Posted: June 21, 2022 “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?” 1 Thessalonians 3:9 Your faithful and generous donations have made this all possible! We are happy to share the good news that the final payment for the wheelchair-accessible van has been made. Just in time! Pastor Willig begins outpatient neuro-rehab this week and will be using the van on a consistent basis to get to his therapy sessions and many doctor appointments. CLICK HERE to watch the heartfelt message from Pastor Mark and Paula Willig – You are a blessing from God!
The wheelchair-accessible van fund has been met. If you are so moved, please prayerfully consider donating to the Accessible Van Maintenance fund to help LCC and Friends in Christ continue to serve the Willigs. Your prayers and support are truly appreciated! Posted: May 24, 2022 $1,200 REMAINING – LET’S DO THIS! Lutheran Church Charities is assisting Friends in Christ Lutheran Church in Morris, Illinois, to help raise funds for an accessible wheelchair van for their pastor, Rev. Mark Willig. YOUR DONATIONS CAN HELP US ELIMINATE THIS FINANCIAL BURDEN! Pastor Willig is working very hard on his rehab. The van has been a tremendous blessing to him and his wife, Paula. It will be used to travel to outpatient neuro-rehab when Pastor Willig is strong enough to consistently travel the distance to get there as well as many doctor appointments. Your donations have made a difference. We are so close to removing this financial burden for the Willigs! Posted: May 18, 2022 Accessible Van Helps Pastor Mark Willig Participate In Confirmation Sunday! $6,352 WILL PAY OFF THE VAN! Pastor Willig was so happy to have the accessible van so that he could participate in Confirmation Sunday at Friends in Christ Lutheran Church. Pastor Willig shared, “It has been a half year of struggle to learn to talk, move, communicate and begin to walk. My involvement was limited, but I was able to be there and be a part of the confirmation for three young people this month.” Being there to bless the students he taught meant so much to him and his wife, Paula. Posted: May 10, 2022 “It means so much after spending my life as a pastor, to have the church and LCC donors support me like this. It is an amazing blessing!” Pastor Mark Willig HELP US ELIMINATE THIS FINANCIAL BURDEN!
Help LCC pay off the balance of the van for Pastor Willig, who has faithfully served others during his thirty-nine years in ministry. If you are so moved, please donate generously to help LCC and Friends in Christ serve the Willigs. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated!
You can help in the relief efforts by donating luggage (new or gently used) that will be used to take medical and other items needed for humanitarian aid to those in Ukraine. The Ukrainian church has individuals who will transport the supplies on LOT Polish Airlines which is allowing up to ten bags to be checked at no charge by people with a Ukrainian passport flying into Poland. The luggage will remain in Ukraine. LCC’s headquarters in Northbrook is going to be the point of collection. Please email LCC at LCC@LutheranChurchCharities.org or call John at (224) 373-0083 if you have luggage to donate and to coordinate drop-off times. Tim Hetzner, LCC President / CEO, Presents Your Donations to the Ukrainian Church – Palatine, Illinois From Saturday, June 11 to Sunday, June 12, the Ukrainian Church in Palatine held its annual Palatine Ukraine Festival, featuring two days filled with entertainment, music, and dance. Attendees enjoyed traditional Ukrainian food, and various Ukrainian gifts and crafts.
100% of Your Donations Continue to Support Ukrainians in Need "To all those involved in helping Ukraine, may the Lord richly bless you!” Pastor Oleg Schewtschenko SELCU Pastors Serving Ukrainians The humanitarian needs continue at an alarming rate in Ukraine. Even though the conflict does not occupy the focus of the American public media, it is very real for Ukrainians. Working through LCC staff member for Ukraine relief Rev. Larry Myers, the pastors and laity of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) continue to put forth outstanding efforts in proclaiming the truth of the Gospel while also caring for the physical needs of their brothers and sisters. Oleg Schewtschenko (SELCU pastor) “Many refugees left their homes without taking even the bare necessities with them. But now, in the conditions of war, it is practically impossible to fulfill one's own needs on one's own. Honestly, there is not enough money even for food, not to mention clothes and shoes. We thank and convey gratitude from the people who are in serious need today. To all those involved in helping Ukraine, may the Lord richly bless you!” Worship Service in the Village of Polyanetskoye
Worship service in the village of Polyanetskoye, located about 200 km (124 mi) north of Odessa, after which people could receive humanitarian aid and food packages. Many Ukrainians have become refugees by force. Giving Hope and a Future in an Otherwise Hopeless Situation
In 2020 and 2021 the school year was interrupted by civil unrest in Haiti and COVID-19. Despite the disruptions, our students were able to finish their school year with a combination of in-person and online learning. This September, they plan to all return full-time to their classrooms. Even though there is still unrest in Haiti, the children have been faithful with their schoolwork and have been doing well in their classes. They anticipate another 4 to 5 students will graduate from High School again this year. Thank you to everyone who has supported these children as they seek an education. Your generosity provides them with hope for a better life. Please consider sponsoring a child that they may have hope for their future and learn the wonders of the Lord! "Tell to the children the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done." (Psalm 78:4) On Saturday, Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, eighteen LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.), and congregation members from Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee, Illinois, worked all day at what will be the new Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries home in the Northern Illinois District. They were able to clear lots of overgrown brush and dead trees from around the home and the large property. Pastor Younker from Immanuel, East Dundee, visited the site to express his appreciation to the following volunteers who so willingly served to make this home and grounds safe and welcoming for future occupants:
The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund so that, when invited, we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.
