LCC’s Impact at the LCMS Southern District Convention  A Legacy of Compassion: LCC’s Continued Outreach in Louisiana Last weekend, Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) had the privilege of attending the LCMS Southern District Convention in Slidell, Louisiana. Representing LCC were Denise Snider, Director of Human Care, and Sarah Sekki, Director of Hearts of Mercy & Compassion. This trip was not only an opportunity to reconnect with the Southern District, but also to highlight the powerful ways our ministries bring mercy and compassion to those in need. Earlier this year, in response to the tragic New Orleans terrorist attack, LCC deployed a team to Louisiana. This included members of our Hearts of Mercy & Compassion (HMC), K9 Comfort Dog, and Care Team ministries. The time spent in Louisiana proved to be impactful, forging lasting ministry relationships. In fact, one of the local pastors invited us to the convention, giving us the opportunity to introduce all four of our main ministries to the Southern District. Introducing Our Four Ministries: Unique Bridges to Mercy Each of LCC’s ministries is a unique "Bridge" to outreach, reaching people in ways that allow us to show the mercy and compassion of Jesus. These ministries are being considered by the Southern District as valuable resources for local churches, each ministry being customized based on the church’s specific skills and the needs of the surrounding community. We are committed to working with churches to help them build the ministry that best serves their needs.  A Meaningful Memorial: Remembering the Lost and Honoring the Grieving In addition to the convention, God had more plans for our team during this trip. We had the opportunity to meet with the curator of the Louisiana State Museum, who is currently displaying the NOLA memorial site. This site, featuring all 14 LCC's Hearts of Mercy & Compassion and Crosses, serves as a memorial for those lost in the January terrorist attack. The curator shared that visitors often stop to pay their respects, leaving comforting messages for grieving families. The placard at the exhibit specifically mentions Lutheran Church Charities, noting that "volunteers from LCC brought and installed these fourteen white crosses." It was a humbling honor to be mentioned in this powerful display, especially since the crosses were crafted by Eric Wendelbo and his HMC team at Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We witnessed the ongoing impact of this memorial as dozens of people stopped to reflect and honor the victims. Delivering Comfort: Ministering to Families in the Wake of Tragedy On this trip, we were also able to deliver a Heart to a family facing unimaginable loss. Hubert Guthreaux III was one of the victims of the January terrorist attack, and tragically, just six weeks later, his family lost both of Hubert’s grandparents in a car accident. Understanding the significance of the memorial site and the comfort it brought to this family, we knew that they would be uplifted by receiving a Heart in memory of their parents. The funeral home graciously agreed to deliver the Heart to the Guthreaux family in their southwest Louisiana community, where friends and neighbors are grieving alongside them.  Honoring Heroes: Offering Support to a Fallen Officer’s Family
Lastly, just days before we arrived at the convention, Sergeant Grant Candies of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office was killed in the line of duty. In response, we were able to offer a Heart and Cross to the sheriff’s office, providing support to the department as they mourn the loss of a beloved officer. Sergeant Candies was described as “the kind of deputy every agency hopes to have,” and his funeral will take place in the coming days. His sacrifice will not be forgotten. Through these opportunities, we are continually reminded of the power of mercy, compassion, and the comforting presence of Christ in times of grief. Thank you for your prayers and support as we continue to serve those in need and honor those who have given their lives for others. Comments are closed.
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