On Saturday, September 30, LCC Kare 9® Military Ministry Dogs Brutus (LCC Squad), Flex (LCC Squad), Nigel (LCC Staff), and Reba (LCC Squad), attended a Fall Festival in Crystal Lake, Illinois, as American Legion Post 171 guests. Children and adults loved meeting the Kare 9s and sharing compassion and peace. The children especially love getting up close with the Kare 9s.
 When Lutheran Church Charities received the invitation to attend The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) Northern Illinois District (NID) Educator’s Conference, which took place October 6, the answer was a big YES, as we looked forward to the opportunity to thank the teachers and administrators of the district for their ministry of educating our children. Present at the conference were Rev. Chris Singer, LCC President/CEO, and several LCC ministry representatives, who gave attendees encouragement and thanks, along with some much-appreciated attention and love from the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs.  LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Emma and Grace (LCC Staff), Levi (Immanuel - East Dundee, Illinois), Samson (Zion - Marengo, Illinois), and Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois), along with their handlers, demonstrated and spoke about LCC’s K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry as teachers hugged, petted and laid on the floor to interact with these huggable, compassionate K-9’s.
Staff members Dona Martin (LCC K-9 Coordinator and handler), Tim Laabs (Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Project Manager), and Denise Snider (Director of Human Care Ministry) enjoyed the day, sharing about the many ways the ministries of Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Human Care, and Disaster Response, bring the comfort and compassion of Jesus to those who are suffering and in need. Thank you to the Northern Illinois District for the invitation to be part of your special day - it was an honor to be there with you! Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (AM) - Wisconsin
Dulles International Airport - VirginiaLCC Kare 9® Military Ministry Dogs Amos (Our Savior's Way - Ashburn, Virginia) and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Kezia (Emmanuel - Baltimore, Maryland) arrived at Dulles International Airport to greet the veterans arriving from Wisconsin. Our Savior's Way congregation members were invited to join the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog ministry teams, and several families and veterans came out for this special event. Honor Flight veterans do not know there will be a welcome waiting for them when they arrive to visit the memorials in D.C. This surprise makes for an emotional arrival as we are present to provide the love and appreciation that our nation's heroes genuinely deserve. The handlers and ministry partners offered hugs or handshakes, smiles, and cheers to each of the 221 WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans. As Amos and Kezia's teams thanked them for their service and connected in a veteran-to-veteran moment, the veterans and their guardians experienced God's love through our presence. Many of them sincerely thanked the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog ministry teams for being there, while others struggled with emotions as we honored their service and sacrifice.
 Island Lutheran Church in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is in a growing community where the pastors and congregation are actively seeking ways to bring Jesus into their community.
One of the effective ways they do this is through their affiliate relationship with Lutheran Church Charities’ K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry and their LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Zoara. Zoara’s handlers and ministry partners respond to people in need through their visits and compassionate care. At the invitation of Pastor Jeff Dorth, Pastor Kevin Duff, and Cathy Beste, Island Lutheran’s Top Dog, Rev. Chris Singer, LCC President/CEO, and his wife, Jeanette, visited the congregation of Island Lutheran Church on Sunday, October 8th. It was a great day of sharing, as Pastor Singer delivered the message, “Jesus Never Leaves, and Provides Comfort Right Where We Are,” and gave a presentation about LCC’s ministries of Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Human Care and Disaster Response, sharing additional ways church members can bring the love of Jesus into their community. Thank you to LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Zoara’s team for their enthusiastic welcome and to the Pastors and congregation of Island Lutheran Church for their warm hospitality and desire to create opportunities to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ within their communities.
LCC received an update from Jayne Siou, Food Outreach Program Director, Put Your Hands Together Food Outreach Ministry of Immanuel, Hillside, on their expansion project to establish a permanent home for their pantry.  We are very excited to announce that the Village of Hillside has amended the ordinances and zoning requirements and allowed us to proceed with the construction of our new pantry building.
As you may know, PYHT has outgrown the space in our church where we operate our food pantry and food rescue-redistribution programs, requiring us to expand into a larger space and erect a building on our church property. The foundation and building will begin in the Spring of 2024 once adequate funding is received to cover the costs. We still have $20,000-$60,000 to raise by the end of April if we receive no grant funding by then. One of the many lessons I have learned is always waiting on the Lord, His timing is perfect. His patience never wears thin, even when mine is hanging by a thread. Thank you for your continued support and prayers! Jayne Siou Food Outreach Program Director Immanuel Lutheran Church Hillside Food Pantry Put Your Hands Together Food Outreach Ministry Hillside, Illinois LCC Attends LCMS Pacific Southwest District’s Pastors' Conference in Palm Springs, California10/3/2023
 Rev. Chris Singer, Lutheran Church Charities President/CEO, three LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams, and staff member Shannon Beshara attended The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) Pacific Southwest District (PSD) 2023 Pastors' Conference held in Palm Springs, California, September 25-27, 2023. The conference was attended by pastors and exhibitors from the PSD. It provided the opportunity for LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Lois (First Good Shepherd - Las Vegas, Nevada), Rahab (St. Andrews - Stockton, California), and Reuben (First Lutheran - Yuba City, California) and their handlers to welcome the pastors, who spent a little time relaxing with the Comfort Dogs and learning more about LCC’s K-9 Ministries. Additionally, LCC staff answered many questions about LCC's Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Disaster Response, and Human Care ministries. We look forward to future conversations regarding affiliate church partnerships in the PSD. Many thanks to the Pacific Southwest District for their wonderful hospitality!
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