During their last day in New Orleans last Tuesday, the teams presented hearts to the Orleans Parish Coroner, the director of Project NOLA, and Jeremi, one of the victims of the attack who was recovering in the hospital.

The President/CEO of LCC, Rev. Chris Singer, and the Director of Disaster Response, Deaconess Kathy O’Day, recently shared their expertise at the Ready Response Conference in Houston, Texas.

Invited by Pastor Dan Schepmann and Stephanie Knea, Director of Serving Beyond at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas, they engaged with the congregation through insightful presentations during worship and Bible Study sessions. Rev. Singer and Deaconess O'Day led a roundtable discussion with the church's leadership team, exploring the benefits of becoming an LCC affiliate for enhanced ministry partnership and support.
 
Seventy-five participants attended a variety of training opportunities. Rev. Singer presented Spiritual First Aid, and Deaconess O’Day led Basic Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) and Assessment training. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Texas District Disaster Response Coordinator David Ricks led a Basic Chainsaw training. Gloria Dei’s Holy Smoker’s food ministry team prepared delicious meals each day as they have done in previous disasters.

We welcome 55 new LCMS LERT volunteers and a new Texas District LERT team! Gloria Dei Lutheran Church looks forward to serving its community as a new LCC affiliate. It is good to see how the disaster and crisis response ministry continues to grow with volunteers willing to share the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ in service to those suffering and in need.

Our time in Lewiston, Maine, was a powerful and moving experience for the LCC's K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams. God guided us to the people who needed us most. We were blessed with opportunities to extend love and compassion not only to the individuals who knew the victims of the tragedy but also to the family members of the perpetrator. We're following in Jesus' footsteps, showing that compassion knows no boundaries.

BEING THERE with the Lewiston Community

During our visit, we had the privilege of reaching out to various corners of the community.
 
We visited schools where the presence of LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs helped children process their emotions and start the healing process. In healthcare facilities, we provided comfort to the staff who have been working tirelessly to tend to the wounded. We also spent time with the first responders who ran into danger to protect the Lewiston community.
 
The impact of your support has been felt at every turn, and we couldn't have done it without you. It's a testament to the power of love, compassion, and community coming together.

Helping the Community Heal

Lutheran Church Charities held a Community Healing Event on Thursday in downtown Lewiston.

LCC President/CEO Rev. Chris Singer was joined by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) New England District President Rev. Robert D Beinke and Rev. Timothy Sandeno (Redeemer - Gorham, Maine) at the event to offer spiritual support to the grieving community. The event also provided people with the opportunity to spend time with LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and sign the LCC Hearts of Mercy & Compassion (HMC).
 
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams were special guests at the Maine Nordiques hockey game and asked to do the puck drop to start the game. It was a blessing for the teams to be recognized by the Lewiston community in this special way.

Thank you to the following LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams for saying, "Here am I; send me!" and answering the call to serve: LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Caleb (Immanuel – Valparaiso, Indiana), Claudia (Trinity – Toledo, Ohio), Gideon (St. Michael's – Bloomington, Minnesota), Jared (Holy Cross – Fort Wayne, Indiana), Kezia (Emmanuel – Baltimore, Maryland), Lily (Good Shepherd – Old Bridge, New Jersey), Lydia (Messiah – Lynnfield, Massachusetts), and Magdalene (Cornerstone – Carmel, Indiana). We thank Bonnie Fear, LCC K-9 Response Coordinator for managing the teams on the ground, and Jody Lockwood for being the point person for the Hearts of Mercy & Compassion and crosses.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams were invited by Cal Fire to visit with the courageous fire fighters at their base camp in Placerville, California. The Caldor Fire is threatening South Lake Tahoe.
 
Several days last week, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Aaron and Gomer (St. John’s – Napa, California), Micah (Light of the Valley – Elk Grove, California), and Rahab (St. Andrews – Stockton, California), with their handlers, each spent time with these brave men and women. So many were happy to see the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams. A number of them remembered the Comfort Dogs from the Dixie Fire, as well as other fires from last year.

The Cal Fire base camp personnel was reduced on Friday but the Comfort Dog teams still met people from Alabama, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah. Some have been gone for over two months, most are gone 2-6 weeks. Several Cal Fire managers went out of their way to come and thank the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams for being there.
 
