Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Ministry is blessed to welcome two new adorable golden retriever puppies to be trained as LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs. The puppies are named Damascus and Saul.

These puppies will begin their training journey to be an LCC K-9 Comfort Dog. Through time, patience, repetition, consistency, love, and guidance from their apprentice trainers, one day, Damascus and Saul will serve as a bridge with two other congregations to reach those who are suffering or in need.
 
Damascus and Saul are already a delight to have as part of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs in training. We ask that you keep the apprentice trainers and these new pups in your prayers, asking for God’s continual guidance and encouragement as they begin this new journey.

Lutheran Church Charities is always recruiting new volunteers to help train these amazing animals. We will have more puppies arriving soon and need more volunteers to nurture and train them. If you are interested in joining us on this mission, please contact LCC at k9trainers@lutheranchurchcharities.org for further information or visit our website at https://www.lutheranchurchcharities.org/traink9s.html.

SELCU Pastors Serving Ukrainians
 
Working through LCC staff member for Ukraine relief Rev. Larry Myers, below is an update on the work of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) pastors, thanking LCC donors for your financial support and prayers.

Sergiu Trifa (son of Rev. Sorin-Horia Trifa, Romania)

Sergiu Trifa, son of the Rev. Sorin-Horia Trifa of the Confessional Lutheran Church of Romania, continues to purchase and ship medical supplies to the pastors of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU). Since the war in Ukraine began, he has literally been in a non-stop mode on behalf of the people of Ukraine.
 
“I was able to complete one more pallet of food today! Now, as soon as I catch transport, it will go to Pastor Oleg! It took me and a helper four hours to put it together from scratch. Another transport left and already arrived! I am so happy it went so smoothly with the border procedures! All the Glory be to God!”

Oleksiy Navrotskyy (SELCU pastor)

SELCU Pastor Oleksiy Navrotskyy and colleagues delivered 100 boxes of food to his congregation’s community in Mikolaev. Fifty more boxes are prepared for delivery this week.

Valera Verba (SELCU pastor)

SELCU Pastor Valera Verba assists fellow pastors in delivering humanitarian relief in the Savran area outside Odessa.

Pastors Smokvin and Kostyuk (SELCU pastors)

SELCU Pastors Smokvin and Kostyuk lead an outdoor worship service in the Savran area outside Odessa.

Bishop Alexander Yurchenko (SELCU)

SELCU Bishop Alexander Yurchenko underwent exploratory lung surgery last week. His daughter reports:
 
“The operation is finished; transferred to Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The express test confirmed cancer. Now we wait for the histology, and the doctors will continue to figure out how to treat. Now time for surgery recovery. Keep the prayers coming!!! Thank you for supporting us.”

Christian brothers and sisters in North America join their Ukrainian brothers and sisters in praying for Bishop Yurchenko.

SELCU Van Fire

Even in the best of times, challenges occur. An electrical shortage caused a fire in one of the SELCU vans used to deliver humanitarian relief. Fortunately, no one was hurt, nor was the cargo damaged. They hope to find a good specialist who can repair the van for its continued use in serving God and people.

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!

On Thursday, May 12, LCC staff member Dianna Bonfield had the opportunity to visit with Matthew McMillan and his family.
 
LCC has been assisting the McMillans since September 2021 through St. Peter Lutheran Church in Schaumburg, Illinois, when Matthew came to Chicago to have a double lung transplant. On March 31, the McMillans moved out of the one room at the Extended Stay hotel and became the first residents of the new Hospitality House at Trinity Galewood.
 
Matthew recently had his trachea incision closed and removed his feeding tube. When they first moved into the house, he could barely navigate the stairs at the front entrance of the house. Praise God for the physical therapists who are working with Matthew. He now is going up and down the steep back stairs entrance to the house.  He is progressing so well that they will be taking a road trip back to their home in Missouri this coming weekend. It has been 17 months since Matthew has been home. This road trip will be a joyous celebration of Madison’s high school graduation, followed by a weeklong reunion with his sons, whom he last saw when he was in the hospital before he was discharged to the rehab hospital.

Thank you to all the donors whose donations to Salam Christian Fellow in Lombard, Illinois, enabled Pastor Hesham Shehab to help a homeless man with rent and his life with the love of Jesus.

Last week, eighteen chainsaw certified L.E.R.T. team members returned to Walcamp with sawyers, draggers, and heavy equipment to clear downed and dead trees from walking paths and dangerously leaning trees from a home on the property.

Bill Indelli, Walcamp Executive Director, expressed his sincere thanks to each of the following for all of the work completed to prepare for day and overnight campers.
 
Immanuel, Dundee – Matt Flynn
Lord of Life, LaFox – Max Metz, Larry Zagorski
Prince of Peace, Palatine – Dan and Bobbie Swymdroski
St. John, Elgin – Bernie and Janet Zimdahl
St. John, Wheaton – Palmer Goodwin, Marty Johnson, Dave Mummah
St. John, Wilmette – Tom Morrison
St. Paul, Rockford – Dean Ulrich
St. Peter, Schaumburg – Missy Dieckmann, Ken and Vicki Kiviranta, Bob Royce
Trinity, Villa Park – Jim Long

It was an extremely hot and humid day, but very welcome after months of dreary weather and rain. All came with willing hands and hearts to serve and enjoy a time of fellowship.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry was blessed to have ten affiliates represented at the Replacement Handler training on May 14-15. LCC is happy to welcome these wonderful individuals who have been called to serve their home communities with the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need.

The handlers spent a lot of time learning new handling skills and building their knowledge about the ministry. Each handler worked with their affiliate’s dog or an LCC K-9 Comfort Dog in training.

LCC welcomes the following new handlers to the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry:

Mike Vega - Trinity, Hobart, Indiana, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Jael
Debbie Vega - Trinity, Hobart, Indiana, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Isaiah

Diane Krejci - Prince of Peace, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Rhoda
Laura Wilkins - Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Dora

Ann Waltz - Trinity, Savannah, Georgia, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Lizzie
Susie McGehee - Faith Lutheran, Marietta, Georgia, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Hope
Elizabeth Cummings - Faith Lutheran, Marietta, Georgia, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Hope
Diane Hanse - Faith Lutheran, Marietta, Georgia, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Hope

Karen Gastler - Gloria Dei, Houston, Texas, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Joy
Jane Baedke - Messiah Lutheran, Plano, Texas, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Triton
Michelle Haugen - Messiah Lutheran, Plano, Texas, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Triton

Rev. Andrew Bayless - Redeemer, Spokane Valley, Washington, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Isaac

Rev. Doug Minton - Our Savior, Milford, Illinois, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Mahlah
Gwen Goman - Immanuel, East Dundee, Illinois, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Levi
Gary Hanebrink - Immanuel, Charleston, Illinois, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Rachel
Karen Hanebrink - Immanuel, Charleston, Illinois, with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Rachel