On Saturday, June 11, St. John, Wheaton, Illinois, Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) team worked at a congregation member’s home, who is a recent widow. They utilized the lift, dump trailer, and ditch witch to clear her property of leaning and overgrown trees over and around her home. The homeowner was very appreciative of the willing hands and hearts that showed her the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ. The following L.E.R.T. volunteers felt blessed to serve this family in need: Prince of Peace, Palatine – Dan Swyndroski St. Paul, Brookfield – Brandon Greco St. John, Wheaton - Palmer Goodwin, Byron Heidorn, Marty Johnson, Dave Mummah, Anna Piro, Rich Wren The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund so that, when invited, we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.
Sunday, June 12 marked the 6th anniversary of the tragic shootings at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Peace (Trinity - Orlando, Florida) and her team spent time at the Pulse Memorial to provide comfort throughout the day. Peace visited with two survivors of the shooting who were in the nightclub that evening. In addition, they comforted family and friends who lost loved ones, a nurse from the nearby hospital, and people from the community, and even visitors to Orlando who wanted to be there to remember the 49 people who lost their lives that evening. Several people asked about the original twelve LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs that spent time in Orlando after the shootings. They smiled when they talked about meeting the Comfort Dogs and shared how it brought a moment of happiness during a difficult time. Peace and her team are proud to help continue the healing process for so many with deep wounds and dark memories. On Sunday, June 12, LCC staff member Tim Laabs was honored to be invited by Community of Faith Lutheran Church in Sugar Grove, Illinois, to make a live presentation of LCC ministries, specifically the ministry of Hearts of Mercy & Compassion.
Fourteen church members were in attendance and pictured with Tim is lay member, Lee Carpenter, who led the service while their interim pastor was away. All those in attendance were excited about the expanding ministries at LCC and how LCC continues to serve others nationally. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry is made up of over 1,000 volunteers who love and serve Jesus, love and serve His people, and love the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs. The ministry partners, handlers, and Top Dogs are more than volunteers; they are family. They gather together to celebrate and thank God for His love, direction, strength, and hope. They share the joy of serving together and reflecting on how this journey has changed and grown their faith and love for others. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry is one of presence. Seeing those we meet with the eyes of Jesus, listening without distraction, focused on each word, gesture, and unspoken word. Loving, caring, and praying with the people we are blessed to meet. The last couple of years of Covid have separated us, but as the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry reconnects with the regional gatherings, we reflect on how we did not stop serving, loving, or growing in our faith. God has been with us and continues to be with us. Last weekend, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota Comfort Dog teams gathered together in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Brookfield Lutheran Church graciously hosted teams of over 120 handlers, ministry partners, Top Dogs, and thirty-five LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs. The regions of Illinois (Indiana) and Wisconsin (Minnesota) heard speakers from Wisconsin Hero Outdoors with Sam Rogers from Concerned Veterans for America. Sam Rogers shared with the teams the struggles veterans faced while serving, transitioning from service to returning home, and how the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry can continue to serve our veterans with the mercy, compassion, and presence of Jesus Christ. Dr. Beverly Yahnke from Doxology spoke on how our teams can stay resilient while serving in sometimes very sad situations. Pastor Rob, Pastor Eric, and Pastor Joe led the teams with prayer and devotion. They equipped them with the knowledge to help them as they go out and serve. Mike Klepp shared the ministry Bethany Comfort Dog, and her team is doing at Danville Correctional and the blessings that have come from those visits.
The regional gathering culminated with church service on Sunday. What a moment that was for all those that attended! Pastor Prada was at the service on Sunday. Pastor Prada is from St. Martini in Milwaukee and had reached out to LCC to have someone come and speak about what we do as part of his sermon. This visit was assigned to LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Charity and her handlers. Pastor Rob from Brookfield Lutheran Church wanted to send off the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams with prayers and encouragement before they headed out to continue to do great work. Pastor Rob shared with the congregation many kind remarks about the teams, what the teams do, and how much time, love, and effort each person puts into this ministry. He invited Pastor Prada to share his testimony on the impact the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs have. Pastor Prada shared that Charity Comfort Dog had visited with his congregation, and there was a 15-year-old girl present. She sat with Charity for some time that day. She was going to commit suicide later that day. She came back and shared specifically that because of her time with Charity, on what we consider a “routine visit,” she decided NOT to end her life that day. She decided to seek help and make her life a life worth living. No words. Each handler, ministry partner, and Top Dog in the service was wiping tears from their eyes. All of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their team of handlers and ministry partners are in that story that Pastor Prada shared. Each of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs, handlers, ministry partners, and Top Dogs have been that quiet presence in someone’s life sharing the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ. |
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