Please join us in praying for God’s continued safety and protection for all these brave men and women as they continue to battle these aggressive fires.

Two students died, multiple injured
"For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones." Isaiah 49:13

Hope Lutheran Church – Bonita Springs
Estero Fire Rescue - Estero
Red Cross Shelter – Estero
Life Care – Estola
The Amigos Center – Immokalee
Arlington of Naples, a Lutheran Retirement Community – Naples
Lambs of Faith Preschool at Faith Lutheran Church – Naples
Marine Corps League meeting at Faith Lutheran Church – Naples
Naples Fire Department – Naples
NCH Healthcare – Naples
Peace Lutheran Church Early Learning Center – Naples
Good Shepherd Early Learning Center at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Texas Update

LCC continues to work through our Texas District contacts and ministry partners to help impacted communities still recovering from Hurricane Harvey.

Lutheran Church Charities LERT volunteers Pastor Greg Hintz, Steve Goetsch and Ken Kiviranta (St. Peter – Schaumburg, Illinois) and Bob Pautsch (Trinity – Roselle, Illinois) returned on October 15 from a week of serving in Houston, Texas. Getting job assignments through Trinity – Klein, this group had many opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ, bringing both physical assistance and spiritual support to those still recovering from Hurricane Harvey. Pastor Hintz shared with LCC how being present during recovery and rebuilding gives hope to those impacted.

Bringing comfort, volunteers and your donations to hurting communities

California Wildfires

Lutheran Church Charities is monitoring the wildfires in Napa, Santa Rosa and Monticeto, California. We are in contact with Pastor Zabell, the CNH District Disaster Response Coordinator. He reports that there has been approximately 3,500 homes lost in these communities. St. John Lutheran Church in Napa reports that staff members and several congregation members have lost their homes.

Following their deployment to serve in Las Vegas, Nevada, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Aaron (St John’s – Napa, California) and Reuben (First Lutheran – Yuba City, California) returned home to out-of-control wildfires in their towns, even though they are about 2 hours apart in driving distance. LCC K-9 Ministry team members from both Aaron Comfort Dog and Reuben Comfort Dog initially evacuated from their homes but have since returned. We are thankful that they are all safe. As soon as it was safe to do so, both teams have been serving throughout their surrounding communities, visiting first responders, incident command centers, schools, families in shelters, and others who have been and still are impacted. Please continue to pray for all first responders who are heroically battling these horrible fires, all volunteers, and the individuals in the impacted communities who are struggling to cope with their losses.

Las Vegas Update

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs are still serving the Las Vegas community following the recent tragic event supporting LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Lois (First Good Shepherd - Las Vegas, Nevada). Last week, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Anna (Trinity - Toledo, Ohio) and Bekah (Immanuel - Belvidere, Illinois) and their teams served with Lois Comfort Dog and her team. This week, Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois) and Rich Martin, LCC Director of K-9 Deployments

Puerto Rico Update

Through our generous donors, Lutheran Church Charities has and will continue to provide financial support and Walmart gift cards to Vicar David Blas from Sheboygan, Wisconsin who will get them directly to impacted individuals in need in Puerto Rico. Vicar Blas has been in Puerto Rico since last Thursday helping his family and their neighbors with basic needs and to assess current conditions. He is returning home this week and LCC will be talking to him about on-going support to help individuals during the long recovery process they face.

Florida Update

These are some of the living conditions of people in Immokalee, Florida that the Amigos Center is working with. Jan Boerman (Trinity – Lisle, Illinois) and Denise Cupples (Cross – Yorkville, Illinois) have been helping Pastor Glander complete assessments. Housing was poor prior to Hurricane Irma. It is deplorable in many places now.

LCC will continue to partner and work with the Amigos Center in Immokalee, asking churches to Adopt-A-Family, providing for basic household needs as families are able to move into safe, sanitary and secure housing. Pastor Glander, Director of Amigos Center, and staff are doing assessments of hurricane damaged mobile homes and apartments. He knows 80 have been condemned by the city and several others that have serious damage and mold. As these assessments are completed, they will begin determining needs and how LCC can ask all of our churches and teams to support and partner with them. This is a “forgotten community” and called a “Third World Country” within the United States.

