"We are grateful to you and everyone who continues to support Ukraine and those affected by the war. Your donations help people survive in this difficult time. It testifies to them about God and His care for them." Pastor Sergey Bevz 100% of Your Donations Continue to Support Ukrainians in Need SELCU Pastors Serving Ukrainians 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 Pastor Sergey Bevz sent the following update on his ministry work in Ukraine: The last week has been very hectic. Several strong rocket strikes were carried out on our city. There are dead. There is serious damage. One of the blows came about 600-700 meters from the church building (it is in order). The hits were on residential areas of the city. The houses of some parishioners received minor damage (windows were broken). The bus depot was close to us. We continue to maintain our rhythm in service. We are doing a few promotions every week. We continue to help the refugees of our city and local residents. We also make trips to de-occupied places. We visited the city of Izyum and the surrounding villages. The city of Izyum is the largest city liberated as a result of the Kharkiv offensive in September. We were among the first who arrived in this city after the liberation. In the city called Kharkivska Bucha in our media, several large mass graves were found - more than 400 bodies. There are several more that specialists are currently working on. The destruction of this city is terrible. The city is destroyed by 70-80%. There is no electricity, gas, drinking water, communications, or the Internet. Some of the people we gave food to hugged us and cried. They rejoiced not in the products, but in the fact that they were glad to be free from the “Russian world.” Next, we visited villages in the Izyum region. Visiting such small liberated villages is a priority for us. The fact is that many volunteers and churches go to those places that are well known. In the villages that are located in the depths, little or no help is brought, and that is why we go there. In the near future, we expect a large wave of internal refugees. They will leave their homes because of the cold snap. Many towns and villages were left without gas and electricity. They will not be able to heat their houses. Pastor Valera Verba is in Odessa now and next month. He is substituting for Pastor Oleg Shevchenko, who received permission to travel to Germany to visit his family. I also hope to get permission to visit Germany in a few weeks. If this happens, I will have the opportunity to see my family, visit and minister to our refugees, and collect humanitarian aid. We pray and hope that the active phase of this war will end in the coming months. Over the past month, most of the Ukrainian lands have been liberated. We hope this will continue in the future. However, there is only escalation on the part of Russia, despite the heavy losses they are suffering. We are grateful to you and everyone who continues to support Ukraine and those affected by the war. Your donations help people survive in this difficult time. In addition, it testifies to them about God and His care for them. May the Lord be with you! Pastor Sergey Bevz Your Donations are Immediately Helping Ukrainians in Need!
Working with LCMS Florida-Georgia District Disaster Response Coordinators to Help Impacted Churches, Individuals and Families in Hardest-Hit Areas with Recovery Efforts Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms ever to strike the US mainland, battered southwest Florida with high winds, rain, and storm surges as it moved inland. The death toll reported is now more than 100 as search and rescue teams continue to go door to door throughout impacted communities. As the storm swept ashore in southwest Florida last week, it raged across the state with catastrophic 150 mph winds and a deadly storm surge of up to 18 feet. Estimated to be about 140 miles wide, it downgraded from a high category 4 hurricane to a tropical storm as it moved slowly northeast, causing vast destruction and major flooding. Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response Director Kathy O'Day and Ed Boerman, Northern Illinois District Disaster Response Coordinators, have been collaborating with the LCMS Disaster Response and District Disaster Response Coordinators Joel Mathews and Jay Wendland from the Florida-Georgia District. Rev. Ross Johnson, Director, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) Disaster Response, and Jay Wendland have asked Kathy O'Day, Ed Boerman, and L.E.R.T. team leader Marty Johnson to be in Florida this week to be part of the assessment team. Approximately twenty-six LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers will begin serving out of Lakeside Lutheran Church in Venice, Florida, which is located 30 minutes from Englewood and Port Charlotte. Pastor David Dahlke has graciously welcomed our team to stay at Lakeside Lutheran. Brenda Gustafson, Church Administrator shared, “We are an older congregation and cannot get out into the community, so we are thrilled to serve you so that you can be the hands and feet of Jesus in our communities.” LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers will begin arriving in Florida on Sunday, October 9, and will be serving in our designated communities until the end of October. LCMS Disaster Response has asked us to begin our work with two heavily damaged churches, Trinity Lutheran of Southwest in Port Charlotte and Redeemer Lutheran Church & School in Englewood, and remove downed trees at our host church Lakeside Lutheran. All three congregations also have several staff and congregation members who have property damage. In addition, we will serve affected residents as requested in these communities. LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers will provide chainsaw, heavy equipment, and boom lift assistance, and some mucking and gutting of a flooded church sanctuary. Our teams will also provide spiritual and emotional care as many people took shelter in their homes and endured horrific conditions while the hurricane passed through their cities. Residents are overwhelmed with the devastation and need the reassurance and hope found in Jesus Christ. LCC never goes where we are not invited. |
Many hearts are heavy at the Chicago Office of Emergency Management Communications (OEMC) after the sudden death of dispatcher Gina Marie Kurelic. Gina had served as a dispatcher since 1995 and was loved by her colleagues for her dedication. She was 52 years old and left behind a son. To help the Chicago OEMC move through this difficult loss, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Emma (LCC Staff), Hannah (LCC Staff), and Ruthie (LCC Staff), along with their handlers, were present for the two evening shifts to walk with them in their grief. The K-9s provided love and comfort the OEMC staff needed at that moment. We thank God for these dedicated women and men who answer the calls for assistance 24 hours, seven days a week. Today we pray for them for God’s peace, comfort, and love to fill them as they grieve the loss of their co-worker and friend Gina Kurelic. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 | |
Saluting Branches is a national event for arborists and other tree care professionals throughout the country to unite and provide exceptional tree care to keep our veterans cemeteries safe and beautiful places for all those who visit.
