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.

Thanks to a generous donation from Rogers Vending Services, LCC was able to connect several local ministries with catering equipment to support faith communities all over the greater Chicago area. From a large propane grill to mixing bowls and spoons, this donation will serve the community in many ways.
 
The generosity of the Rogers Family will bless:

• the homeless and underserved in Chicago at St. Matthew's Soup Kitchen
• the school and community of Christ the King, Chicago
• a local seminary and ethnic ministry at Iglesia San Pablo, Aurora
• the ministry at WalCamp Outdoor Ministries and Retreat Center in Kingston
• the LCC Mobile Kitchen used for Disaster Response
• community outreach events of Immanuel, Batavia
• Tabor, Chicago to bless the outreach and community services to a diverse urban community of 64 different languages
  
  

Without the many volunteers, who gave of their time, energy, experience, and strength, this donation would not have been possible. Moving large appliances, sorting, and delivering, the volunteers have made a difference in so many ways. We are thankful for all who give of themselves to serve God’s people.
 
Our volunteers came from 11 congregations around the district:

• Mike Flaherty – St. Peter, Arlington Heights
• Steve MacKay – Immanuel, Palatine
• Bob Morris – Immanuel, Palatine
• Bob Desiron – Immanuel, Des Plaines
• Nancy Blasé – Trinity, Roselle
• Dusan Kolesar – St. Paul, Mt. Prospect
• Jan Boerman – Trinity, Lisle
• Mike Kostecki, Trinity, Lisle
• David Vollrath – Good Shepherd, Elgin
• Sam Woodson – St. James Chicago
• Alan Ahr – Faith, Arlington Heights
• Alex Merlo and a father and adult son – Iglesia San Pablo
• Emily Pacyga – Tabor, Chicago
  
  

We owe a special thank you to Pastor Jeff Gavin and St. John Lutheran Church of Mt. Prospect, who graciously provided the use of a workspace for a whole week for the volunteers to process this huge donation.

It’s hard to believe that we, as well as many of our neighbors on Mercer Street, are coming up on a month since we have been displaced from our homes. We have been on the first floor sorting through items that need to be thrown out or saved due to damage from the explosion. Recently, a contractor was able to cut a 4X4 hole out of our ceiling in order for us to have access to the second floor.
 
It was a truly emotional experience to survey the damage that was done and look at where we all might have been if we stayed in the house at the time of the explosion. We know God was not only protecting us but guiding our footsteps every hour of that night before the explosion happened. We are grateful that we have access to the second floor to remove small items we need and treasure.
 
Again, thank you for your overwhelming generosity.
 
God Bless!
The Fenco Family

Dr. Michael (James) M. Wyss, Vice President, Master Builder Center, Birmingham, Alabama thanks LCC donors for their support after catastrophic flooding in Ethiopia.

Dear Saints at LCC,
 
We at the Master Builder Center (MBC) thank you for your very generous support that will support the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Seminary as the school rebuilds from the devastating flood that recently occurred. Your prayerful support will help the seminary shine the Good News of Jesus Christ to the lambs, our seminary students, families, and churches so that they can celebrate God's great love shown to us in Christ, our Savior.
 
Thank you again for your generous support of MBC’s mission to positively impact the lives of the pastors, children, families, and communities in Ethiopia. May the Good Shepherd guide your ways as you walk with Him. You are His lambs, but also by your work with MBC and your other actions, you are His shepherds. Let His light shine in all you do.
 
Your servant in Christ,
J. Michael Wyss, Vice President

LCC thanks all the donors who support Clean Water Wells for Ghana. Pictured are Rob and Cathy Geiger, from C-WOW-Ghana, receiving your recent donations. Rob and Cathy have been involved with the work in Ghana for years and just recently returned from a trip to Ghana. They were present for the dedication of the Hope Medical Clinic. In addition to the clinic structure, a well was dug and dedicated for clinic use. They also visited the completed well and tank in Nakpanduri.
 
LCC received the following email from Rev. John Shadrack Donkoh, President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana:

Greetings from Accra, Ghana trusting this finds you well.
 
We acknowledge your partnership and support over the years! I am writing to update you on what happened recently in Gomoa Kumasi in the central region of Ghana.
 
We have been together with Rob and Cathy Geiger, who have worked so hard to bring the Hope Medical Clinic and boreholes to completion and dedication. We dedicated the Clinic together with the borehole attached to the Clinic on Saturday, September 11.

The chiefs, elders, and people of Gomoa Kumasi were thrilled, excited, and grateful for such a gift. The member of the Ghana Parliament for the district was present and showed appreciation for this gesture.
 
We are profoundly appreciative of their visit even in the midst of COVID.
 
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your friendship, prayers, and financial support. We give thanks to God for what He is doing through you. So many people are reached and touched by your support!
 
We are looking forward to working with you in partnership into the future as we reach many with the saving gospel of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
 
Sincerely in Christ,
 
Rev. John Shadrack Donkoh

A special thank you to LCC volunteers Jeff Boberg of St. Paul on Canfield, and Sam Woodson of St. James, Chicago for picking up a furniture donation from Paul and Barbara Koch. Their furniture will be passed on through our churches to families in need.

Thanks to the generosity of the Kipp Family of Naperville, Illinois, and member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois, the need for a vehicle for Christ the King Lutheran Church & School in Chicago, Illinois, has been met! Thanks to the donation, Christ the King will be able to continue their outreach work, picking up food and other supplies needed in their community.

Last week your donations were delivered to Pastor Jamie Holt at St Mark’s Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Illinois. LCC received the following update from St Mark’s:

Thank you so much for your continued support of this mom and her children. The need is great and continuous.

The children are back in school and doing well. Mom is trying very hard to get the house on the market since the mortgage payment is high. She has a line on a job, but it won't be feasible until late October. In the meantime, she is doing odd jobs here and there that don't pay very much. She thanks you all so very much for all the support and prayers.

Thank you to all that have donated. The need for this family is great and ongoing. If so moved, please consider a donation to help this mother provide for her family.

Tim Hetzner, LCC President/CEO, was honored to accept a generous donation from Ray Cowin raised during the 2nd Annual Andrew Whowell Memorial Golf Outing at Villa Olivia Golf Course, Bartlett, Illinois, for LCC K-9 Police Ministry.

The golf outing brought together many of Andy's friends and family to honor his memory and was a fundraiser for the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry. The Andrew Whowell Memorial Golf Outing raised $2,750 for the LCC K-9 Police Ministry in honor of Andy and the good works he did as an LCC K-9 Police Ministry handler.

Andy was a retired Deputy Chief for the Arlington Heights Police Department and an amazing handler for LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Susie (St. Peter - Arlington Heights, Illinois). Both Andy and Susie are Permanently Deployed Serving the Saints and are missed every day by many.

LCC thanks Ray Cowin for organizing the Andrew Whowell Golf Outing and his support for the LCC K-9 Ministry.

Because of your support Rev. Marky Kessa, Pastor at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jacmel, Haiti, was able to provide a Vacation Bible School (VBS), which gave the children an opportunity to learn about Jesus and His love for them. In addition, meals were provided for the children, which, for many of them, was their one meal for the day.

The VBS was so successful that Rev. Kessa decided to continue it as the children are traumatized from the earthquake, and VBS occupies their time bringing them closer to the Lord.

Please consider donating to help support the continuation of the VBS in Haiti for the next several weeks.

On Friday, August 13th, the Put Your Hands Together (PYHT) Food Pantry of Immanuel Hillside, Illinois, hosted a Food Distribution where nine of LCC Ministry partners picked up food to distribute while sharing the love of Jesus.