Lutheran Church Charities’ (LCC) mission is to share the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. LCC remains operational 24/7 – and now is NO exception. We are experienced in Crisis Response, Disaster Response, and Human Care Ministries. As Christians this is what we are called to do – to serve you and others in need.

As some of you have heard, Illinois is on a "stay at home" order from Governor starting at 5:00pm today, Saturday, March 21. For everyone's safety, we encourage people to adhere to this.
 
LCC does national and international ministry and will continue to be operational 24/7 to provide service and assistance for people in need. If you have a need, know of someone in need, or need someone to call and pray with you or others, let us know:

                                                                                Call our office: 866-455-6466
                                                           Email us: LCC@LutheranChurchCharities.org
 
The staff at LCC are available right now – including delivering food and needed supplies to those who are homebound. We are also working through our churches nationally helping them to do the same. 

GOD is still in charge – always has been – and He works 24/7
 
Here is God’s promise through His Word to remember during these challenging times:
 
“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be calm." Exodus 14:14
 
“But the LORD said to him, ‘Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.’” Judges 6:23
 
“Say to him, 'Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood -- because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.” Isaiah 7:4
 
“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.” Psalms 107:29-30
 
“They will pass through the sea of trouble; the surging sea will be subdued and all the depths of the Nile will dry up. Assyria's pride will be brought down and Egypt's scepter will pass away.” Zechariah 10:11
 
LCC NEVER charges those we serve! Please prayerfully consider a donation to the LCC COVID-19 Assistance Fund so that we may continue to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

60+ L.E.R.T. Volunteers with Heavy Equipment are Helping those Most Impacted

 “You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.”
 2 Samuel 22:29

On Tuesday, March 3, at 12:45 am, Tennessee residents had a 3 – 6 minute warning that a powerful storm tracking 150 miles and producing an EF-3 tornado was hitting their community. The devastation caused at least 25 deaths, numerous injuries, massive structural damages to residential and commercial areas, and widespread power outages. There are still communities that cannot be entered for recovery efforts

Your Donations are Needed to Support 60+ L.E.R.T. Volunteers in Action!

LCC is sending a very large team of experienced L.E.R.T. volunteers for a week to make a big impact during this initial recovery effort. We need your financial assistance to help feed them for the week. All of the volunteers have driven many hours – many taking time off of work to volunteer – and are sleeping on the floors in a room at the church every night after a full day of physical work helping others. Your donations will help us take care of our volunteers!

Sixty-plus Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers brought a Bobcat, mini Bobcat, Ditch Witch, three tractors with grapples, 24’ dump trailer, 50’ boom lift, and two vehicles with 50 steel cable winches to help in tornado recovery.
 
Neighborhoods throughout the community have been devastated, some literally flattened. Families are still shaken by the experience and overwhelmed with the task ahead of them. LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers will be present in the communities of Hermitage, Donelson and Mt. Juliet to show residents mercy and compassion while assisting in the physical recovery of their property.

Showing the Love of Jesus with Helping Hands for Hurting Hearts!

LCC never goes where we are not invited. We NEVER charge those we serve. We pick up all of our travel, lodging, and meal costs. We put boots on the ground within 24 hours (often fewer) from the time we get the invite.
 
Please keep residents in impacted Tennessee communities in your prayers, including all the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff during our deployment.

Please prayerfully consider a donation to the LCC Disaster Response General Fund or LCC Disaster Response Equipment Maintenance & Fuel Expense Fund so that we may continue to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

In less than 8 hours, LCC Disaster Response received an invite from Rev. Ross Johnson, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Disaster Response Director and Mid-South District President Rev. Dr. Roger Paavola to go into Nashville, Tennessee.

We will also be present at the Community Vigil being held tonight from 7:00pm – 9:00pm at Ridge Community Church, 4500 S. 108th Street, Greenfield, Wisconsin.

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

Our Comfort Dogs are on the road to Texas and Ohio for the shootings as I write this – with the other Comfort Dogs clearing their schedules (yes, they have busy schedules and we have to honor commitments of individual needs each day in their community) to be able to deploy. 

My heart breaks when I think of all the individuals, families, and all the First Responders that are affected by these senseless acts. I want to cry out and say “HOW LONG OH LORD” will this continue. I know His answer – Be Faithful in Doing what I called you to do – Bring my PRESENCE to those suffering and show my Mercy and Compassion to them. Give them HOPE that the world can’t and never will.

