Your generous donations were sent to Haiti to provide food for school children and their families in Haiti's tent city during Christmas break. LCC received the following update and picture from Lophane Laurent in Haiti

Some of you may recognize Chicago activist and community advocate Andrew Holmes, pictured here with his granddaughter last Friday at the offices of Chicago Survivors where Mr. Holmes serves on staff. Like LCC, Chicago Survivors provides crisis/ trauma response services to families after tragedies. Specifically, Chicago Survivors offers crime victim and support services to surviving family members of Chicago homicide victims.
 
Mr. Holmes has consoled, supported and assisted dozens of families who have sustained tragedies and lost loved ones due to violence in the greater Chicago area. He has made numerous appearances at news conferences advocating for cooperation with law enforcement in helping to identify perpetrators. Through his work with Chicago Survivors, Mr. Holmes also accompanies and supports families through the difficult and emotionally-challenging legal process in the court system. Mr. Holmes is a local hero.
 
What is not well known, is that Mr. Holmes himself tragically lost a daughter to a random shooting in 2015. He knows first-hand what it’s like to survive through tragedy and loss, which undoubtedly drives his compassionate work with others similarly impacted. LCC wanted to honor Mr. Holmes for his advocacy and support of families here in Chicago by recognizing and honoring his own loss.
 
This past Friday, LCC’s Hearts of Mercy & Compassion ministry presented Mr. Holmes and his granddaughter with a heart and cross in remembrance of his beloved daughter, Tamara Sword. We pray that the Lord would continue to bless and inspire the work of Mr. Holmes and Chicago Survivors as they support people through some of life’s most difficult circumstances.

Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response and Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT) have been asked to remain on standby at this time in responding to the tornadoes that tore through Tennessee and Kentucky on Saturday, December 9.

The Montgomery County, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (EMA) has told Pastor Trae Fistler of Faith Lutheran Church in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, through which LCC LERT volunteers would be working to provide assistance for the community, they cannot accept any more volunteers to assist with tree and debris removal at this time. The roads are impassable in much of the town, utilities are still in the restoration phase, and residents are being overwhelmed by those coming into the town as they are still trying to assess their own damage.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Mid-South District Disaster Response Coordinators will remain attentive to needs and continue to be available for assessments, and remain in communication with the EMA director in these upcoming weeks in order to determine when a response will be more beneficial for the community.

On Monday evening, February 13, 2023, an active shooter entered the Michigan State University (MSU) campus. Three students were killed, five others injured, and the community was left traumatized and in shock.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog and LCC Hearts of Mercy & Compassion ministries deployed within 24 hours to East Lansing, Michigan, to BE THERE with the students and staff and bring the presence of Jesus to them.

“..for the rest of the semester… those crosses were there as part of the public memorial to the victims of that shooting. Those crosses were there testifying to the presence of Christ even in the midst of trauma. They brought a sense of calm and peace.” Pastor Dwyer shared.

LCC received many words of gratitude on social media for our presences at MSU:

“Thank you for your love and care of those hurting so badly. Your teams are so supportive and spread the love of God everywhere you go…”

“Thank you for bringing a spirit of comfort to this community that is suffering a tragic loss.”

“I’ve been following you for a long time, I love what you do but I hoped you’d never have to come to my area. Thank you for being here.”

“Thank you for comforting our MSU students and community!!”

Often, a simple act of writing a message can provide comfort and closure to people. The hearts and crosses serve as a bridge for conversations, allowing us to show mercy and compassion to those grieving.

HMCs are often requested to honor a beloved family member, friend, neighbor, or co-worker, in addition to larger-scale losses from tragic events.

In 2023, LCC's Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministry has responded to the following crisis situations as well as many individual requests:

Star Ballroom Dance Studio Shooting in Monterey Park, California (January 2023)
Michigan State University Shooting in East Lansing, Michigan (February 2023)
The Covenant School Shooting in Nashville, Tennessee (March 2023)
Old National Bank Shooting in Louisville, Kentucky (April 2023)
Allen Premium Outlets Shooting in Allen, Texas (May 2023)
Lewiston, Maine Shootings (October 2023)
Wildfires in Maui, Hawaii (November 2023)
University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Campus Shooting (December 2023)

In times of grief, individuals look for comfort, hope, and reassurance – someone who will BE THERE with them. In all we do, LCC’s Hearts of Mercy & Compassion ministry seeks to come alongside of those who are hurting and to share the simple message of hope to those in times of need.

