Supporting the Glenview, Illinois, Community After Tragic Loss of 17-Year-Old High School Senior5/21/2024
 The community of Glenview, Illinois, was shaken by a tragic accident on Sunday, May 12, resulting in the loss of 17-year-old Marko Niketic, a high school senior, and leaving two other teens in critical condition. Glenview is a neighboring community for Lutheran Church Charities and the location of the accident was only 10 minutes away. Lutheran Church Charities swiftly responded by partnering with Pastor Matthew Douglas from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Glenview to offer support and comfort to the grieving community. LCC staff members, including Rev. Chris Singer, President/CEO; Denise Snider, Director of Human Care; and Sarah Sekki, Director of Hearts of Mercy & Compassion joined Pastor Douglas and church volunteers at the memorial site, where family, friends, and neighbors gathered to pay their respects.  Amidst the outpouring of support, LCC brought a Heart of Mercy & Compassion cross in memory of Marko for those present to sign. Additionally, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Emma and Hannah, with their handlers Dona Martin (LCC K-9 Ministry staff) and Barb Granado, comforted and extended compassion during this difficult time. When tragedy hits a community, Lutheran Church Charities stands as a beacon of hope and compassion, recognizing both the brokenness of the world and the healing work of the Holy Spirit in life's difficult times. Through personal observations at memorial sites and community vigils, the staff witnessed the profound impact of support, outreach, and the beauty of human connection amid sorrow. These tender moments, small gestures, and heartfelt conversations serve as a testament to the resilience and kindness that emerge in times of darkness, reminding us of the power of community and love to bring light to the darkest of days. Here are some personal observations of the support and outreach that the staff saw:  Amid Glenview’s brokenness, I witnessed the community gathering to honor and remember a remarkable son, brother, friend, and neighbor. In their immense grief, they took a moment to sign the Heart of Mercy & Compassion cross to express their heartfelt goodbyes and to embrace the family with love. A woman approached the memorial site and wrote on the side of the cross: “I lost a nephew in the same way.” She drew a cross next to her comment. She shared that her nephew died in a car crash just before he graduated college. He was engaged at the time, she said, explaining that, although she didn’t know the family, she wanted to come and lay flowers because she knows how difficult the grief is. We prayed for the family, to rely on God for strength, and that those around them would support them through this dark time. She was deeply grateful for the prayer.  As I moved through the crowd I observed how the comfort dogs provided a safe and comfortable space for people to share their pain and loss to help them process the trauma they were experiencing. Many people returned time and again to be with the dogs. I was blessed to see the Holy Spirit work through a relationship formed at the memorial site. Pastor Douglas came to the memorial early in the day and met Marko’s best friend from high school. He comforted him and prayed with him. Later that evening, Pastor Douglas offered to lead the vigil for the large group of family, friends, and neighbors who had gathered. The best friend’s relationship with Pastor Matt made the family feel comfortable and he was invited to speak. Pastor Douglas' conversation with Marko's friend helped him convey who Marko was and the fun he had. He also had the opportunity to proclaim God’s saving grace to all the people there. He spoke the gospel confidently because “that is what Marko believed,” he said.
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