LCC President/CEO Tim Hetzner heads to Texas to bring your assistance and do assessments

Hurricane Harvey Intensified to a Category 4 prior to Slamming Rockport, Texas
233,000 homes on Texas Coast at risk from widespread devastation including tornadoes, torrential downpours, and days of catastrophic flooding

Southeastern Texas is still experiencing horrific results from Hurricane Harvey which crashed into the Rockport, Texas area with over 130 mph winds on Friday, August 25 around 11pm ET.  Flash floods with storm surges of up to 3 feet of rain were reported. More than 211,000 consumers are reported without power along the Gulf Coast. Isolated areas anticipated to receive up to 40 inches of rain. Forecasters have measured 28-foot-high waves near the eye of the storm when it hit.

I have been in contact with LCC contacts in Texas, including Rev. Steve Misch, DR Coordinator, retired DR Coordinator, Dr. Lou Jander, LCMS DR Response and official FEMA and county reports regarding damages. Because this storm is stalling now over Texas, flooding will be significant. There are also multiple tornadoes spawning on the perimeter of the hurricane that combined with wind and storm surge in other areas that will also cause significant downed trees and building damage. It seems that no one will have access to the affected areas around the state until at least Wednesday or Thursday next week, after the rain subsides.

One of LCC's partners in Response to Hurricane Harvey is Lutheran RV'ers - CarePartners in Disasters

Dr. Lou Jander is a fellow Disaster Response Director for the Texas District and fellow Ministry Colleague of Tim Hetzner. Dr. Jander and his wife Martha will be going to South Texas to do CarePartner Ministry following the arrival of Hurricane Harvey. While the details of where they will set up isn't complete with all the rain and flooding that is still happening, they will be giving out resources, words of hope and comfort, prayers, encouragement, and assistance as survivors seek to deal with the aftermath of a major disaster. All of the 120 churches in that district have been affected.

If you would like to financially support this on the ground ministry to people with the Mercy and Compassion of Jesus Christ, you can donate by CLICKING HERE

Sharing Life, Love, and Light

In December of 2016, the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs brought comfort to the family and friends of Katie Kloess. Katie, a Lutheran school teacher at Zion in Marengo, Illinois, was involved in a fatal car accident on her way to coach the girls basketball team. Katie embraced the mantra “Be kind on purpose today” and her family and friends wish to carry on that mantra, encouraging kindness wherever you go.

This Sunday, August 27, 2017, the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs will be bringing comfort and support to Katie’s family and friends once again. This time we join Katie’s family, friends, and community for the first Kindness 5K in honor of Katie! The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs will be in the “Kindness Camp” sharing compassion, kindness, and a friendly face to all that attend!

Come join us as we encourage kindness and show compassion to those that attend the Kindness 5K. For more information or to register follow the links below.

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Luke 11:9-10

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Luke is now placed with Christ the Shepherd - Alpharetta, Georgia and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Nicodemus (Nico) has been placed with The Rock - Seward, Nebraska.

The handlers and caregivers from each of these churches learned about the mission of sharing the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. They spent time reflecting, journaling, sharing, and praying as they answered the question “Who is Jesus?” They also learned commands and how to handle their new LCC K-9 Comfort Dog so they can go out as a team and serve those in need.

LCC welcomes the following handlers and caregivers to the ministry:

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:17