96 Homeowner Assessments Completed 70 Total Properties Scheduled – 39 Completed On Sunday, June 20, a confirmed EF-3 tornado and catastrophic storms raged through Northern Illinois, causing extensive damage in Woodridge, Naperville, and Darien, as well as Burr Ridge and Downers Grove. Straight-line winds of at least 70mph tore through other communities. At least 350 homes were damaged, 48 are reported as uninhabitable. Lutheran Church Charities continues to serve the hard-hit communities of Woodridge, Naperville, and Downers Grove. As of today, we have met with 96 homeowners to assess their property damage. We have identified 70 total sites that we can assist with. To do this more effectively, LCC has invited Pastor Ed Brashier, LCMS Southern District Disaster Response Coordinator, and Shepherds Heart Ministry Director, to assist our teams with his 65’ boom lift and mini-bobcat. This will allow us to help more homeowners daily with chainsaw lift work to broken and damaged trees. Different Lutheran Church Charities L.E.R.T. team members volunteer daily and have completed 39 sites. We will continue to serve in our district until we are done with all of the requests. A Young Family Sees Jesus Helping Them We helped a young family from St. John Lutheran Church in Lombard, Illinois, with removing a dangerous hanger over their driveway and felling a large broken tree near their home and deck utilizing the boom lift and rigging techniques. This family was very appreciative of the assistance, but more importantly, they wanted their children, ages 3 and 7, to understand that it was the church coming to help them in their time of need. The parents took time to explain to them how everyone working to take down their trees and make their home safe was doing what Jesus wanted them to do in serving others. When the team was done, and we presented the slice of tree with a cross in it, they told the boys, “Always remember this day, the day Jesus sent people from His church to help us.” Helping a Single Woman Restore Her Property & Hope Our team served a single woman with two acres of many downed and damaged trees surrounding her home and blocking her long driveway. She felt so overwhelmed, not knowing how she could ever possibly cut and remove all of the trees that were damaged. Having a large chainsaw team descend on her property for a full day of hard work restored her hope and property.
Mr. Stonitsch is very grateful that our teams are willing to respond to their referrals of residents that are in need of assistance. LCC received the following thank you note from an elderly couple served by the LCC L.E.R.T. chainsaw teams: Dear Friends, The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response General Fund or LCC Equipment Maintenance & Fuel Expense Fund so that we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.
Please keep the families affected by the tornado and storms in your prayers, including all of the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff as we deploy to the hardest-hit areas of Northern Illinois to help during the long recovery process. Your prayers, support, and involvement help Make A Difference – in the name of Jesus to those in need. Your Donations Continue to Make a Difference in the Lives of a Young Widow with Two Small Children7/6/2021
I want to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who has given support to this family. It is truly a great blessing, and we praise the Lord God that He is providing amidst a deeply difficult time. Because of your generosity, they were able to pay off the outstanding loan on their car. They have also been able to pay many of the outstanding medical bills. They have been truly blessed by your love and support. God's Blessings, Pastor Don Love Faith, Merrill & St. John Lutheran Church, Hamburg, Wisconsin If you are so moved, please prayerfully consider continuing to support this family as they cope with the loss of their husband/father while trying to manage the many financial burdens they face. Their strong faith rests in the promises and hope of Jesus Christ. On Tuesday, July 6, LCC delivered your donations to Christ the King Lutheran Church & School, Chicago, Illinois, for tuition assistance. Pastor John Brazeal and Principal Geri Brazeal are grateful for your support. Your donations enable the dedicated staff to continue ministry-based teaching and quality education for the children they serve. Please prayerfully consider continuing to support the ongoing ministry of Christ the King as they serve their community. Stihl Chainsaw Maintenance Trainings Lutheran Church Charities recently held two Stihl Chainsaw Maintenance Trainings for 40 chainsaw operators led by Andrew Guettler, Midwest Region Stihl Technical Sales Specialist. Kevin and Thea Krage graciously hosted both trainings in their barn. Andrew gave a very informative presentation on how to best maintain chainsaws for optimal use. After his presentation, each operator took apart his own saw for cleaning and further maintenance tips from Andrew. Each person who attended said they learned many new