Faith Lutheran Church in Carpentersville, IL, has once again witnessed how God can work through ordinary encounters to provide extraordinary care. This month, the church’s Hospitality House opened its doors to a veteran and his young family, offering them refuge in a time of crisis.

The family—parents with three small children—had been working hard to build a stable life. But when financial plans to purchase the home they were renting unexpectedly collapsed, they suddenly faced eviction with only weeks to find a new place to live.

By what many call divine timing, one of Faith’s Hospitality House Care Team members crossed paths with the father at a local radio station, where he was working. In conversation, he shared the heavy burden he was carrying—the challenges of adjusting to life after military service, and the devastating reality that his family was on the brink of homelessness.

Recognizing the urgency, she introduced him to Pastor Mark Frusti and invited the family to attend a church picnic. There, they met the Hospitality House Care Team, a ministry dedicated to walking alongside people in need by offering temporary housing, resources, and compassionate support for families in transition.

For this veteran’s family, the Hospitality House is more than just a roof over their heads. It represents:

• Stability for their children, who now fill the home with laughter.
• Breathing room for parents, allowing them to plan next steps without fear of losing everything.
• A caring community, reminding them they are not alone on this journey.
  
  

Church members have surrounded the family with encouragement, practical help, and ongoing prayer. The Care Team will continue to walk with them, guiding them toward a more permanent and secure future.
This kind of ministry is possible only through the prayers, generosity, and partnership of people like you. Your support ensures that when families in crisis knock on Faith Lutheran’s door, they not only find shelter—but also the hope of Christ.

Faith Lutheran invites you to support them in sustaining and growing this mission. Together, we can make sure that every family who needs refuge will find a place of care, compassion, and the love of Jesus—right when they need it most.

The Care Team at Faith Lutheran Church in Carpentersville, IL, has nearly finished renovations to its Hospitality House and is preparing to welcome a new family in need in the coming weeks.

The team has overseen the installation of new flooring and made repairs throughout the two-story home, as well as added new living room furniture and performed a deep clean top to bottom. Outside, they have started work on the backyard fence, pulled weeds around the flowerbeds, and removed tree stumps.

Almost all the materials and some of the labor was donated from local vendors and craftsmen. The house has new bed frames and window curtains. It also has a freshly poured concrete and asphalt driveway and backdoor stoop. The team is also working on adding a ramp to make the home accessible to someone in a wheelchair.

“There has been dozens of good people who have helped with the initial work on the house and again with the new work that’s been put in,” said Larry Stemple, who has coordinated the renovation for Faith Carpentersville. “Electrical, plumbing, flooring, every corner of the house has been touched by people lending their talents or donating money. It’s incredible!”

Every effort that has gone into the home has focused on creating a warm, inviting space where a family in need can feel safe and cared for, said Denise Snider, director of LCC Human Care ministry.

Hospitality House, a formerly unused parsonage next to Faith Lutheran, provides tangible help and is a spiritual symbol of God’s love through Christian hospitality. It provides low-to-no-cost, short-term housing for a family in need.

While the house is in between tenants, the church is using it for church meetings and prayer nights. The Hospitality House team will meet in next week to finalize the application process so they can identify the next family that will move into the house in early fall.

In the meantime, Faith is seeking to use a wood chipper and fencing supplies to complete work in the backyard. 

LEARN MORE:
https://www.lutheranchurchcharities.org/hospitalityhouse.html

At Faith Lutheran Church in Carpentersville, the Care Team is lovingly preparing the Hospitality House to welcome a family in need. Every detail—from gentle repairs and fresh new flooring on the second floor to cozy new furniture and beautifully tended front and backyards—is thoughtfully crafted to create a safe, inviting place where the family can relax, children can play, and hope can grow.

But this is just the beginning. The team is building strong connections with other LCMS churches, local schools, and nonprofit organizations to surround the family with a caring community of support. As they start accepting housing applications, the Care Team will walk alongside the family with compassion and encouragement, sharing the mercy and love of Jesus every step of the way.

Your prayers and support mean the world to this ministry. If you feel led to give, your generosity will help provide a loving, stable home where families can find healing and a fresh start. Together, we’re opening doors—and hearts—to brighter futures.

Join us in making a difference. Donate today to the Hospitality House ministry and help us create a place where families can find hope, love, and a new beginning.

In early February, David and Paige received life-changing news from the doctors monitoring David’s recovery: his progress had been so extraordinary that they were able to return home to Mt. Carmel, Illinois. This joyful moment was celebrated with immense gratitude by the Hospitality House Care Team at Faith Lutheran Church in Carpentersville, IL, who had been by their side through this difficult journey.
 