According to a 2020 report* conducted by the U.S. Department of Defense, the annual suicide rate in the active-duty military is 28.7 per 100,000 service members. “The majority of suicides within the Air Force, within the United States military, is enlisted under 30 years old,” shared David A. Bartlett, Ch, Capt, USAF Chaplain, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

This tragic loss of life leaves many in the military looking for answers. Members of our Armed Forces are often isolated from their loved ones and seeking a source of comfort while enduring hardships many of us don’t understand.

Recognizing the uniqueness of the United States Military as having a different set of circumstances, LCC’s Kare 9 Military Ministry provides professionally trained and certified Golden Retrievers and handlers who are military veterans specifically trained in the unique nature of the military and how to provide human care through their LCC K-9 Comfort Dog. Having a military veteran as the handler is vital since military service members are more likely to open up to one of their own rather than someone who has never served in the military.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their handlers walk alongside military personal to listen, pray and be a comforting presence. The support provided to the military service members shows the respect, love, and care they hold in their hearts for them.

“It’s been such a blessing getting to serve at the Nellis Air Force Base! Visiting our amazing military members there is a highlight every month,” Lois & Salome veteran handlers shared.

The LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs and handlers serve as follows:

• Yellow-ribbon reintegration events
• Military stand-downs
• Visiting VA hospitals and medical centers
• Holiday events (Memorial Day parades and ceremonies, Veterans Day ceremonies)
• Visiting veterans in their homes or nursing homes
• VFW, American Legion, and AmVets events
  

There are currently over 60 LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry dogs in service throughout the United States.
 
* Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Annual Suicide Report: Calendar Year 2020, Annual Report, (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Defense, 2020), 5
https://www.dspo.mil/Portals/113/Documents/CY20%20Suicide%20Report/CY%202020%20Annual%20Suicide%20Report.pdf

Last week LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs responded quickly to be there for the staff and students at Rykers’ Ridge Elementary School in Madison, Indiana, after a tragedy struck this small community. The community is reeling from the devastating loss of Naomi Briner, her daughter Adelia, and her two youngest children, Leland and Lyla, who were tragically found shot in a house fire.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Claudia (Trinity - Toledo, Ohio), Dove (Peace - Fremont, Indiana) and Magdalene (Cornerstone - Carmel, Indiana) were present at Rykers’, where Leland and Lyla attended, providing comfort and love to everyone who needed it. The counselors expressed their gratitude to the Comfort Dog teams, stating that the day would have been much more difficult without their presence.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams also left three Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, one for each of the children, as a way for teachers to offer their condolences to the heartbroken father. The Comfort Dogs and their teams have once again shown their incredible ability to bring comfort and healing to those in need during difficult times.

Lord of Life, Elburn, Illinois, LERT chainsaw team members Larry Zagorski and Max Metz helped two disabled homeowners remove damaged trees from each of their properties.
 
One homeowner, confined to a wheelchair due to muscular dystrophy, had a leaning tree toward his deck and roof that was in danger of falling and causing much damage.
 
The other man has multiple ongoing serious health issues and needed help felling and removing a dead tree in his yard. He enjoyed talking with and helping the teams as much as he could.
 
Both individuals expressed their deep appreciation for the work done to make their homes safe and the care shown to them. Larry and Max said they felt they were the ones blessed to do this, especially during this Christmas season of giving.

Through the generosity of our donors, LCC's Hearts of Mercy & Compassion (HMC) Ministry provides physical symbols of mercy and compassion and can bring comfort to individuals who are suffering and to families and friends of those who have been lost to violence, accidents, and illnesses.

The universal heart conveys love, and the color blue is hope. Given as a gift, each HMC provides the love and hope of Jesus through presence and prayer. Well-wishers can write their names and messages of support, hope, and healing on the painted wooden heart. Often, a simple act of writing a message can provide comfort and closure to people. The hearts and crosses serve as a bridge for conversations, allowing us to show mercy and compassion to those grieving.