things that will help them as they serve others. They appreciated the time and information Andrew gave each of them at each training session. On Wednesday, June 30, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Mary (St Paul - Janesville, Wisconsin), and Bekah and Kye (Immanuel - Belvidere, Illinois) attended the funeral of a 39-year-old woman who died suddenly. The young woman leaves behind a ten-year-old son. The handlers, along with the Comfort Dogs, spent time with the grieving family, friends, and co-workers. Mary Comfort Dog and her handlers were able to spend some quiet time with her ten-year-old son. He never said much but took comfort in gently petting Mary. Whenever he left the room, he carried his mini stuffed Mary Comfort Dog with him that he received from the team. Here is an interesting thing. Last Friday, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Mary and her handler went to Walmart to do some socialization training. As they were leaving, the Walmart associate that checked the handler’s receipt fell in love with Mary. She asked if the handler could take Mary to visit with the other workers to see her. The Walmart associate told the handler that one of the managers had suddenly died. She said Mary has a very special gift and it would be good to visit with them. So Mary and the handler spent time visiting and comforting the Walmart staff as they mourned the loss of their beloved manager. When Mary’s handler read the young woman’s obituary, she realized it was the same woman who worked at Walmart. Some of the people at the visitation on Wednesday were Walmart workers, and they were so glad to see Mary and spend time with Bekah and Kye Comfort Dogs. In the three years St. Paul Lutheran Church has had Mary, what is so amazing is that this was only the second time they had gone to Walmart to train and visit with people. This whole thing was such a “God moment.”
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas and the only nation in the region that has yet to inoculate a single person against Covid-19. Haiti has reported approximately 15,430 coronavirus cases and 325 deaths, but it has no mass testing and the true spread is unknown. There is a high mortality rate and facilities are overloaded. Haiti has been in political turmoil during the entire pandemic. Lutheran Church Charities sends your donations to Haiti through our Haiti mission partners, who use them towards critical items needed to help save and improve the lives of the people of Haiti. Recently, LCC received requests from Ministry in Mission for support for critical needs. Please prayerfully consider making a donation to any of the funds listed below. Your gift will help Ministry in Mission continue to provide mercy and Gospel outreach to the poor, the orphans, the children, and the elderly in Haiti. $6,200 Needed for Hygiene Stations to Protect from COVID-19 Update: With your generous donations, our mission partners were able to begin buying and distributing Hygiene Stations. The need is still desperate for as many Hygiene Stations as possible. We received this update from Lophane Laurent, Field Director, Mission: Haiti: Blessings to everyone. I want to thank you for your support and prayers. These are the hygiene kits we were able to buy with the money you sent to distribute to the people in need. Covid is getting worse day by day, and there are a few hospitals that can take care of people, but most of them are closed because there is no support from my government, and the workers are afraid to leave their house to go to work because of the gangs fighting every day everywhere. Please keep us in your prayers. Lophane Laurent
Motorcycles Needed
$1,000 Will Bring VBS to Children in Haiti
$1,000 a Month Keeps Radio Concordia 98.5 FM Jacmel Haiti On the Air Rev. Marky Kessa, Pastor at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jacmel, Haiti, has a vision for sharing the Good news of Jesus Christ in Jacmel. Part of that vision was to establish a radio station to broadcast church services, play Christian music, host Christian talk shows, and attract people to his church. Members of the church run the radio station. Sunday church services are broadcast weekly. Special church events are also broadcast. Radio in Haiti is a significant source of news, entertainment, and information for most Haitians. Many Haitians don’t have electricity, let alone televisions. Battery-operated radios are popular with the majority of people and are listened to day and night. Running and maintaining a radio station, like many things, is more difficult than in the U.S. The lack of consistent electricity makes generators, solar power, and inverters with storage batteries a necessity. In addition, the extremely warm climate causes the electrical components to deteriorate faster than in a more moderate climate. The cost to run the station is $1,000 a month. Your donations allow the continuing spread of the Gospel and allow the church members to use their media and technology talents for the glory of God. |
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