Rev. Dr. Allan R. Buss, President of the LCMS Northern Illinois District (pictured), extends his sincere gratitude to all Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) supporters who generously gave to help Jason, a website contractor for the District.
 
Because of your incredible compassion and generosity, Jason was able to receive the surgery and medical care he urgently needed. He is now on the path to healing and recovery.
 
Your prayers and support have made a powerful impact—demonstrating the mercy, compassion, and presence of Jesus Christ. Thank you for being a part of this testimony of love in action!

The Human Care team recently witnessed two beautiful stories of compassion in action—made possible through your generous support.

In West Dundee, IL, our team partnered with Vida Y Fe Church to support a newly connected family in our church community.
 
After the heartbreaking loss of their mother, a donor family chose to turn their sorrow into a powerful act of kindness. They gifted her cherished living room and bedroom furniture to a family in need. When the two families met, the moment was filled with emotion, faith, and connection.
 
The donors didn’t just give furniture—they offered heartfelt words of encouragement, creating a lasting bond that reflected the healing power of generosity and God's love.

In a separate act of service, the Human Care team partnered with Iglesia San Pablo in Aurora, IL, to provide essential household items to another family in need.
 
Through the generous donation from a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Palatine, IL, the family received a king-sized bed set—including mattress, box spring, and frame—along with four office chairs. Pictured are Elliot Flores, president of Iglesia San Pablo, and the donor who helped make this blessing possible.
 
Each story is a testimony to how your donations are more than just things—they are vessels of hope, comfort, and community. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Christ.

With deep gratitude, we celebrate the remarkable ministry of Deaconess Lori Wilbert and the countless lives she touched within the walls of Stateville Prison in Joliet, Illinois. Through Voice of Hope Ministry, Lori brought the love of Christ to those walking through some of life’s darkest valleys.
 
After more than four decades of faithful service, Lori retired from full-time ministry late last year. Her unwavering presence and compassion offered dignity, hope, and healing to men society often forgets.
 
Reflecting on her journey, Lori once wrote:
 
“When I started there in 1986 with Chaplain Bob Kramer, I was young at heart and open to whatever God was doing in my life. I’d like to think I still am—open to the work among individuals most of us don’t want to think about. Matthew 25 speaks eloquently about helping the homeless, naked, thirsty, hungry, and those in prison. We need to be in prison. The church goes to those who cannot come to us.”
 
Lori’s words are a powerful reminder of the Gospel’s call—and of the unique role she played in living it out.
 
Your prayers and financial support made this ministry possible. Because of your faithfulness, Lori was able to follow God’s call and serve those so often unseen. Thank you for standing with her—and with those she served—with such love and generosity.

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.

We are overjoyed to share an inspiring story that exemplifies the compassionate spirit of Lutheran Church Charities and the profound impact of community support. Recently, we were informed by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Grinnell, Iowa, that a single mother faced a daunting challenge as she cared for her daughter and granddaughter, both of whom rely on wheelchairs for mobility. When her van, the lifeline for her family's transportation needs, broke down beyond repair, despair began to set in. The cost of repairs was simply out of reach, and the weight of her responsibilities felt heavier than ever.
 
Just when this courageous mother reached out for help, a divine intervention occurred. The very next day, we received an unexpected call from a generous donor who had a van equipped with a working wheelchair lift, ready to be donated. This act of kindness serves as a beautiful testament to the power of faith and community, reminding us that when we trust in God's timing, He provides for our needs in ways we could never imagine.
 
With immense gratitude, we are thrilled to present this mother and her family with a vehicle that symbolizes not just transportation but a renewal of hope and independence. The gift of mobility means they can attend medical appointments, engage in community activities, and simply enjoy the freedom of going where they need to go.
 
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible donor who made this possible and to everyone in our community for their unwavering support. Together, we have woven a tapestry of compassion that uplifts those in need and demonstrates the love of Christ in action.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to GiveNKind for their incredible donation of 1,625 pairs of Bombas socks, as well as to Trinity Lutheran Church in Galewood, Illinois, for their generous contribution of basic need items. These donations have been passed along to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Skokie, Illinois, which operates a community clothing closet dedicated to serving individuals who are unhoused or facing hardship.
 
The impact of these contributions is profound. Each pair of socks and every essential item helps to restore dignity and warmth to those in our community who need it most. It is through these acts of kindness that we are able to embody the values of mercy and compassion that are central to LCC's mission. Together, we can reach more individuals and families, providing them not only with material support but also with a sense of hope and belonging.

We want to share a heartfelt thank you to Naperville Running Company for regularly donating shoes for people who are unhoused or cannot afford to purchase good-quality shoes. 
 
Their most recent donation of 60 pairs of shoes was passed along to First St. Paul Lutheran Church, which connects with people in need by serving community meals, hosting a foot clinic, partnering with Chicago Help Initiative, and giving basic need items to people at the free store. 
 
Generous donations like these make it possible for churches to help people in need by sharing the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ.