LCC Disaster Response Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers from Good Shepherd, Frankfort, Illinois, helped cut and clear the yard of a congregation member of a large downed tree from recent storms. Thank you to the following members for their hard work which was a blessing to the homeowner and greatly appreciated: Ron Eckstrom, DeLynn Kiedaisch, Curt Murff, Joel and Lori Powless. Lutheran Church Charities welcomes 19 new Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) certified members! On Saturday, September 12, LCC held a Basic LCMS L.E.R.T. training for new members at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Elburn, Illinois, led by Kathy O’Day, Director of Disaster Response. There were a total of 24 in attendance, from the following churches and L.E.R.T. teams in Illinois: Faith - Lake Forest Lord of Life - Elburn St. Paul - Matteson St. Paul’s - Mt. Prospect St. Peter - Arlington Heights Trinity - Lisle Trinity - Villa Park Willow Creek - Huntley It is good to see how the disaster response ministry is continuing to grow with volunteers willing to serve and share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.
Fifteen Christ The King School Students Are at Risk and Need Your Donations to Stay In School9/8/2020
$300 a Month for 10 Months or $3000 a Year Provides a Year of School for One Child Currently 15 students are at risk of not being able to return to the nurturing Christ-centered environment of Christ the King School in Chicago, Illinois. Urgent donations needed to the Christ the King scholarship program to keep these children in school and enable the dedicated staff to continue ministry-based teaching to change lives.
Many families have lost their jobs and are unable to pay the school tuition. As COVID-19 lingers on, the future of the children staying in school at Christ the King grows bleaker. Students who have come through Christ the King School have had their lives significantly changed by the love of Christ showered on them through Pastor John and Geri Brazeal, and the staff. The Christ-centered environment has a major impact on their lives and is a counterbalance to the environment many of them live in. Read the stories below to learn how Christ the King is changing lives of children who otherwise would have no hope for their future. Zayd, 6th Grader Zayd is extremely smart but struggles with issues of abandonment. Three years ago he was abandoned by his mother at Chicago O’Hare airport. Since that incident, Zayd’s great-grandmother has had custody of him but with the pandemic, she has been having financial difficulties. As a retired great-grandmother battling some health issues she is not able to pay the full tuition for her great-grandson's school. “I am so thankful that Zayd has become a baptized member of Christ the King. Zayd has been battling many mental issues since his mother abandoned him. Christ the King has become his family. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am so glad that he now sees himself as a child of God.” After his baptism and becoming part of God's family, Zyad left the following message for Tim Hetzner, LCC President/CEO: “When I get older I will help you with all the jobs at Lutheran Church Charities, and I want you to train me to have a comfort dog to help other people." Jeremiah, 7th Grader Jeremiah came to Christ the King in grade 6. He was three years behind other students his age. Since then, he has been working very hard to catch up. He is improving in his schoolwork, and he is excited to learn about God and be a part of His family. Jeremiah's mom lost her job due to COVID-19. His dad is a veteran who works with the Veteran’s Group on the south side. Both parents are helpful members of Christ the King. Please prayerfully consider donating now to the scholarship program to keep children like Zayd and Jeremiah in school and Christ the King serving their community.
Your Donations Needed to Help During Long Recovery Efforts The same derecho that barreled through northern Illinois also struck Cedar Rapids and surrounding towns in Iowa first, with 100 mph winds causing major destruction to homes, businesses, farms and crops. The damage in Cedar Rapids is more severe than what we experienced in Illinois.
The LCMS Iowa East District has shared over 100 requests for assistance and notes with LCC. Kathy and Ed and Jan Boerman have been helping Jason call these homeowners this past weekend to update their status. Kathy and Pete Springmire will be in Cedar Rapids this week to assess sites and determine the volunteer and equipment needs LCC L.E.R.T. chainsaw volunteers could help with. We will also be evaluating possible lodging and meal arrangements for the deployed teams.
Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response L.E.R.T. teams are continuing to respond and serve with the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. LCC never goes where we are not invited. We NEVER charge those we serve. We pick up all of our travel, lodging, and meal costs. We put boots on the ground within 24 hours (often fewer) from the time we get the invite. Please consider a donation to the LCC Disaster Response General Fund or LCC Disaster Response 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. As thousands of firefighters battled dozens of fires in California, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams provided much needed emotional relief to hundreds of firefighters for the third week in a row. Lutheran Church Charities was invited by Jeremy Sanders, Battalion Chief, Cal Fire, Employee Support Services, to bring the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs to be with the first responders protecting life and property of those affected by the California wildfires. Last week, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Aaron (St. John’s – Napa, California), Micah (Light of the Valley – Elk Grove, California), and Reuben (First Lutheran – Yuba City, California) and their K-9 Ministry teams were at the Santa Clara Unit (SCU) fire base camp. On Wednesday, September 2, the K-9 Ministry teams were recognized by the Incident Commander Jeff Veik at the morning briefing. They were told by a couple of Cal Fire people that being recognized like that is rare at a Cal Fire briefing. On Thursday, September 3, Micah and Reuben Comfort Dogs and their K-9 Ministry teams visited the Santa Cruz Unit (CZU) Fire Command Center base camp and support group.
So many people thanked the teams over and over, told us how much they appreciated what they did, and that they were there for them regularly. Employee Support Service (ESS) shared that they were getting many inquiries as to when the dogs would be at camp daily. It is wonderful to be of service and present for these heroes! Please pray for these courageous men and women who put their lives on the line to stop these dangerous and destructive fires. God bless them all and those affected by these fires.
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1) LCC never goes where we are not invited. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry NEVER charges those we serve. We pick up all of our travel and meal costs. We put boots and paws on the ground within 24 hours (often fewer) from the time we get the invite. Please consider a donation to the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry so that we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. Food for Haitian School Children Because of your generous donations LCC was able to send funds to Haiti to buy food for the children we support through a scholarship program. We received pictures and this note from Lophane Laurent.
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