LCC has been blessed to walk alongside historic St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Chicago’s Pilsen community for many years. Though small in size, this faithful congregation shines brightly in a neighborhood where many families struggle to meet daily needs. With the help of devoted volunteers, St. Matthew’s offers clothing, shoes, food, and other essentials—often serving as the only church in the area providing this kind of care.

Yet their ministry extends far beyond physical support. Every act of compassion becomes an opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ. Many who first came to St. Matthew’s seeking food or clothing have since discovered a church home, becoming part of a welcoming family of faith. Over the years, God has used this ministry to bring about baptisms, weddings, and countless lives transformed by the Gospel.

Pastor Cesar Sifuentes and his wife, Deaconess Elly, serve faithfully with humility and love. But they cannot do this work alone. They depend on the prayers and generosity of people like you to continue caring for their neighbors and pointing them to Christ.

Your support makes a lasting impact. Together, we can help St. Matthew’s keep its doors open—meeting needs, sharing hope, and welcoming all who seek both physical and spiritual care.

The church has a community garden that has been operating since 2011. It began with a social justice advocate who learned how many people in their community face food insecurity.  She partnered with another church member who had a passion for gardening.  Together, they grew a team of volunteers who had the desire to help people in need. Over the years, they have developed local partnerships and share their food with several food pantries.

The leadership team recognized more people want to be involved but are limited by their work schedules. They increased involvement by starting the adopt-a-plant program, passing out seeds to church members to grown in their own backyards, and bring the fruits and vegetables back to the church, to contribute to the food that gets shared with the food pantries.

The 1,400 pounds of food they've provided this year is a testament to the impact of their efforts. Their commitment to addressing food insecurity through their garden and adopt-a-plant program is truly inspiring. 

Their Breakfast with Babies program is equally impressive. Once a month, they serve over hundred families by providing a welcoming space for parents and young children to build community by sharing a meal and offering essential items, such as clothes, shoes and baby items. People who participate often bring the items back when they are done with them so they can share them with other families. As a way of thanking the church, many parents decide to become volunteers to pass the blessing to others.

This cycle of giving, allows them to contribute back to the program, creates a strong sense of community and mutual support. These initiatives show how churches can leverage their resources and community connections to make a significant difference in people’s lives. It’s a great example of faith in action, meeting tangible needs while fostering a sense of belonging and support.   

These initiatives show how churches can leverage their resources and community connections to make a significant difference in people’s lives. It’s a great example of faith in action, meeting tangible needs while fostering a sense of belonging and support.

Breakfast with Baby Ministry (BwB) at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Carol Stream, Illinois, just celebrated its 4th anniversary of the program in October of 2023. Over these few years, BwB has served over 752 families by providing diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, clothing, equipment, and toys. Over 233,000 diapers have been distributed to families in the community!
 
CLICK HERE to watch BwB "Happy 4th Anniversary" Video
 
Breakfast with Baby has seen a 20% increase in families they serve this year. To serve the increasing number of families coming for assistance, BwB has expanded the ministry to include a featured Resource of the Month from the community, allowing guests to meet face-to-face with these resources.
 
The organization is well known in the community as social workers, health agencies, friends, and relatives often refer guests to the program. Also, guests donate back items that their children have outgrown, and guests volunteer at the event to help serve their community.
 
CLICK HERE to watch interviews with participants
 
Families that come into the building to shop are also welcome to the buffet breakfast as a family. With the increase of families and the costs of food, diapers, and wipes, BwB continues to provide up to $1,500 per month in financial resources for these supplies. The organization's most significant needs are diapers, baby wipes, baby food, and formula, provided to families in need during their monthly event.
 
Please prayerfully consider donating to help Breakfast with Baby meet this need to serve families in their community.

LCC invites you to join us as we assist First Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Chicago, Illinois, and two other ministry partners, in ministering to new refugees.
 
The three inner-city ministries are working together to create a store where the new refugees in Chicago can shop for items they need at no cost, such as gently used clothing, shoes, backpacks, toys, small household items, and luggage.
 
This would be an excellent opportunity for an individual, a church, or any church group to hold a drive to collect the items.
 
We ask that you fill out a Non-Monetary Donation Available form once you have the items ready for donation.
 
CLICK HERE to fill out a Non-Monetary Donation Available form.
 
Please call John at 224-373-0083 or Dianna at 847-287-6624 so we can assist you with delivering the items to the store.

Thanks to your generous donations, Christ the King Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, Illinois, received new computers after multiple computers broke down that were essential to their ministry.
 
All computers were installed this week. Principal Geri Brazeal and Christ the King students are overjoyed and grateful for the new equipment!
 
Thank you for your support of Christ the King as Pastor John Brazeal and Principal Geri continue to touch the lives of countless families and individuals in the south side of Chicago.

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.