​Ministries in Need

$2,500 PER STUDENT PROVIDES TRANSFORMATIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND A PIVOTAL EDUCATION

You Can Help Six Inner-City Students at Christ the King Stay in School

Christ the King (CTK) Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, Illinois, has been a beacon of light in the Bronzeville community since 1949. Over the years, Pastor John Brazeal and Principal Geri Brazeal have poured into the community to share the hope in Jesus Christ and life-changing education for families in this low-income area of Chicago. 
 
The school opened in 1973, providing a Christ-centered, family environment that encourages learning, growth, and development for children who face the pressures of living in a low-income, high crime area. 

The school serves children from 3 years old through 8th grade. It is a way to reach the future generation with the gospel of Jesus Christ, to pave a path for better education, and a way out of poverty.

For the past 50 years, Pastor John, Geri, and the staff of CTK have impacted the lives of hundreds of children and their families with the gospel of Christ's love and forgiveness, giving them hope, a purpose, and a future. Christ the King has a long history of teaching children their worth in Jesus and helping them make positive decisions as they face the pressures of the inner-city.
 
The long-time, experienced school teachers and staff are so passionate about offering a well-rounded education that many are working on a volunteer basis to help keep the education cost as low as possible. The church and school leaders do everything possible to trim the cost of school, but families continue to struggle with the rise in the cost of living.
 
Pastor John and Principal Geri have reached out to Lutheran Church Charities, seeking $15,000 in scholarships to subsidize tuition costs for six students.  

Select "Christ the King, Chicago, Tuition Fund" to give to this fund.

09/13/2023

DONATIONS NEEDED FOR SALAM'S MINISTRY VEHICLE REPAIRS

LCC received a request for assistance from Pastor Hesham Shehab of Salam Christian Fellowship in Lombard, Illinois.

Dear Friends,
 
Salam's truck needs major repairs that cost $2,000. The truck has been serving the community for three years by hauling furniture to refugees and new immigrants.
 
At Salam, we have an incarnational ministry where we get involved in the lives of people by showing them the love of Christ in action as we witness to them and share Christ crucified and resurrected.
 
Please donate to God's mission generously to this "Heaven on Wheels" project.
 
In Christ,
 
Pastor Hesham Shehab
Salam Christian Fellowship
Lombard, Illinois

Select "CLMMA Salam Vehicle Repairs" to give to this fund.

07/05/2023

$20,000 NEEDED FOR PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOOD OUTREACH MINISTRY EXPANSION PROJECT

LCC received a request from Put Your Hands Together (PYHT) Food Outreach Ministry of Immanuel, Hillside, to help raise $20,000 for their expansion project to establish a permanent home for their pantry.
 
CLICK HERE to read a letter from Jayne Siou, PYHT Program Director.

Select "Put Your Hands Together Food Ministry, Immanuel Hillside" to give to this fund.

05/02/2023

HELP "BREAKFAST WITH BABY" SERVE FAMILIES IN NEED

Breakfast with Baby Ministry (BWB) at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Carol Stream, Illinois started in 2019, serving nine families by providing diapers, wipes, formula, baby clothing, baby furniture, equipment, and toys, and serving a hot sit down breakfast.

During COVID, BWB transitioned into a Drive Thru Ministry and served an average of 80 to 90 families. On September 17, Our Savior decided to go back to pre-COVID services for BWB, allowing families to come into the building to shop and have a sit-down breakfast as a family. To be able to serve the increasing number of families coming for assistance, Our Savior expanded the ministry. To purchase more supplies and equipment to expand the ministry, they spent over $4,000, which drained the ministry's financial resources.

Their most significant needs are diapers and baby wipes. They spend nearly $1,000 per month to purchase the items they provide to families in need during their monthly giveaway.
 
Please prayerfully consider donating to help Breakfast with Baby meet this need to serve families in their community.

Select "Breakfast with Baby - Our Savior - Carol Stream IL" to give to this fund.

06/21/2022

LUTHERAN CHURCH CHARITIES IS PARTNERING WITH REDEEMING LIFE OUTREACH MINISTRIES, IMMANUEL LUTHERAN EAST DUNDEE, ILLINOIS, LCEF, AND THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS DISTRICT OF THE LCMS

To Open a Christ-Centered Maternity Home for Single Pregnant Women in Crisis

Redeeming the lives of single mothers and their unborn children by providing hope, love and a future.

Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries is now under contract n a piece of property currently owned by Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee. We are currently in the permitting process and moving toward a closing date.