So that is what we are doing! Keep all in your prayers as we have many moving parts in deploying and serving.

Another community is devastated by senseless shootings in less than 24 hours! Many are asking “when will this stop?” We don’t have the answers to all of these tragedies, but we do have comfort, reassurance and hope through our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ!

Lutheran Church Charities has been invited by Rev. Kevin Wilson, Ohio District President, Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS), Rev. Mark Carlson from Emmanuel in Kettering, Ohio and John Pyron, Manager for Disaster Services with Lutheran Social Services. Rev. Phil Esala, former pastor at Emmanuel, is also assisting with deployment arrangements.

LCC never goes where we are not invited and the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs NEVER charge those we serve. We pick up all of our travel, hotel, and meals costs. We also always put Boots and Paws on the ground within 24 hours (often less) from the time we get the invite.

TRAGIC!  A community devastated by these shootings! In the midst of crisis – Jesus is there to bring comfort to those suffering and afraid! It’s what Christians do. We bring Jesus – We bring His Presence and Your Presence and support for the victims and their families and the El Paso Community. Join us in bringing this Mercy and Compassion and Jesus’s Presence.

On Saturday, August 3, a large crowd of back-to-school shoppers at Walmart in El Paso, Texas, were suddenly running for their lives when a young male began shooting throughout the store. So far, 20 people have been reported killed and over 26 wounded, with victims ranging from 4 months to 82 years old. Some of the injured are in critical condition.

Lutheran Church Charities has been invited by Rev. Roger Schlechte, Rocky Mountain District President, Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS), Rev. Dr. Karl Heimer, Pastor & CEO of Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care and Pastor Stephen Heimer from Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church both in the heart of El Paso, Texas.
 
Rev. Martin Danner from Bethany Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas, and Janice Marut, Regional Director for the LCC K-9 Ministry Southwest Region, are assisting us with deployment arrangements.

The following LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams are the first but not only deploying to serve this devastated and hurting community, and all of the first responders who bravely serve them: Abner & Martha Comfort Dogs (Bethany – Austin, Texas), Damaris (Memorial – Katy, Texas), Gabriel (Messiah – Houston, Texas), Joy (Gloria Dei – Houston, Texas), Phoebe (St. Paul – Fort Worth, Texas), and Ruthie (LCC Staff).

LCC never goes where we are not invited and the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs NEVER charge those we serve. We pick up all of our travel, hotel, and meals costs. We also always put Boots and Paws on the ground within 24 hours (often less) from the time we get the invite.

Watseka, Illinois
A heartfelt thank you for your support of our deployment this past Memorial Weekend to Watseka, Illinois. We were on the ground Friday through Sunday, and because of the outpouring of support – both people and resources – we were able to finish all the affected areas from the 90mph winds that went through that area! All of you are a blessing to them and us! Thank you.

Nebraska Flooding
LCC continues to provide financial assistance to families in Nebraska, through Trinity – Fremont, Good Shepherd – Fremont, and Christ Lincoln – Lincoln, that are still recovering from the flooding this spring.

Linwood, Kansas
Yesterday, LCC Disaster Response received an invite from Rev. Ross Johnson, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Disaster Response Director, and Donna Williams, Northeast Kansas District Disaster Response Coordinator to go into Linwood, Kansas. It was hit with an EF4 tornado with winds of 170mph that was on the ground for 32 miles. At times, it was a mile wide which devastated both Linwood and Lawrence.

Linwood is a small rural town of approximately 400 people, located 30 miles west of Kansas City, Missouri. They greatly need our expertise and assistance.

Jefferson City, Missouri
We also received an invite from Kent Kunkel, one of the Missouri District Disaster Response Coordinators (and also an LCC K-9 Comfort Dog handler) into the Missouri capital of Jefferson City. The Missouri tornado tore a 32-mile path through that area causing devastating damage, especially in one of the poorest sections of Jefferson City.

Meanwhile, we still have teams working in sections of the Northern Illinois District (NID) from the storms that have taken down limbs and trees, and caused flooding.

Please keep all the above people in your prayers, including all the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff as we deploy out in various locations.
 
Please consider a donation to the LCC Disaster Response General Fund or LCC Equipment Maintenance & Fuel Expense Fund so that we may continue to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

Your prayers, support, and involvement help Make A Difference – in the name of Jesus to those suffering.
 
Serving Together, Serving Others in Need, as We Serve Jesus!