 Lynda Streich, Interim LCC President/CEO with Abednego and Meshach The LCC K-9 Ministry continues to grow as we welcome two new additions to our training school at Northbrook, Illinois. The pups’ names are Abednego and Meshach.  These adorable puppies will begin their journey of training to be an LCC K-9 Comfort Dog. Through time, patience, repetition, consistency, love, and guidance from their apprentice trainers, one day, Abednego and Meshach will serve as a bridge with two other congregations to reach those who are suffering or in need. Abednego and Meshach 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 male 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 [email protected] for further information or visit our website at https://www.lutheranchurchcharities.org/traink9s.html.
On Wednesday, August 24, the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry was invited to Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, to send off and, for the first time, welcome the Honor Flight Chicago 104 veterans returning from their one-day trip to Washington, D.C. The LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs and their veteran handlers have served at the Honor Flight Chicago since 2018, providing comfort to the veterans moving through five processing stations in the baggage claim area before their flight.
They were excited to be there for the first time to welcome 111 veterans, including 4 WWII, 10 Korean War, and 97 Vietnam Veterans on board Honor Flight Chicago 104. LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Asher (Faith - Lake Forest, Illinois) with U.S. Army Veteran Bill Hume, Brutus (LCC Squad) with U.S. Navy Veteran Gene Weisbecker, and Nigel (LCC Staff) with U.S. Army Veteran Jim Morrison had a unique opportunity to spend time with the families awaiting their loved ones on the Honor Flight, and listening to their stories.
The Kare 9s and their veteran handlers were on hand as the veterans exited the plane and moved through the concourse on the upper level, welcomed by Bagpipers and Honor Guard. They saluted them, shook their hands, and thanked them for their service and sacrifice. They were also present on the lower level, where the veterans received a cheerful welcome from their families and friends, many holding signs “Welcome Home.”
The LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry is deeply honored to have been part of this special event to serve and cheer our veterans and help give them the Welcome Home they truly deserve but never received. We salute our Veterans!
 LCC received the following update from Sheryl DeWitt, Executive Director of RLOM: I am so happy to inform you that the Village Board of Trustees for East Dundee has granted us approval to move forward with our plans for the new Redeeming Life Maternity Home! Let us thank and praise our awesome God! We give thanks to our Almighty God for this opportunity to grow our ministry. We know that this is through His amazing grace. Now, we are looking forward to when we can share his boundless love with women and babies in need in Northern Illinois! We should be closing soon! Thank you so much for your support and prayers during this long process. We are so thankful to have your partnership and support in our Northern Illinois District (NID) expansion. Sheryl DeWitt, Executive Director, RLOM
100% of Your Donations Continue to Support Ukrainians in Need Since March 2022, Lutheran Church Charities has been working cooperatively with pastors of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) to provide humanitarian relief which combines the clear proclamation of the gospel. SELCU Pastors Serving Ukrainians More than 180 days have now passed since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the past six months, it is estimated that more than half of Ukraine's 44 million populace has either left the country as refugees or become internally displaced persons within the country.  One of the internally displaced persons is the Rev. Valerii Verba, a pastor of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU). The SELCU is a partner church of the Lutheran Church-Canada, which is a partner church of The Lutheran Church —Missouri Synod. Pastor Verba's home and congregation are in the Russian-occupied city of Kherson, to which he cannot return. His wife, son, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew are refugees living in the town of Marsberg, Germany, together with two other SELCU pastors' refugee families in the same apartment building.  Because Pastor Verba cannot visit his congregation, he primarily assists SELCU Pastor Sergei Bevz and his congregation in Dnipro. In addition to caring for the Dnipro congregation, some two-three times each week, the two pastors load vans with humanitarian relief supplies and travel to cities and villages farther to the east in the Donbas region. At risk to their own lives, the pastors provide food for both body and soul to their fellow Ukrainians. The conflict in Ukraine will not end soon. Through the generosity of its donors, Lutheran Church Charities has been concentrating on assisting those who remain in Ukraine, whether they are still residing in their own homes or are among the internally displaced. That assistance includes both humanitarian relief and the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. LCC is pleased to partner with the pastors of the SELCU and their congregations as they carry out this important ministry. Your Donations are Immediately Helping Ukrainians in Need!
 On Saturday, August 20, the River Place apartment complex in Deer Park, Wisconsin, was struck by lightning and a massive fire occurred, leaving many families displaced. On Thursday, August 25, many local agencies were brought together at the Victim’s Assistance Center to help families with their next steps. All those impacted had to move for safety reasons, and many lost their belongings.
LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Charity (Brookfield - Brookfield, Wisconsin), Malachi (St. Matthew - Hawthorn Woods, Illinois), Mary (St. Paul's - Janesville, Wisconsin), Rhoda (Prince of Peace - Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin), Samson (Zion - Marengo, Illinois), and Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois) were hugged and snuggled by many who showed up; even some volunteers needed a little extra love. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their teams were happy to be present and give love to anyone who came to visit and help these families get through to the next step.
 During May and June of 2022, thirteen LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and handlers deployed to Uvalde, Texas, for two weeks to be a calming and comforting presence to the families and community after the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary, taking the precious lives of 19 students and two teachers.
The following LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their teams will serve in Uvalde, Texas, from September 6 to September 23, 2002.
We pray that having the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs present as school begins will help to bring a calming and comforting distraction. We lift up in prayer the parents, children, and teachers of Uvalde as school begins and the community continues to grieve the loss of nineteen students and two teachers taken tragically from them.
LCC's K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry never goes where we are not invited and never charges those we serve as we bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. We pick up all of our travel, hotel, and meal costs. Please prayerfully consider donating to the LCC K-9 Comfort Travel Expense Fund so that we can continue serving the hurting community of Uvalde.  On Saturday, August 20, the LCC K-9 Ministry teams from the Missouri Valley Region gathered for a day of devotion, fellowship, K-9 training, and speakers at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St Charles, Missouri, home of LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Zillah. Everyone attending was excited to be together!
The main speaker was Rev. Michael Meyer, manager, LCMS Disaster Response who spoke about the art of listening and how Jesus modeled this for us throughout scripture. We thank Immanuel and the team for hosting hosting such a wonderful gathering. |
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