago. The students have been learning in alternate places since then. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Elijah (Our Redeemer - Wichita Falls, Texas), Pax & Phoebe (St. Paul - Fort Worth, Texas), and Triton (Messiah - Plano, Texas) were invited to visit the students on Monday before they move back to their original school on April 19th. The K-9s brought many smiles as they spent time with students and teachers. Providing Love and Comfort to First Responders After Mass Shooting in Sacramento, California Last week, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Micah (Light of the Valley - Elk Grove, California) Rahab (St. Andrews - Stockton, California), and Reuben (First Lutheran - Yuba City, California), visited the Operations Manager for Sacramento Regional Fire/EMS Communications Center and Sacramento Police Department Communications Center after the Sacramento shooting that resulted in six deaths and twelve wounded. They took those urgent calls and sent immediate police, paramedic, and firefighter assistance to the scene after the horrific shooting. These brave men and women who serve as dispatchers are with citizens in the darkest moments of their lives: death, illness, and trauma. The K-9s and their handlers also visited the Sacramento County Coroner's Office, whose job is to process the bodies of each person whose life is taken too soon. The coroners' job is also a necessary and overwhelming as they oversee victims of all ages: children to the elderly. The Comfort Dogs and their handlers are honored to serve the Sacramento Regional Fire/EMS Communication Center, Sacramento Police Department Communication Center, and Sacramento Coroner's Office with visits to provide love, comfort, and smiles during those difficult and heavy times. "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day," Psalm 91:4-54 LCC never goes where we are not invited. LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry NEVER charges those we serve as we bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.
Lutheran Church Charities partnered with Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) in Mequon this past week during their “Week of Service” event held on campus. Ninety-one students and twenty-five alumni attended this two-day event, where they painted 275 Hearts of Mercy & Compassion (HMC) and 350 fish that are placed upon the HMC Heart. The students learned how to make the wooden hearts “come alive” to share the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus with the giving of an HMC Heart to a recipient in need. The “Week of Service” project team included Dr. Randall Ferguson, Director of Christian Service & Ministry, and Greg Witto, Director of Alumni & Parent Relations with CUW, Tim Laabs, Project Manager for LCC HMC, Wayne Kolweier, LCC staff member, and Bob Brandt, Director of HMC. LCC volunteers included Tom and Diane Moore from St. Paul, Janesville, Wisconsin, and Bob Desiron from Immanuel, Des Plaines, Illinois. 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.
If you would like to learn more about Hearts of Mercy and Compassion, Crosses for Losses, please visit www.LutheranChurchCharities.org. We received an update from Lophane Laurent, who was able to schedule the first three COVID Clinics in Haiti thanks to your generous support. He is planning to hold the next three clinics next month. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our Haitian brothers and sisters! I want to thank God for safety during our first three days of clinics. I can tell everyone that it was three days of blessings. We did the clinics in three locations and I shared the gospel with the public who come to the clinic. In each place, I took a few minutes to talk to them about our salvation and why Jesus died for us, and what the blood of Jesus represents for us. I shared a few small catechisms with them to teach them first. A little boy came to me at the clinic and asked me for a small catechism because he wants to share the gospel with his friends in his neighborhood, especially those whose parents are not Christian, and I asked him how old he is and he said to me 12 years old. His parents can’t afford to send him to school since they are not working for two years. I took his information and told him I will contact them next week to visit them. So it was a blessing for the three locations and a success also. During the three days, we served 205 children from 3 months to 17 years old and 513 adults. We started at 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. I will plan for next month for the three other locations. Please keep my Haitian team in your prayers because they did a good job and I am very proud of them. Thanks to all of our sponsors and donors who never stop supporting us. We love you so much and we know how you love us also. May God bless your families and your ministries. Blessings, Lophane
Thank You to LCC Volunteers for Furniture Pick Up and Delivery to Trinity Galewood Hospitality House4/12/2022
Thank you to LCC volunteers John DuCharme, Bob Desiron, Jim Beckley, Eli Frank, Scott Treptow, and LCC staff members for picking up and delivering additional pieces of furniture for the Trinity Galewood Hospitality House. Thank you for helping LCC to furnish the Hospitality House for families in need of affordable short-term housing.
There will be sixty LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs with teams and two LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs in training joining together for the 10th Annual Run for Respect for Pontiac Township High School on April 23 or April 24. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams will walk and support the students in the Life Skills class from different parts of the country. In preparation for this big event, some of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs did a virtual visit on Zoom with the Life Skills class last week. The students had the opportunity to visit on Zoom with LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs from all over the country:
The students researched all the Comfort Dogs that were on the Zoom call and prepared questions to ask the handlers of each Comfort Dog. The students had so many good questions to ask about them.
The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs cannot wait to participate in the 10th Annual Run for Respect for Pontiac Township High School on April 23 or April 24. Please make sure to join us if you see the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog and teams walking in your community. OVER THREE-FOURTHS OF THE WAY THERE – HELP US ELIMINATE THIS BURDEN! |
The LCC Kare-9 Military Ministry attended a special Yellow Ribbon Event at the Portland Air National Guard for active service members that served in COVID 19 hospitals. This mission supported hospitals during the variant surges when medical staff was overworked. LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Isaac (Redeemer - Spokane Valley, Washington) with handlers Doug Weinrich and veteran handler Babette Hess served at the event. During the visit, not only did Isaac bring comfort to the families and active service members, but he was honored to go to the Commander's Call and meet all of the top military members. Isaac received the title, Captain Comfort! | |
On Tuesday, April 5, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Dora (Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee - Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and Rhoda (Prince of Peace - Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin) visited Shorehaven Senior Living Complex in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. They had a great time! The structure at Shorehaven is to create smaller "home" environments for the residents. Everyone was so happy to see us, and we were delighted to share some petting time and the love of our Lord with these lovely people. | |
Categories
All
"22"
Alabama
All
Belize
BE THERE With LCC
Boulder
Cal Fire
California
California Wildfires
Colorado
Crisis Response
Crisis Resposne
Crosses For Losses
Dayton
Disaster Response
Displaced Children
El Paso
Ethiopia
Families In Need
Florida
Ghana
Haiti
Hearts Of Mercy & Compassion
Hospitality House
Human Care
Hurricane Florence
Hurricane Harvey
Hurricane Ian
Hurricane Ida
Hurricane Irma
Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Michael
IL Flooding
Illinois Tornadoes
International Missions
In The News
Israel
Jefferson City
Job Openings
K-9 Comfort Dogs
K-9 Court System - Ezra
K-9 Police Ministry
K-9 Travel Expenses
Kansas
Kare 9 Military Ministry
Kentucky
Kind Words For HMC
Kind Words For K9s
Kind Words For LCC
Kind Words For LCC Disaster Response
Las Vegas
LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs
LERT
LERT Mercy In Action
Lewiston
Linwood
Madison
Maryland Great Falls
Maui Wildfires
Milwaukee
Ministries In Need
Ministry Resources
Mississippi
Missouri
Molson Coors
Myanmar Scholarship
Nebraska Flooding
NE Flooding
Ohio
Parkland
Perry
Prospect Heights Fire
Recommended Reading
Santa Fe
Scrub Buckets
Special Appeals
STEM School
Sudan
Sutherland Springs
Taylorville
Texas
Thank You From LCC
Thousand Oaks
Tornadoes In Tennessee
Turkey And Syria Earthquake
Ukraine
UNLV
Uvalde
Watseka
WI Flooding
Wisconsin
Your Donations Make A Difference
Archives
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017