For decades, Christ the King Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, Illinois, has been a staple of their community, serving children through their school, the elderly through their food deliveries, and their neighbors through Word and Sacrament ministry. When COVID struck, Rev. John Brazeal and his wife Geri had to adapt to continue making a difference in the lives of their community.
 
They were able to pivot to remote teaching for their students and online worship for their members, reaching far more people than they have before. This past week multiple computers broke down that were at the core of their ministry, including Geri’s computer, which holds all of the school and church records.
 
They are in great need of $6,000 for multiple computers to keep their ministry thriving as they touch the lives of countless individuals in the south side of Chicago. If you feel moved, please join in partnership with the life-changing ministry of Christ the King by donating to help fund these needed devices

Christ the King Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois, has an ongoing ministry with a homeless tent city in Chicago. This Thanksgiving, the tent city they have served with meals in the past was fed Thanksgiving dinner by another agency.

Pastor John Brazeal of Christ the King and some of the school students delivered the 120 meals they had prepared to five smaller homeless sites in the city. As they delivered the dinners, Pastor John talked and prayed with each of the people about their lives in the tent city and their challenges and needs. He learned that one of the shocking struggles for many people is the battle with the mice and rats for any food they bring home for the next meal.

These folks desperately need three items: totes with lids to store food, small propane tanks for cooking and warming themselves, and hand warmers.

Please help Christ The King serve these homeless communities by donating generously for the purchase of totes, propane tanks, and hand warmers.

LCC received the following update from Nancy Hernandez, Principal of Lutheran High School of Greater New Orleans in Metairie, Louisiana:

There are many people coming to the Put Your Hands Together (PYHT) Food Ministry in Hillside, Illinois, for food relief during the holiday season. Bringing the love of our Lord Jesus, his hope, and comfort during a stressful time for many struggling individuals and families has always been PYHT's mission.

On Saturday, November 13, Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries (RLOM) Illinois expansion committee was honored to host a booth in the 41st Annual Holiday Craft Show at Trinity Lutheran Church of Lombard, Illinois. The craft booth was our first-time craft show event to raise funds for the new maternity home in the Northern Illinois District. This first-time craft show helped raise over $5,000, and this amount is not exact because funds are still coming in. The RLOM Illinois expansion committee thanks all donors who donated baked goods, handmade craft items, knitted or crocheted items, and handmade quilts.
 
Redeeming Life is a Christ-centered maternity home that provides a stable environment for single women with unplanned pregnancies. Their structured program provides mentoring, counseling, and life skills education to help them become independent and provide for their children as single mothers.

Your generous gifts helped to reopen the school damaged by Hurricane Ida! LCC sent your donations to Nancy Hernandez, Principal of Lutheran High School of Greater New Orleans in Metairie, Louisiana.

LCC received the following update from Nancy:
 
We have successfully completed a full month of school since returning from the hurricane. Students are adjusting to their new surroundings and looking forward to a return to some extracurricular activities. We had our first Chapel service with our choir performing a beautiful rendition of “10,000 Reasons”! With each day our new normal becomes normal.
 
We did have to turn two school days into virtual days, so we could re-wire the building currently being occupied for our permanent individual classroom AC units. The HVAC for this section of the building went out with the hurricane and the rented portable units could not keep pace with the Louisiana heat!

We have hired a contractor to begin talks about the refurbishing of the two buildings left inhabitable by the storm. It will be a long road but with prayers and fundraising, one day Lutheran High will be whole again!
 
Thank you for your continued support!
 
Nancy Hernandez, Principal
Love. Honor. Serve.
 
CLICK HERE to read the original appeal
 
Donations are still greatly needed! Please prayerfully consider a generous donation to keep this school serving its students and community.

In the Bronzeville community of Chicago, Christ the King Lutheran Church and School has stood for 47 years as a big beacon of hope for the people around them. Pastor John Brazeal, Principal Geri Brazeal, the school staff, and members of the congregation have been sharing the life-changing love and grace of God in Jesus Christ and a quality education for the children of the families they serve.

Christ the King pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students Haley and Morgan joined Pastor John and LCC staff member Nikki Deacon on Friday, October 15, to receive the latest scholarship donation check delivery to Christ the King Lutheran School.
 
Having just sung "Jesus Loves Me" during their Friday worship service, the students got to see first-hand how the Lord is working to support them in their education at Christ the King.

Overwhelmed with gratitude Pastor John and Principal Geri are thankful for your continued support to their mission and ministry in the city of Chicago.
 
We are getting close to fulfilling the goal!
 
Tuition is $3,000 per year. If you’re not able to donate the full amount, any amount you’re able to give is investing in a great ministry where the students learn their value in Jesus, the importance of giving back to the community, and earn a great foundation of education.
 