Throughout the family's stay at the Hospitality House, the care team provided not just support, but a source of unwavering stability during a season of uncertainty and hardship. But they were not alone in this mission. More than 20 churches came together, offering their hands in service, their resources in funding, and their hearts in behind-the-scenes support, lifting up the family when they needed it most. During this time, new and lasting friendships were formed—friendships built on the unshakable foundation of Christ’s love.

On Sunday, February 23, Faith Carpentersville held a special lunch to honor David, Paige, and their family, and to pray over them as they prepared to return home. The Human Care Team presented Dave with a Heart of Mercy & Compassion, signed by the medical team who supported him in both the hospital and during his rehabilitation. The heart is a powerful reminder of the love and care he received from the medical team.
 
We want to offer our deepest, most heartfelt thanks to everyone who has prayed over Dave and Paige, to the Faith Carpentersville Hospitality House Team, to those who provided transportation to and from the hospital, and to everyone who helped meet the family’s many needs. Dave and Paige are overwhelmed with gratitude, and in their own words, they couldn’t have made it through this journey without your incredible support. Thank you for everything you’ve done, and for showing the love of Christ in such powerful, transformative ways.

On Sunday, August 4, the Human Care team joined Faith Lutheran Church, Carpentersville, Illinois, for the blessing of the Hospitality House. Pastor Mark Frusti led a worship service, expressing gratitude to God for providing a place where families can find solace during times of crisis.

We are grateful for your generous support and humbly request your ongoing prayers. Please join us in lifting up the family that recently moved into the Hospitality House, as well as the dedicated ministry team that is offering them compassion, encouragement, and the message of Jesus Christ. Your prayers make a meaningful difference in the lives of those facing difficult circumstances. Thank you for your continued support.

Lutheran Church Charities is partnering with Faith Lutheran Church in Carpentersville, Illinois, to open a third Hospitality House. The congregation decided to provide housing for an out-of-state family in need. The father is in the hospital recovering from a lung transplant. His wife, who is legally blind, and their three adopted children have been staying at a nearby hotel so they can visit him.

Northwestern Hospital and Lutheran Church Charities have been working together to pay for the cost of the hotel while they wait to move into the Hospitality House. Faith Lutheran Church was required to do major renovations and upgrades on the house to receive an occupancy permit. The flooring, cabinetry, plumbing, and electric work have been generously donated by various professionals and volunteers.

Please consider contributing to this cause and spreading the word to help us reach our goal. Together, we can help this family in need provide a much-needed home. Thank you for your generosity and compassion during this challenging time.

Lutheran Church Charities is partnering with Faith Lutheran Church in Carpentersville, Illinois, to open a third Hospitality House. The congregation made the decision to use their parsonage to provide housing for an out-of-state family in need. The father has severe complications from Covid and needs a double lung transplant, and the nearest hospital that can perform the procedure is in Chicago. In order to be eligible for the surgery, the family must live within 50 miles of the hospital.
 
The family, Mr. and Mrs. Jensen and their five adopted children, are devout Christians who have always been generous and sacrificed for others. They are now in need of assistance and are relying on their Christian family to help them during this season of life. This partnership between Lutheran Church Charities and Faith Lutheran Church is a wonderful example of how communities can come together to support those in need.

Faith Lutheran Church is a very small congregation that is doing as much as possible to make the Hospitality House ready for the family. They have been working hard to make progress by connecting with local organizations for donated supplies and services and hosting fundraisers while church members contribute their own resources to make this house a welcoming home.
 
Despite their efforts, the church is struggling with the cost of supplies needed for repairs. They are now seeking financial contributions from generous donors like you to continue their mission. Their goal is to raise $2,000 to install new flooring in the kitchen, bathrooms and living room. 
 
Please join us in supporting Faith Lutheran by making a financial contribution and be a part of this great ministry. Your support will go a long way in making the Hospitality House a welcoming home for the Jensen family. Please consider making a donation today and help Faith Lutheran Church continue their important work. Let's come together as a community and make a difference in the life of this family in need!

Thank You to the Helpers
 Lutheran Church Charities extends its heartfelt gratitude to Faith Lutheran Church for their unwavering commitment to answering God's call to help this family in need. We commend the pastor, church members, and Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT) from Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Frankfort, and McHenry County for their hard work in restoring the home to a livable condition. We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to Inland Consultation for providing free mold and mildew testing services to ensure the safety of the family. Thank you for your selfless acts of kindness and generosity.