Employment Opportunity at Lutheran Church Charities

Lutheran Church Charities needs more volunteers to help train and board new puppies. If you have time, energy, patience, and a willingness to serve, please consider being an apprentice trainer.

Being an apprentice trainer will change your life. Please watch these videos of some of the current LCC apprentice trainers as they share their experiences.  

Tom Bartnik, Apprentice Trainer since 2013, describes how he got involved with the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry, his spiritual growth because of the ministry, and what is involved training a dog, including the weekly classes and support from professional trainers and partners.

Apprentice Trainer Tom Bartnik Testimony

On Saturday, June 27, LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dog Shiloh (Christ Our Savior - Dixon, Illinois) visited the Harley-Davidson dealership in Woodstock, Illinois for their "Back the Blue" ride.
 
There were over 1,000 motorcyclists participating in the escorted ride to several local police departments. Their mission was to show the men and women of law enforcement that they are appreciated.
 
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up..." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

DONATE – K-9 POLICE MINISTRY FUND

On Thursday, May 21, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Anna (Trinity - Toledo, Ohio) and her handler participated in the 8th grade graduation at Trinity Lutheran Church and School. The ceremony was a little different, but no less joyful.

"There was an indoor service for the 8th graders and their immediate families, which was live-streamed for others to watch. After the ceremony, the graduates and their families cruised around the church parking lot where teachers and friends shared the excitement with them from a safe distance. What a unique and fun way to celebrate this occasion. Sending love and best wishes to all of my friends who will be moving on to High School in the fall."

"Seek ye first But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

DONATE – LCC K-9 COMFORT DOG FUND

Anna Comfort Dog Participates In the 8th Grade Graduation

On Sunday, May 17, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Peace (Trinity - Orlando, Florida) and his handler shared a special message with those attending the drive through communion at Trinity Downtown, Orlando, Florida. It was good to see so many of them!

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. " John 6:35

DONATE – LCC K-9 COMFORT DOG FUND

Peace Comfort Dog Shares a Special Message During Drive-Through Communion

LCC NID LERT teams have been invited by Pastor Ed Brashier, Southern District Disaster Response Coordinator, to return to Panama City, Florida, to provide chainsaw assistance to those affected by Hurricane Michael. Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response and our chainsaw teams will be deploying February 3 - 10 to Trinity Lutheran Church in Panama City. 

On Saturday, January 5, LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Flex and Brutus were invited to the Memorial Service for LCC K-9 friend, John Kloecker. Kare 9 Brutus previously met John as a surprise, arranged by his friend Mary, for his 50th birthday. The presence of the Kare 9s at the service brought joy and comfort to John’s family and friends.

Additionally, while we were greeting the people as they were leaving the church after the service, a man told us he remembered our Comfort Dogs. He worked for Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, at the time and he remembered the dogs helping the students after the Valentine Day shootings in 2008! Veteran handler Fred Vanstrom let him know that the LCC K-9 Ministry has grown from those 4 dogs to over 130 in 24 states.

What a blessing to learn how our Lord puts the pieces together!

An LCC Heart of Mercy & Compassion was provided to the Chicago OEMC after the death of a 911 dispatcher.

LCC thanks the many men and women who continue to put others first and are saddened by the loss of each one. LCC also provides “Thin Blue Line” (law enforcement), “Thin Red Line” (Firefighters), and hearts of purple for those who have served our country in addition to our blue heart of mercy and compassion.

You can request a mercy heart or cross at: https://lcc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/1244/responses/new

DONATE - HEARTS OF MERCY & COMPASSION, CROSSES FOR LOSSES

LCC is working through our LCMS churches to provide scrub buckets to individuals and families who are impacted by the floods. These will be needed immediately to help facilitate critical recovery as soon as possible.

You can help Make A Difference by:

• Preparing completed flood buckets and sending to one of the LCC locations
  
• Making a donation to purchase supplies for scrub buckets
• Volunteering to help assemble scrub buckets
• Having your church be a site for drop off and assembly of scrub buckets
  

Donate - LCC DR Scrub Bucket Fund

Whether comforting others daily within the communities they serve, or reaching out to individuals during times of disaster or crisis, Lutheran Church Charities brings the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.
 
The LCC K-9 Ministry will now bring the same mercy and compassion to individuals during court system situations. In many cases, individuals often experience a range of emotions, including anxiety and even fear, while going through adoption, cases of abuse, or other legal processes where testimony is required. Working with the district attorney’s office in Lucas County, Ohio, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ezra has been placed in the primary role of bringing a calming presence to those in the court system. This placement provides LCC with a new ministry opportunity to bring a Christian presence to those who may not know Jesus Christ without proselytizing.

On Wednesday,  September  25, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Adeena (St. John - Burlington, Illinois), Jeremiah (LCC Staff) and LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Brutus (LCC Squad) and Nigel (LCC Staff) visited the Troy Shorewood Elementary School in Shorewood, Illinois to bring mercy and compassion to the students and staff after the sudden death of a student.
 
The K-9s were especially helpful to the students and staff in dealing with this tragedy.

DONATE – LCC K-9 COMFORT DOG FUND

A heart of purple is being provided by Pastor Karl Gibbs and members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Carrollton, Missouri to the family of John Metz an Army veteran.
 
John went to the loving arms of his Savior on April 1, 2020 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cameron, Missouri.
 
Please keep John’s family in your prayers at this time of need.
 
If you are interested in requesting a mercy heart or cross please click on the following link: https://lcc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/1244/responses/new

DONATE - HEARTS OF MERCY & COMPASSION, CROSSES FOR LOSSES

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Myra (St. Andrews - Park Ridge, Illinois)

Wednesday, July 8, 2020 - FOX32 / Sylvia Perez

CLICK HERE to view broadcast

Lutheran Church Charities needs more volunteers to help train and board new puppies. If you have time, energy, patience, and a willingness to serve, please consider being an apprentice trainer.

Being an apprentice trainer will change your life. Please watch these videos of some of the current LCC apprentice trainers as they share their experiences.   

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs

Thursday, January 23, 2020
WDRB / Brandi Utley

CLICK HERE to view broadcast and read article

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Damaris (Memorial Lutheran – Katy, Texas)

Friday, January 24, 2020
KPRC Click2Houston / Robert Arnold

CLICK HERE to view broadcast and read article

Last week Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Crosses for Losses Ministry provided two crosses to a young woman in Aurora, Illinois after the death of her friends in an auto accident in Montgomery, Illinois. Overcome with emotion, she thanked LCC for bringing the crosses to her.

Please keep the families and friends in your prayers.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalms 34:18

DONATE - HEARTS OF MERCY & COMPASSION, CROSSES FOR LOSSES

CLICK HERE for testimony from Tom Bartnik, Apprentice Trainer since 2013. Tom describes how he got involved with the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry, his spiritual growth because of the ministry, and what is involved training a dog, including the weekly classes and support from professional trainers and partners.

If you would like more information about being an apprentice trainer, CLICK HERE to view “LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Apprentice Trainer Information”

For more information or to volunteer as an apprentice trainer, please email Anastasia dt@lutheranchurchcharities.org or Megan mglowacz@LutheranChurchCharities.org, or call 866-455-6466 ext. 112

Donate - LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Fund

CLICK HERE for testimony from Sarah Walters, Apprentice Trainer since 2013. Sarah answers questions about being an LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Apprentice Trainer, including how she got involved and what it is like to have a partner in training.