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On Monday, December 13, LCC Kare9 Military Ministry Dogs Brutus (LCC Squad) and Nigel (LCC Staff) visited the students and staff at Saint Ignatius College Prep High School in Chicago, Illinois. The students needed some relief from the stress of finals week. They said the visit by the comfort dogs was just what they needed, and the staff loved it too.
Your Donation of Household Items will Make a Difference in the Life of Homeless Teenagers12/21/2021
 A special thank you to Mr. C Wener for donating a bed, end tables, and other household items to House of Hope, a ministry of Chicago Hope Church to homeless teenagers. They are given a place to live in a family environment and assigned a mentor to help them navigate through the challenges they face on their journey to adulthood.
Chicago Hope Church is still in need of more twin beds. If you or someone you know has a twin bed or bunk bed to donate, visit www.lutheranchurchcharities.org/non-monetary-donations. If you would like to learn more about the work of Chicago Hope Church, visit chicagohopechurch.org.  LCC Ministry Teams Still Serving in Waukesha, Wisconsin, following the Christmas Day Parade Incident On Tuesday, November 30, a mass shooting occurred at Oxford High School in the Detroit exurb of Oxford Township, Michigan. Four students were killed and seven people were injured, including a teacher. Authorities arrested and charged a 15-year-old sophomore. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were invited by Pastor Matt Schuler and Mike Felten, Director of Family Life, from Journey Lutheran Church in Oxford, Michigan. Twelve LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs from Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin traveled to be with the heartbroken community of Oxford, Michigan after the horrible shooting at Oxford High School. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry has been sharing the mercy, compassion and presence of Jesus Christ at different schools in the area, 911 Call Center, fire departments, and at various community events since arriving on December 5.  Anna & Claudia (Trinity - Toledo, Ohio) Beloved (Comfort Dog in training) Caleb (Immanuel - Valparaiso, Indiana) Dove (Peace - Fremont, Indiana) Isaiah & Jael (Trinity - Hobart, Indiana) Jared (Holy Cross - Fort Wayne, Indiana) Gideon (St. Michael’s - Bloomington, Minnesota) Malachi (St. Matthew - Hawthorn Woods, Illinois) Mary (St. Paul's - Janesville, Wisconsin) Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois) During the teams' visit at Meijers last week, which served as a reunification center, a mom met us with her three kids. Here is a testimony she shared with us:  My heart is absolutely hurting. I can’t think straight. When I am alone with my thoughts the world feels so incredibly broken. I have spent nearly the entire day on the verge of tears thinking about humans and how their choices hurt others. Typically during times like this, I am driven to help in some way. Not this time. I am frozen and can hardly move. I took the kids today to Meijers and we were greeted at the door by beautiful dogs. I learned that these dogs traveled with their handlers from other states to bring comfort to our community. Not only did they bring us sweet, goofy, lovable, dogs to love up, but the idea that these people took time out of their lives to travel to us brought me hope. I have been reminded to “look for the helpers”. The helpers do so much more than their task, they truly do bring peace, hope, and love to our world. Thank you to all the helpers. You remind me of all that is good in the world.  On Tuesday, December 7, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Anna, Claudia, Caleb, Dove, Isaiah, Jael, and Jared spent time with the students at Rochester Adams High School, Rochester Hills, Michigan. These students are also feeling the fear, confusion, uncertainty, and loss of what happened at Oxford High School. The students needed the unconditional love and gentleness the Comfort Dogs and their handlers provided.  Some of the students spent time petting the Comfort Dogs, with no words spoken, laying their worries aside, and finding a moment of calm and comfort. While petting Claudia, one student shared, “This is the safest I have felt all week.” Claudia just knew he needed her. The school administration at Rochester Adams High School was extremely grateful for the Comfort Dogs and handlers being there and were overwhelmed by the joy they saw in the kids' actions and faces. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalms 46:1 On Wednesday, December 8, the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were invited to spend time at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Orion, Michigan. Pastor Ben Oelschlaeger invited the Comfort Dogs to visit with the students and teachers at the preschool. The Comfort Dogs loved spending time with the little ones and reading with them.  On Thursday, December 9, the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their ministry teams visited two Oxford Fire Departments and the Oakland County 911 Dispatch Center to bring some much-needed stress relief and comfort. On the day of the Oxford High School shooting, over 100 calls were made to the dispatch center. We praise God for these brave firefighters and dispatchers who are there for us in our time of need. Thank you to the LCC K-9 Ministry teams for being there to show love to these heroes. "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 On Monday, December 13, LCC's second K-9 deployment team with LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Gideon, Malachi, Mary, Tobias, and Beloved Comfort Dog in training spent some time at Divine Child Catholic Schools, in Deerfield, Michigan. The students need the comforting presence of the Comfort Dogs and their handlers after the loss of a student to suicide last week. Their grief was compounded by the ripple effect of the mass shooting that happened at the neighboring high school in Oxford, Michigan.
