Millions of Ukrainians are facing their most challenging winter in recent history, with no end to the war raging in their country.

Approximately 6.5 million people in Ukraine have been displaced and are facing freezing winter conditions after being forced to flee their homes. Many take shelter in damaged buildings and have limited access to food, electricity, and heat.

The humanitarian ministries of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) continue unabated in the war torn country. Russian missile strikes have managed to damage virtually every aspect of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

LCC received the following update from Pastor Yurii Timerkan:

“Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, their mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 3,400 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.”

National cemeteries across the country all come together simultaneously to participate in this event to honor our soldiers who served to provide us with the freedoms we have today.

LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Micah (Light of the Valley - Elk Grove, California) was invited to attend the ceremony at the Galt-Arno Cemetery in California to lay the wreaths on the military crosses & headstones as part of National Wreaths Across America Day. Pastor Michael Dube led the ceremony, which also included releasing of doves. After the ceremony, the volunteers placed the wreaths on the headstones. It was such an honor to be there to greet and meet the volunteers and military families.

LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Pax & Phoebe (St. Paul - Fort Worth, Texas) participated in National Wreaths Across America Day in Texas. There are 783 graves marked from Civil War veterans through the current day. It was an opportunity to thank veterans and their families for their sacrifice and to show the ultimate respect to veterans we had never met but to whom we owe so much. It was a moment for all generations to honor the sacrifices the military men and women gave for others to be free. It was a privilege to participate. 

LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Abraham & Beloved (Trinity - Hicksville, New York) were joined by members of their congregation, school, and Boy Scouts to lay wreaths at Pinelawn National Cemetery ad part of National Wreaths Across America Day.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9           

Updated: December 20, 2022

More than 30 service men and women from the Air Force base in Jordan received Hearts of Mercy & Compassion (HMC) expressing thanks and encouragement from LCC. HMCs were also sent to their fellow Air Force base in Kuwait, where those service men and women were also thanked for their service and given encouragement.

The scripture verse on the hearts was from Deuteronomy 31:6, which read, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, for the Lord is with you." Additional wordage included "Thank you for your service and sacrifice."

Handwritten notes from numerous LCC volunteers expressing the love of Jesus also accompanied each heart to further pick the spirits up of each recipient. Milwaukee-based SMSgt. Brandon Gumm, who oversees both Jordan and Kuwait personnel, said his personnel greatly appreciated LCC's notes, prayers, and hearts and wished LCC God's richest blessings.

Posted: November 21, 2022

Last week LCC staff and volunteers enjoyed visiting the 128th Air Refueling Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard in Milwaukee. It was a chance to show our appreciation to the firemen and women assigned to this location and those deployed abroad, including Jordan and Kuwait, with the presence of LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Charity (Brookfield - Brookfield, Wisconsin) and LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Mary (St. Paul - Janesville, Wisconsin).

LCC staff members presented seventy-five Hearts of Mercy & Compassion for all personnel of the 128th Air Refueling Wing , thirty of which are being sent to the teams in Jordan and Kuwait this week. The message on each Heart of Mercy & Compassion (HMC) read, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, for the lord is with you." (Deuteronomy 31:6), and "Thank you for your service and sacrifice." Each of the thirty hearts being sent to their team in Jordan and Kuwait also included a personalized note of love and encouragement handwritten on HMC theme cards by numerous LCC volunteers, which meant a lot to SMSgt. Gumm, who oversees them.

We thank our host SMSgt. Brandon Gumm and his team for our time shared and for a tour of their fire station on the base. Lifting their entire team and their mission up in a group-wide prayer was certainly a highlight.

LCC staff and K-9 Affiliates were very impressed in learning how much this base supports their community in many positive ways and would like to partner with LCC in upcoming community events.

The Air National Guard as we know it today is a separate reserve component of the United States Air Force and has a unique dual-mission that consists of both Federal and State roles. This dual mission means being part of the nation's entire military force and responsible to their respective states during times of state or community emergencies.

Millions of Ukrainians are facing their most challenging winter in recent history, with no end to the war raging in their country.
 
Approximately 6.5 million people in Ukraine have been displaced and are facing freezing winter conditions after being forced to flee their homes. Many take shelter in damaged buildings and have limited access to food, electricity, and heat.

The humanitarian ministries of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) continue unabated in the wartorn country. Russian missile strikes have managed to damage virtually every aspect of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
 
The SELCU pastors report that the energy grid is absent in Odessa and in the eastern regions. Cooking food has become extremely difficult, and keeping warm in these winter months is a major obstacle to survival. To deliver humanitarian relief, the pastors often have to be accompanied by armed military personnel.
 
The photos recently received from Pastors Oleksiy Navrotskyy, Oleg Schewtschenko, Yurii Timerkan, and Verlera Verba visually demonstrate the condition of Ukraine and the difficulties of their ministries. And yet, they continue to share the precious Gospel for the soul together with loving care for the body.

In a collaboration between Concordia University Chicago (CUC) and Lutheran Church Charities, on Tuesday, December 6, we jointly hosted a Volunteer Ministry Fair at the University.
 
The goal was to introduce students to some of the multicultural, urban, and suburban ministries that they may not be aware of; offer students short-term or longer-term volunteer opportunities where they can check out and experience various ministries under the tutelage of seasoned ministry partners; and offer LCC Ministry Partners the opportunity to engage potential volunteers face to face to talk about what their ministry does and how these potential volunteers can make a difference in the lives of the people they serve.
 
Nine Ministry Partners participated in the fair. For many of the students, it was their first time learning about the following ministries:
 
Breakfast With Baby - St. Paul, Mount Prospect
Breakfast With Baby - Our Savior, Carol Stream
Voice of Care Ministry
Tabor Lutheran Church - Chicago
Salam Christian Fellowship
Redeeming Life Outreach Ministry
Exodus World Services
Trinity Lutheran Church – Galewood, Chicago
Vida Y Fe Church - East Dundee
 
A special thank you to Concordia University Chicago for making the Volunteer Ministry Fair possible. Thank you to all our Ministry Partners who came out to meet the students and help make this first Volunteer Ministry Fair a success.