This week, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Sasha (Island Lutheran – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina) and Luke (Christ the Shepherd – Alpharetta, Georgia) and their handlers have been working with Hope Lutheran Church in Bonita Springs, Florida to bring comfort and hope in the name of Jesus Christ to impacted individuals in Bonita Springs, Immokalee, and surrounding communities that are still greatly impacted from the hurricane. Phil Burden presented Pastor Karl Glander from the Amigos Center with Visa gift cards sent by the people at Island Lutheran Church to help individuals during this time of need.

LCC Responds to Help Requested through Facebook

After Hurricane Irma hit Florida, LCC received a Facebook message from a concerned brother for his sister living in LaBelle who days after Hurricane Irma still had not received any assistance and was housing neighbors that had their homes destroyed.

"I have a sister who lives in LaBelle. She's a single mom who is housing a few others who have lost their homes, including an 88 year old woman. She could really use some people with chainsaws. How can I get her some help? Thank you for doing your important work. Blessings to you."

Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, reached out to Marilyn immediately and listened to her story and pleas for help. Marilyn said the town was hit by the eastern eye of the wall of the hurricane and had flooding and a lot of trees down. Many of the homes and businesses have been damaged or destroyed. They had no power for a week following the storm. Marilyn sheltered 12 people during the hurricane and now has 3 neighbors still living with her as their homes have been destroyed and they have nowhere else to go. She lives on 5 wooded acres with at least 40 trees now down. She is an accomplished butterfly farmer shipping them all over the country, but her several greenhouses and a lab were destroyed or badly damaged. She was struggling to come to grips with this loss of everything after the hurricane.

Kathy O’Day was able to pass on this information to the Florida District Disaster Response Coordinators and Ed and Jan Boerman (Trinity – Lisle, Illinois) LERT team members who were in the Fort Myers area. They visited Marilyn’s home to assess the damage and began to send teams to assist. LCC was also able to give each family WalMart gift cards to help purchase basic supplies they needed.

Multiple LERT team members from the Northern Illinois District from our area were sent to her home over the last few weeks to help her remove downed trees and salvage her butterfly farm. The LERT team members from Illinois and Indiana who volunteered their time and talents were from Trinity – Lisle, Lord of Life – LaFox, Cross – Yorkville, Prince of Peace – Palatine, Grace – Paris, Immanuel – Freeport, St. John – Wheaton and St. John – Dillsboro, Indiana.

This week, LCC received a thank you note from Marilyn’s brother:

“Many of your teams helped my sister, Marilyn, in LaBelle, Florida these past few weeks. First of all, I want to thank you so much for your help. Marilyn could never have done the work herself. I cannot begin to thank you enough. God bless you.”

Texas Update

LCC continues to work through our Texas District contacts and ministry partners to help impacted communities still recovering from Hurricane Harvey.

Julie Tucker, Texas District Volunteer Relief Coordinator, reports that there are 330,000 homes damaged or destroyed in Texas from Hurricane Harvey. These damaged homes stretch from the Beaumont/Port Arthur area to the Houston area and down to the Rockport/Aransas Pass/Corpus Christi area with many towns in between as well. Many of the people affected in the coastal bend are retired and on fixed incomes or immigrants living below poverty level. Neither of these groups have the means to recover on their own and need assistance.

Julie is looking for volunteers willing to travel outside of the Houston area down to the some of these hard hit communities which still need outside assistance.

Michelle Karim, Volunteer Coordinator for Trinity Lutheran Church in Klein (Houston area only) reports that they are moving forward with plans for the build out phase of recovery which should begin next month. They have a warehouse of building material supplies and skilled volunteer construction supervisors to direct projects and instruct volunteers. LCC LERT volunteers Bob Pautsch (Trinity - Roselle, Illinois) and Ken Kirvanta (St. Peter - Schaumburg, Illinois) have been serving in Texas, receiving their job site assignments through Trinity Klein. Lou Jander, Crown Point Ministries reports that he is in the Beaumont/Port Arthur area providing spiritual and emotional support. He will be teaching how to do this this to the local congregations in the circuit in early November.