LCC K-9 and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion (HMC) Ministry teams are serving with open hearts to listen to the hurting, bringing them hope, comfort, and prayer. The hearts/crosses were placed at the memorial at Oxford High School for people to sign and leave condolence messages, pray, and pay their respects to the four lives lost so far.  The LCC K-9 ministry teams will continue to serve this hurting community as the requests come in for the Comfort Dogs and their handlers to be present.
Please join LCC as we pray for the Oxford High School community during this incredibly difficult time. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministry NEVER charge those we serve as we bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. We know that comfort is needed to help this shocked and devastated community and the first responders who serve them. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their ministry teams continue to serve for the fourth week throughout the Waukesha community, and first responders as invited to help them continue to process their grief following the Christmas parade tragedy. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were invited by Pastor Peter Schmidt from Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Waukesha.  On Tuesday, December 14, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Charity (Brookfield - Brookfield, Wisconsin) and her handlers did a follow-up visit with Clarendon Elementary School in Wisconsin. The team dropped off 25 more Mini Stuffed LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs at the school, one for each classroom. They also brought 75 LCC K-9 Comfort Dog coloring books. Each third grader will be taking a coloring book home this Friday. Charity and her handlers also presented Andrea, the principal, and Brittany, the district psychologist, with a Heart of Mercy & Compassion signed at the affiliate ministry gathering a few weekends ago. As Andrea was quickly reading some of the heartfelt messages, she ran her finger over the words as if she was really absorbing the support and love expressed by each affiliate.  The LCC K-9 ministry team was presented with thank you cards from the 3rd-grade class thanking each LCC K-9 Comfort Dog and their ministry team for being with them to help. Please continue to pray for the staff and school as they are still navigating the loss of Jackson Sparks and preparing for his brother to return following his injuries. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and handlers look forward to continuing to support them as we have been invited back next year for a fun visit!  LCC Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Crosses for Losses Ministry placed hearts/crosses at the Veterans Park memorial site for people to sign and leave condolence messages, pray, and pay their respects to the six lives lost.
Additional hearts/crosses were left with Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. LCC never goes where we are not invited. LCC’s K-9 Comfort Dog and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministries NEVER charge those we serve as we bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. Please keep the Waukesha, Wisconsin community in your prayers following the devastating tragedy. Lutheran Church Charities is blessed to welcome two new golden retriever puppies to be trained as future LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs. The puppies are named Lazarus and Samaria.
These pups have already started to bond with their new volunteer apprentice trainers. Follow them on Facebook as they begin their journey to become LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs.
Lutheran Church Charities is always recruiting new volunteers to help train these amazing animals. If you are interested in joining us on this mission, please contact LCC at [email protected] for further information or visit our website. On Wednesday, December 8, LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Brutus (LCC Squad) and Nigel (LCC Staff) visited the Girl Scouts at Old St. Mary’s Parish, Chicago, Illinois. The Scouts were working on their Animal Care Achievement badge and wanted to learn more about the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry. After a presentation about the ministry and a Q&A period, the Scouts took time to greet the Kare 9s and give and take some love and comfort.
Help Four Homes of Mercy in Bethany, Israel, Fulfill Christmas Dreams for Their Special Residents12/13/2021
Four Homes of Mercy is a Christian run home for the emotionally and physically disabled children (many of whom are orphans) and adults in the poor area of Bethany, Israel. LCC received the following request from Liz Mulford, President, Friends of the Four Homes of Mercy.  Dear Friends, The Christmas Dreams of our special, differently-abled people: long-awaited visits from family, making a joyful noise, new toys. With your help, these and more will be fulfilled. Your gifts will provide transportation assistance for those far away, the chance to join others playing music, surprises -- a new ball, a new doll -- that promote smiles, plus special foods and decorations to help celebrate the season. Your donation in any amount will enable us to provide our residents with memorable Christmas. On behalf of all our people, THANK YOU! Blessings! Liz Mulford, President
The work that is done by Four Homes of Mercy is important and ongoing. Please consider a gift to support them as they continue to reach out "to the least of these" with the love, mercy, and compassion of Jesus Christ.
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