Meet the Host Church Family
The official host congregation for the East Dundee location will be Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee, Illinois. Led by Pastor Bill Yonker, Immanuel is a thriving congregation with many opportunities for our residents to learn about Jesus and serve Him. We believe Immanuel will make a lovely and welcoming church family.
 
Immanuel’s role is to provide spiritual support through worship, Bible study, and instruction classes and to simply love and accept the residents as dearly loved children of God. (The host congregation has no operational role in the home.)
 
The home will be managed by local, full-time Redeeming Life staff under the supervision of Sheryl DeWitt, Executive Director. Financial support will come from the congregations and individuals who have a heart for preserving life through Redeeming Life’s maternity home programs.

Why it matters!
Prior to coming to Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries in Sanford, Florida, Kay was a homeless, refugee from Haiti living in Florida and fleeing from a domestic violence relationship with the baby’s father. Kay is grateful for the support she receives from faithful servants like you through the ministry of Redeeming Life! Now this precious family lives in the daily assurance of God’s love. Stephen Williamson was born on Christmas Eve. On the same day, Stephen was baptized, his mom was confirmed in the Christian faith. 

To make a donation, select "Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries East Dundee ."

LCC operates with a Dollar In – Dollar Out funding process where EVERY dollar given for a cause goes directly to that cause or need, with LCC acknowledging the gift and overseeing that the money is used as intended.

09/09/2022

YOUR CONTINUED GIFTS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AT CHRIST THE KING, CHICAGO

On Monday, December 21, LCC Ministry Director Nikki Deacon, and LCC staff member Jamie Miller visited Christ the King, Chicago, Illinois. Pastor John and Principal Geri Brazeal were presented with your generous donations to be used in support of their staff and community.
 
Pastor John and Geri are preparing food bags for their community. Continuing their efforts to serve the homeless of Chicago, they will be preparing and delivering hot Christmas dinner to people living in tent cities, who typically only receive canned goods.
 
Your support makes it possible for Christ the King to continue to answer the call, and serve all people in need.

CLICK HERE to watch a video.

Voice of Hope Prison Ministry

LCC received the following request from Rev. Matthew Troester of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Matteson, Illinois:
 
Greetings,

Lori Wilbert, the Deaconess for Voice of Hope Prison Ministry, continues to serve at Stateville Prison in Joliet, Illinois. She raises 100% of her support for this work and is out often telling about her work and encouraging the support of that work in the prisons.

Attached is an article titled “Why Go To Prison,” written by Deaconess Lori. 

St. Paul's has supported Lori for many years now, and she is such a blessing to us as she shares her ministry with us, and encourages us to get involved, as we should. Please consider donating to help Deaconess Lori continue this important ministry.

Peace,

Rev. Matthew Troester
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Matteson, Illinois

 CLICK HERE to read the article titled “Why Go To Prison"

Select "Voice of Hope Prison Ministry Fund" to give to this fund.

Help St. MattheW's Soup Kitchen Serve
HOt meals to homeless,  unemployed,
seniors and Poor families

For more than 27 years, St. Matthew Lutheran Church (LCMS) located at 2108 West 21st Street, Chicago, Illinois, has developed a unique ministry in the Pilsen Community to reach the growing number of homeless and unemployed people. St. Matthew is the only Lutheran church in the community with a Gospel-oriented mission to all the homeless and unemployed. The Comedor San Mateo Soup Kitchen provides hot meals to feed the hungry and shares devotions to feed their souls. At the same time, it provides services in English and Spanish in a poverty stricken community of mostly Latino families. During frigid winter temperatures, the soup kitchen's volunteers continue to cook and serve hot meals to the homeless, unemployed, seniors and poor families. The soup kitchen serves 200+ meals twice a week even though donations are down. Please consider supporting the important work of St. Matthew as they continue to reach out and serve those in need in their community.
 
In the Name of Jesus,
Pastor Sifuentes and Pastor Matthew Troester

​​Designate Your Thrivent Choice Dollars Today!

​Please consider designating your Choice Dollars to Lutheran Church Charities today! Your Choice Dollars will help us continue to bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence, and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need.

Please follow these steps:

1. Visit www.thrivent.com/thriventchoice. 
2. Scroll down and select the "Get Started now" button
3. Log in and enter your user ID and password. Click on "register" if you haven't yet registered. 
4. Find the number of Choice Dollars available to direct on the right side of the screen. 
5. Find Lutheran Church Charities in the catalog of organizations. 
6. Click on "Direct Now" to direct designated Choice Dollars. 

​Thank you for considering directing your Thrivent Choice Dollars to LCC!