Immanuel Lutheran Church in Glenview, Illinois, has been actively addressing the pain and sorrow within their community following the tragic passing of Marko Niketic, a 17-year-old senior at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois, in a recent car accident. The church has been unwavering in their efforts to foster healing and support amongst their close-knit community.
 
Recently, they delivered a heart to the Glenview Police Department, who were the first responders at the scene of the accident. The heart included messages of gratitude and comforting Bible verses from the church members. Rev. Matthew Douglas expressed, "Their job can often feel thankless and isolating, and we wanted to ensure they felt valued and appreciated." This compassionate act aimed to acknowledge the emotional toll that such devastating incidents can have on those who serve and protect the community.

Following the visit to the police department, Immanuel received an invitation from the Battalion Chief of the Glenview Fire Department, to present hearts as a gesture of gratitude to the fire stations that were the first responders on the scene. The hearts were personally presented at each station to the dedicated first responders last Friday.

Following the recent tragedy, the church is reaching out by hosting a special gathering for the affected high school students. This event will provide a safe and supportive environment where the students can come together, share their experiences, and support each other in the healing process. Additionally, the local churches are actively engaging in outreach activities, finding ways to extend ministry and support to those in need, guided by the belief that the Lord provides the necessary pathways for their efforts.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church HMC team in Painesville, Ohio responded to the heartbreaking death of Euclid Police Officer, Jacob Derbin, who died in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. The Northeastern Ohio communities were wracked with grief as they mourned the death of this young man, who was just one year out of the police academy and engaged to be married. In their grief, they also celebrated his life, stating that he was “born to serve”.
 
The Police Chief is honoring Officer Derbin with the department’s highest honor, the Euclid Police Department’s Medal of Honor, as his actions on the scene saved the lives of four other individuals.
 
The St. Paul’s team crafted the Heart of Mercy & Compassion with Psalm 34:18 in calligraphy, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” The team signed the heart and presented it to the police department. This is the first time a local police department in Northeastern Ohio has received an HMC. It is an honor to recognize the protection our first responders provide and to thank them, especially in such difficult moments. 

From joyous songs to engaging Bible lessons and creative crafts, the three-day VBS was filled with activities that reminded the children of God’s unwavering presence in their lives

After VBS, teams got a chance to reconnect with some teachers and staff from the Uvalde School District! We admire these educators so much as they are there for the children of Uvalde daily. Thank you for continuing to support our work in Uvalde throughout the past two years, it is so needed and appreciated by the Uvalde community.

As we conclude this year’s Vacation Bible School, let’s carry the spirit of “Never Alone” into our daily lives, continuing to support and uplift one another through faith. Thank you, Trinity Lutheran Church family and friends, for making this week truly special.

Lutheran Church Charities celebrates the addition of LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Rejoice and her team of handlers and ministry partners at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Janesville, Wisconsin, to the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry.
 
In April, the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry team from St. Paul's Lutheran Church attended handler and ministry training and met their K-9 Comfort Dog Rejoice.  After that time, the team actively trained with Rejoice Comfort Dog to build on their handling skills. LCC is excited to announce that LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Rejoice and her dedicated and eager team have successfully completed the placement process.
 
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams from the following churches were there to support and celebrate with Rejoice’s Comfort Dog Ministry team at their commissioning at St. Paul's Lutheran Church on Sunday, May 26:

Brookfield Lutheran Church, Brookfield, Wisconsin, with Charity Comfort Dog
Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, Wisconsin, with Sage Comfort Dog
Faith Lutheran Church, Appleton, Wisconsin, with Hagar Comfort Dog
Lord of Glory Lutheran Church, Grayslake, Illinois, with Tobias Comfort
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Greenville, Wisconsin, with Samaria Comfort Dog
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Janesville, Wisconsin, with Mary Comfort Dog
Zion Lutheran Church, Marengo, Illinois, with Samson Comfort Dog

Even though their LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs are no longer with us, handlers from Rhoda Comfort Dog, Levi Comfort Dog and Butch Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog also joined in the celebration and encouragement of St Paul’s newest team.

Rejoice Comfort Dog’s Bible verse is Philippians 4:4-5: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry rejoices in the Lord and thanks Him for continuing to grow and bless this ministry.
 
St. Paul's Lutheran Church handlers and caregivers for K-9 Comfort Dog Rejoice include:

Top Dog Faith Stephens, Dawn Oas, Lark Sanders, Terry Sanders, Denise Skelly, Peter Skelly, Melissa Ruff, Coire Ruff and LCC K-9 Police Ministry Handler Brent DeRemer.
 
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry is one of presence.  When the Lord calls, we must go and serve Him.  St Paul’s Comfort Dog Ministry newest team has heard the call and has said, “Here I am. Send me.” God is with this team as they begin this new journey as part of the LCC K-9 Ministry.
 
Please keep LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Rejoice and the team at St. Paul's in your prayers for God’s guidance as they go out to share with so many who are hurting and alone, the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ. 

Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response (DR) was invited by Rev. Dr. Paul Naumann at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Portage, Michigan, to provide chainsaw assistance and debris removal with heavy equipment following devastating tornadoes that swept through. Portage and Kalamazoo on May 7 causing widespread destruction.
 