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery - Elwood, Illinois
Dayton National Cemetery - Dayton, Ohio
Southern Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery - Union Grove, Wisconsin
Many of our L.E.R.T. team members are veterans themselves, but all who serve at this event feel it is an honor and privilege to give back to those who served our country.
Illinois
Cross, Yorkville – Derek and Amy Kowalczyk
Good Shepherd, Elgin – David Vollrath
Good Shepherd, Frankfort – Joel Powless
Heartland, Normal – Tony Buchberger
Immanuel, Palatine – Steve MacKay
Lord of Life, Elburn – John Griffin, Kevin Krage, Max Metz, Bill Pietsch, Larry Zagorski
Shepherd of the Hills, McHenry – Alan Holm, Ron Jones, Gary Rucker
St. John, Wheaton – Dave Mummah
St. John, Wilmette – Tom Morrison
St. Paul, Rockford – Dean and Carol Ulrich
St. Peter, Schaumburg – Missy Dieckman, Bob and Barbara Royce, Laurie Trudell, Ken and Vicki Kiviranta
Trinity, Villa Park – Jim and Debbie Long
Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin
Trinity, Davenport, Iowa – Ken Stotmeister
St. John, Dillsboro, Indiana – Steve Black
Brookfield, Brookfield, Wisconsin – Laura Ciletti, CJ Kraft, Curt and Kristen Kolell, Cheryl Delair
Pastor Ramirez of Tabor Lutheran Church Is Grateful for Your Support In Serving His Community
10/4/2022
On Saturday, October 1, Pastor Ramirez received seven boxes of bagels and eight pounds of cookies and other baked goods to hand out to families Tabor is ministering to and to use as refreshments following Hispanic worship services at the church.
10-year-old Nickerson lives in the Center of Refuge orphanage that is supported by Ministry in Mission in Jacmel, Haiti. He must have six teeth extracted and one repaired. The dental work including medication and transportation is nearly $1,000. Jackie Rychel Ministry in Mission Please prayerfully consider donating to help Nickerson with his medical needs. |
Participating in the conference were also LCC L.E.R.T. team leaders Marty and Anna Johnson, Pete and Christel Springmire from St. John, Wheaton, Illinois, and Mark and Beverly Brueggemann from St. Paul, Grafton, Wisconsin.
It was a very informative conference, including planning for the LCMS response to Hurricane Ian.
Pastor Karl Gibbs, LCC K-9 Regional Coordinator - Missouri Valley and LCMS Missouri District Disaster Response Coordinator (DDRC), was presented with the 2022 LCMS Disaster Response Servant Heart Award for his willing service to those affected by disasters. Lutheran Church Charities extends sincere congratulations to Pastor Gibbs for this honor! |
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 Pastor Oleg Schewtschenko, assigned to the congregation in Odessa, is currently in Marsberg, Germany, visiting his spouse Victoria and sons Nathaniel and Dominic. The family photo shows the reunited family. Although he holds a German passport and could have left Ukraine at the start of the conflict, he chose to remain in the country to assist the SELCU congregations and the Ukrainian people.
Pastor Schewtschenko writes: “207 days away from my boys; 207 days without hugs; 207 days of prayers: ‘Protect and let our father come to us.’ What a joy of reunion after [traveling] 2,605 km!”
“Happy and Blessed Birthday, dear Nathanael Martin! Another happy and sad day. Joyful because today you are a whole five - and you are again a year older than your little brother. And it's sad because we're still far from each other. Nathanael, I fondly remember our trips. You really like to sit next to your dad, and you do not miss the opportunity to sit behind the wheel and even switch the speed, and you want to drive on the fifth gear very fast.
You have incredible attention and visual memory. I appreciate how attentively you listened to stories from your favorite books and especially from your favorite Children's Bible. You love the railway (ICE) so much; even your toy cars must all be lined up - like lights, one by one. Miss you so much, love and prayers. I'm so happy to hear that you pray every day for dad and ask God [that I] meet you. God hears every word!”
We rejoice with Pastor Schewtschenko as he spends some quality time in Germany, where his sons once again get to ride with their father, eat meals with him, and pray with him. Soon he will return to Odessa, Ukraine, to continue the important work there.
Your Donations are Immediately Helping Ukrainians in Need!
On Wednesday, September 28, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Abraham & Beloved (Trinity - Hicksville, New York), and LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Claudia (Trinity - Toledo, Ohio) attended a Yellow Ribbon Mental Health Wellness Event for the Air National Guard from Niagara Falls and Syracuse. The focus was on providing ways to relieve stress in a very stressful environment. The K-9s provided a pleasant, relaxing diversion for the service men and women, their spouses, and the many presenters and vendors. The K-9 handlers had many great conversations with the chaplains there, presenting how faith can be a source of strength in demanding situations. Almost everyone visited the team's table, petted the comfort dogs, and left with a smile! | |
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