HMCs are often requested to honor a beloved family member, friend, neighbor, or co-worker, in addition to larger-scale losses from tragic events.

In 2023, LCC's Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministry has responded to the following crisis situations as well as many individual requests:

Star Ballroom Dance Studio Shooting in Monterey Park, California (January 2023)
Michigan State University Shooting in East Lansing, Michigan (February 2023)
The Covenant School Shooting in Nashville, Tennessee (March 2023)
Old National Bank Shooting in Louisville, Kentucky (April 2023)
Allen Premium Outlets Shooting in Allen, Texas (May 2023)
Lewiston, Maine Shootings (October 2023)
Wildfires in Maui, Hawaii (November 2023)
University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Campus Shooting (December 2023)

In times of grief, individuals look for comfort, hope, and reassurance – someone who will BE THERE with them. In all we do, LCC’s Hearts of Mercy & Compassion ministry seeks to come alongside of those who are hurting and to share the simple message of hope to those in times of need.

Lutheran Church Charities, the Northern Illinois District Disaster Response Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT), has been asked by Jan Simko, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Mid-South District Disaster Response Coordinator, to deploy to Faith Lutheran Church in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, to provide assistance from an EF-3 tornado with 150 mph winds that occurred on Saturday, December 9. This tornado was on the ground through Clarksville, Tennessee, and multiple rural towns in Kentucky for 43 miles and just over an hour, causing the loss of three lives, many injuries, and significant damage to hundreds of homes, businesses, schools, infrastructure, and vehicles in both states.

Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, and Chainsaw Team Leader Pete Springmire will arrive in Hopkinsville on Friday, December 15, to assist Pastor Trae Fistler in assessing the damage. LCC LERT volunteers will arrive on Sunday, December 17, to begin work on Monday, December 18, continuing through Saturday, December 23

We look forward to BEING THERE to provide the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are in need at this time.
 
Thank you for your faithful prayers and support for all of the communities affected by the catastrophic tornadoes and those responding to assist. BE THERE with LCC to show them the love and presence of Jesus! 

The comfort dogs serve as a bridge, their presence encouraging conversations, soothing anxieties, and creating a haven of comfort in a time of profound sorrow. They remind us that, amidst the chaos, there's a profound beauty in the simplicity of their affection.
 
We are so grateful to our LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams who dropped everything to BE THERE for the UNLV students and staff.
 
LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Lois (First Good Shepherd - Las Vegas, Nevada), Micah (Light of the Valley - Elk Grove, California), Phinehas (Trinity - Fremont, Nebraska), Reuben (First Lutheran - Yuba City, California), and Salome (Faith Lutheran - Las Vegas, Nevada) spent time with students who remained on the University Nevada Las Vegas campus during the winter break. 
 
Wherever the Comfort Dog teams went, the handlers could see relief as students spent time with the dogs, feeling safe and diverting them from oppressing thoughts of the shooting that happened on their campus last week.

A resident assistant at one of the dorms even sent a photo to all her residents to get them downstairs to where the dogs were. It did not take long for the students to come to the Comfort Dogs once that photo was shared. The students relaxed, accepting the comfort, gentleness, and safety the Comfort Dogs offered them as they talked to the handlers about school, their lives, and dreams for the future.
 
The Comfort Dogs also visited the UNLV School of Dental Medicine students who had finals this week. One of the students shared, “This is the best thing we needed today. We needed to spend time with a dog today.” The handlers could see their bodies relax, and their eyes and smiles light up during these special visits with the Comfort Dogs and handlers. The faculty from the school of dentistry was happy to see the students on the floor relaxed and spending time with Lois, Micah, Phinehas, Reuben, and Salome.

On Tuesday, the Comfort Dogs visited the Sunrise Hospital staff that received and cared for the victims of the shooting. The teams presented to the emergency medical staff a Heart of Mercy & Compassion filled with messages of comfort and prayers.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their teams will spend time this week with the Las Vegas 911 operators and coroner’s office that responded to the shooting. These dedicated women and men respond and see so much tragedy every day. We hope the Comfort Dogs and handlers can share the comfort, hope, and love of Jesus, providing them a safe and relaxed place from their worries and stress.