On Sunday, May 19, LCC Director of Disaster Response Kathy O’Day and DR Equipment Manager Jamie Miller, along with 18 LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) chainsaw volunteers, began a two-week deployment to assist residents affected by this tornado.
 
Town officials from Portage and Kalamazoo expressed their appreciation to the LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) volunteers for serving in their communities and continue to refer homeowners to the LERT team for assistance daily.

During the first week of deployment, LCC LERT volunteers completed 14 work sites, with three of these being two- and three-day jobs, due to the extent of the tree damage on their property.
 
One of these homeowners with so much damage was a widow, Mrs. R., who had multiple trees down around her home, with several leaning on her roof. When we met her, she was distraught, in tears, and frustrated with her insurance company who was not returning her calls after assessing the damage.
 
After the team arrived and began clearing her many trees, she had tears of joy and sincere gratitude for the hard work and Christ-like care shown to her. She told us she felt it was the “first time she could truly smile and have hope for recovery since the tornado.” She was also very touched by the cross and homemade quilt given to her and told us she would treasure them.

The destruction and trauma experienced by many residents is widespread, but the spirit of community and faith has provided much-needed hope, encouragement, and help in beginning the long recovery process. It has been a blessing to listen to the survivors' stories and offer a word of encouragement and prayer as we served those in need.
 
Lutheran Church Charities thanks our generous donors and volunteers for their willingness to serve. We appreciate your faithful prayers and support for all of the communities affected by the catastrophic tornadoes and those responding to assist.

Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response (DR) has been invited by Rev. Dr. Paul Naumann at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Portage, Michigan to provide chainsaw assistance and debris removal with heavy equipment. The towns of Portage and Kalamazoo experienced an EF-2 tornado with 135 mph winds on May 7 causing widespread destruction. It was on the ground for 11 miles and 300 yards wide, beginning one block south of the church.
 
On Sunday, May 19, LCC Director of Disaster Response Kathy O’Day and DR Equipment Manager Jamie Miller, along with eighteen LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) chainsaw volunteers, began a two-week deployment to assist residents affected by this tornado. This deployment is occurring only six days after LCC LERT volunteers returned from a two-week deployment to Nebraska, also for tornado response work.

LCC LERT draggers, chainsaw, and heavy equipment operators spent the last two days working at the home of a St. Michael’s congregation member who had approximately 30 trees downed and several more damaged on his property surrounding his home, as well as debris from his neighbors home which took a direct hit and was destroyed. He did not know how he would even begin to take care of the damage but is now feeling blessed to have a “church family” so willing to help him until it is cleared. 

Mr. R. had several of his and three of his neighbor's trees all leaning and hung up in one of his trees. He and his neighbors had no idea how all of these could be taken down safely and at what cost. They were pleased with the work this LCC lift team has been doing for the past two days and the professionalism shown with their rigging techniques and lift placement to safely and efficiently remove so many of these dangerous leaning and hung trees and limbs.

St. Michael has been very welcoming to the LCC disaster response team and is willing to serve their neighbors. Please pray for all those affected and the team deployed to bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need!

The community of Glenview, Illinois, was shaken by a tragic accident on Sunday, May 12, resulting in the loss of 17-year-old Marko Niketic, a high school senior, and leaving two other teens in critical condition. Glenview is a neighboring community for Lutheran Church Charities and the location of the accident was only 10 minutes away.

Lutheran Church Charities swiftly responded by partnering with Pastor Matthew Douglas from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Glenview to offer support and comfort to the grieving community. LCC staff members, including Rev. Chris Singer, President/CEO; Denise Snider, Director of Human Care; and Sarah Sekki, Director of Hearts of Mercy & Compassion joined Pastor Douglas and church volunteers at the memorial site, where family, friends, and neighbors gathered to pay their respects.

Amidst the outpouring of support, LCC brought a Heart of Mercy & Compassion cross in memory of Marko for those present to sign. Additionally, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Emma and Hannah, with their handlers Dona Martin (LCC K-9 Ministry staff) and Barb Granado, comforted and extended compassion during this difficult time.

When tragedy hits a community, Lutheran Church Charities stands as a beacon of hope and compassion, recognizing both the brokenness of the world and the healing work of the Holy Spirit in life's difficult times.

Through personal observations at memorial sites and community vigils, the staff witnessed the profound impact of support, outreach, and the beauty of human connection amid sorrow. These tender moments, small gestures, and heartfelt conversations serve as a testament to the resilience and kindness that emerge in times of darkness, reminding us of the power of community and love to bring light to the darkest of days. Here are some personal observations of the support and outreach that the staff saw:

Last Thursday, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Hagar (Faith Lutheran - Appleton, Wisconsin) and Samaria (Shepherd of the Hills - Greenville, Wisconsin) responded to the request to be there for the hurting school and church community at St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Boduel, Wisconsin, after Chloe Zernicke, 13 years old, died in a tragic ATV accident.

Principal Aaron Landgrave, who serves at St. Paul Lutheran School has had a strong tie to the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry for many years. He was the former principal at St. John's Lutheran School in Lombard, Illinois, and handler for LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Eve Comfort Dog there.  The news of Chloe’s sudden and unexpected death affected him deeply. He reached out to the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry to help be a source of comfort, compassion, and presence for the students and staff at St. Paul Lutheran School who loved and knew Chloe.