Dear Ministry Friends and Partners,  
 
God will carry you through the Fire!  
 
We just finished our 2018 LCC National K-9 Conference Friday night. During the conference we were communicating several times a day with our connections in California about the fires. Each day we were getting word on how rapidly the fires were spreading, and how many people had been evacuated and were in shelters. Many of the people in the shelters have lost their homes and most of their possessions.  
 
With the generosity of our donors, Lutheran Church Charities will work closely with our churches, Trinity Lutheran, Redding and First Lutheran, Yuba City, to help relocate the victims, especially displaced elderly, who have been directly affected by the fires.

Here are the facts:  

• We have been invited by Disaster Response Coordinator Pastor Phil Zabel, Pastor Brian Cummins of Trinity Lutheran Church, Redding, and CAL Fire.  
• Over 110,000 acres burned, 1,400+ structures destroyed, 27% contained
• Over 40,000 people have been evacuated with more expected.  
• First Lutheran in Yuba City is standing by to be our support congregation. This is the home of LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Reuben, led by Top Dog James Casner.
• Local convalescent homes in Yuba City are taking in evacuees and have requested K-9 Ministry teams.  

This year's conference theme was "With Me on the Road" - going where Jesus leads. So we are preparing to go on the road.
 
Our Mission is to Share the Mercy, Compassion, Presence, and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need, so we are deploying in shifts to serve those suffering from the devastating effects of this fire.

On Sunday, July 29, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Reuben (First Lutheran – Yuba City, California) began visiting first responders to thank them for their dedication and tireless service, including the Cal Fire Command Center and the National Guard soldiers. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Aaron (St. John’s – Napa, California), Eddie (Peace Lutheran – Grand Island, Nebraska), Moses (Christ Lutheran – Cairo, Nebraska), and Priscilla (Trinity Lutheran – Lincoln, Nebraska) are on their way to join Reuben Comfort Dog’s team. Plans are to continue to visit first responders and affected families who have been relocated to shelters.

Please keep everyone who has been affected by the fires in your prayers as well as all the first responders who put their own lives in jeopardy to serve their communities. Please also pray for the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams as they begin deploying. We have some Comfort Dogs already on the ground serving as I write this. God ALWAYS provides, caring for His people in the midst of tragedy - and He will this time as well.  
 
Thank you for all of your support in touching lives with the Presence of Jesus Christ - our only hope!

Peace in Jesus Christ,

Tim Hetzner
President/CEO
Lutheran Church Charities and the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry

Helen Roenfeldt, Director of Haiti Mission in the Florida/Georgia District has asked LCC to help our mission churches get food for the children and adults. LCC is providing $2,000 immediately for food but more assistance is needed. We have started distributing food through our partners in Haiti, to those we can get to, including the elderly, who need us to help with food assistance to get back on their feet.
 
Please keep the people in Haiti in your prayers and any assistance you can provide is greatly needed and appreciated. Thank you for Making a Difference in Haiti.

Little Children Suffering!

Jesus said: "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." Matthew 18:5
 
Jesus said: "Suffering little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14

Two LCC staff and affiliate LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs have been deployed to centers and are currently serving displaced children. Lutheran Church Charities has received invites, and we imagine we will continue to receive invites, for the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs to be present with children who are displaced from their families because of the current situation. Displaced children are in shelters in at least 15 states. LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry has K-9s in 23 states. LCC does not get involved with the "politics" of events - but we cannot ignore the plight of helpless children who are frightened, alone, and in need of comfort.

LCC will be deploying our Comfort Dogs to the centers and ministries that are housing and temporarily holding children who have come into our country. LCC will not be disclosing the locations of where we will be. We will be working with the many dedicated workers who are taking care of the children.
 
LCC never charges those we serve. We cover all of our transportation, lodging, and meals by the generous donations of those who believe and support what we do and our Mission - to share the MERCY, COMPASSION, PRESENCE, and PROCLAMATION of JESUS CHRIST to those who suffer and are in need.

Please keep all the children in your prayers as well as all people involved. Thank you for your prayers and support.

Serving Together, Serving Others, in the Name and Presence of Jesus.

We have been invited by Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington, Maryland, and by the Administration of Great Mills High School. LCC’s response to the request was WHEN and WHERE. It’s what we do because of what Jesus has done for us!

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs will begin to deploy to Maryland on Saturday, March 31 and Easter Sunday, April 1. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs will be coming in from Connecticut, Tennessee, South Carolina, and possibly other states to be there for the teachers and students. Sasha Comfort Dog (Island Lutheran – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina) will be the first to arrive attending Easter sunrise worship service at Trinity.
 
LCC K-9 Ministry Handlers and Comfort Dogs respond even on Easter Sunday because being there, serving those who have gone through crisis and tragedy, is what Jesus would do. Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who suffer and are in need is what we do. Because of the great sacrifice of Jesus for each of us, to give us Hope and Life, we share that with others!

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Also Responding to Jennings County High School Following Death of Two Students 
 
Another emergency request was received late Thursday from the school administration of Jennings County High School in North Vernon, Indiana. A 17 year old female student died in a car accident early last week and the boyfriend committed suicide at the end of the week. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs will be with students, faculty and staff as they return from spring break on Monday, April 2, after the loss of these two students.

LCC never charges those we serve. It has allowed us, without hesitation, to go when and where we are invited. The nature of our deploying comes with a cost, as last minute travel is generally the most expensive. So we rely on your generosity to help us serve those who are suffering and in need.
 
Please remember all in your prayers this Easter. Your gifts to the K-9 Travel Fund are greatly appreciated. LCC also hands out stuffed dogs to those most affected by the shooting. That is made possible by your generous gifts.
 
Thank you for your prayers and all of your support!

" ... to comfort all who mourn," Isaiah 61:2

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147

Those deploying are:

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ruthie - Rich Martin (Staff)
LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Flex - Fred Vanstrom (Squad)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Hannah - Barb Granado (Staff)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Mercy (Our Savior - Louisville, Kentucky)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Job (Christ the King - Memphis, Tennessee)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Noah (Timothy - St. Louis, Missouri)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Tabby (St. Paul - De Peres, Missouri)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Anna (Trinity - Toledo, Ohio)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Rosie (Atonement - Columbus, Ohio)
LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Bethany (Trinity - Danville, Illinois)
LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Dinah (Trinity - Auburn, Illinois)
Joshua Gale - LCC Executive Director

Last Tuesday, January 23, a student entered the high school's common area and began randomly shooting, leaving two dead, almost 20 wounded, and everyone involved shocked at yet another horrific event.

Please help LCC as we bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need. We know that comfort is needed to help students, faculty and staff who will need a lot of support as they return to the school where it happened.

Please support us by prayer and if you are moved, to help with travel expenses.