Your generous donation will enable Christ the King to continue the ministry of Christ-changing lives through their dedicated staff and provide hope for the future of their students.

Your generous gifts are helping to reopen the school damaged by Hurricane Ida! LCC sent your donations to Nancy Hernandez, Principal of Lutheran High School of Greater New Orleans in Metairie, Louisiana. We received this update from Nancy:

UPDATE: Classes have resumed in the five classrooms they were able to restore from 5 storage areas in the building that had the least amount of damage. The need to replace the HVAC system and computer lab is still immediate.

LCC received the following note from Lutheran High School Board member Sandra Walton:
 
The kids are back in school! We opened with a church service, and everyone felt God’s presence. It was a joyous day, to say the least, but also quite emotional for the students and staff.
 
We still face many challenges as a school and as a community, but God is with us step by step.
 
Thank you again for your generous gifts. We are blessed beyond measure!!
 
Sandra Walton,
 
Lutheran High School
Love. Honor. Serve.

After three weeks of long, hot, physical workdays, the school welcomed our students back on Monday, October 4th. The campus came alive once again with students – even though the entire building was not opened all the way.
 
We are back home but have a long way to go. The heat and humidity of our city are not breaking anytime soon, so the portable AC units that were brought in are not meeting the challenge. And the rental cost on these units is mounting. We need to replace our HVAC system immediately. Another step forward will be to raise money to replace computers for our large (30) computer lab. All the computers were destroyed by the water from the destruction of our roof.

Many ask about our insurance money. As yet no settlement has been announced. But as many of you know, the insurance money does not always cover the current value of material goods and of course, we have to meet our deductible. All donations are greatly appreciated, and I can assure you that all money raised goes directly to rebuilding our school. 

We are not looking to make ourselves fancy or modern, we are looking to make ourselves whole – as we were before the storm - so we can continue to offer our students a quality education in a safe environment. Thank you for all of your prayers and assistance.
 
Nancy Hernandez
Principal
Lutheran High School
Love. Honor. Serve.

In the Bronzeville community of Chicago, Christ the King Lutheran Church and School has stood for 47 years as a big beacon of hope for the people around them. Pastor John Brazeal, Principal Geri Brazeal, the school staff, and members of the congregation have been sharing the life-changing love and grace of God in Jesus Christ and a quality education for the children of the families they serve.
 
Pastor John and Geri Brazeal are very thankful for your generosity! Your donations are making a difference by ensuring students' continued enrollment at Christ the King Lutheran School!

Taniya’s mother shares:

To the friends of Lutheran Church Charities, receiving a scholarship in the past has helped my family tremendously. Being a single parent, not having to worry about how I’ll find extra funds for tuition plus rent and utilities relieves a burden. Taniya and I would love for her to stay at Christ the King. The staff is wonderful. Providing hands-on teaching in a personal way Taniya grasps every concept. Taniya is an avid reader, disciplined, loves playing violin, loves her classmates, and enjoys dancing at Christ the King. Christ the King is also a safe haven for after-school.

Supporting Christ the King Lutheran School is an investment in an incredible ministry where life-changing relationships are established and an incredible education is earned.
 
Your generous donation will enable Christ the King to continue the ministry of Christ-changing lives through their dedicated staff and provide hope for the future of their students.
 
Please prayerfully consider sponsoring a child for a year of schooling, or donate as you are able. Any amount you’re able to give is making an investment in a great ministry where the students learn their value in Jesus, the importance of giving back to the community, and earn a great foundation of education.

After the tragedy of 156-year-old St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Beecher, Illinois, burning to the ground on Sunday, September 19, God continues to bless Pastor Michael Stein and fellow members with continued prayer, well wishes, and financial support by many.
 
LCC staff member, Tim Laabs, met with Pastor Stein last Thursday to provide continued comfort, encouragement, and prayer and to pass on 96 additional thank you letters for him to personalize and forward to donors who continue to support him and his congregation by way of LCC.
 
"This is an opportunity for us, the body of Christ, to show the world that Christ still reigns. Even though bad things happen, He is still in control, He still has us in His care,” shared Pastor Stein. “You are the hands of God, doing His work in this small community, at this small rural church, in a place that you’ve probably never been to. Through Christ, you’re continuing His mission of bringing salvation and His comfort that we so desperately need right now, and it’s giving a message to the rest of the world; that we are the body of Christ.”

LCC, working in partnership with the NID District of the LCMS, is collecting money that will be used, Dollar per Dollar (100%) to help St. Paul’s rebound and continue to grow with their mission of touching lives with the Real Presence of Jesus Christ – and Salvation only in Him!
 
If you are so moved, please prayerfully consider donating generously to help Pastor Stein and the members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church during this challenging time.