The story regarding New Moms Inc will be featured on K-Love Radio on Monday, March 31st.

Thank you for your support and we will continue to help this wonderful program.

U.S. Army Troops in need of Helmet Liners
"Support Our Troops" of Christ Lutheran Church in Orland Park, IL, is a loving and dedicated group of hardworking women who knit and crochet helmet liners, scarves, gators, and neck coolers for U. S. Soldiers deployed in Iraq. The standard items provided by the U. S. Armed Forces are not made of 100% wool and are not as comfortable as what they make for them.  The climate in various parts of Iraq can be quite cold or brutally hot depending on the season or where the troops are stationed. With each garment they include the written message

Over the last several years almost 3,500 handmade items taking from 1-10 hours each to make, have been sent to our troops in Iraq.  About 80 women, ages ranging from 20's well into their 70's, from all over the Chicagoland area have been working tirelessly at home and in regular "Bee" meetings.

"Support Our Troops" recently received a request from a U.S. Army Chaplin for helmet liners for each of the soldiers in his unit of 17,000!

To meet the needs of our soldiers more volunteers are needed. "Support Our Troops" also needs continued support through additional donations to buy more materials.

For more information on how you can help "Support Our Troops", or start a chapter in your own congregation, please contact Carol O'Donnell via Christ Lutheran Church, Orland Park, IL 708-349-0431 email at info@christlutheranorland.com or email Carol directly at sewbeeit8708@comcast.net or contact LCC at 866-455-6466 or e-mail LCC@LutheranChurchCharities.org

Click here to donate to "Support Our Troops" Christ Orland Park

Help The Life Center in Elgin reach out to women with crisis pregnancies
Request from Pastor Steve Okpisz, Faith Lutheran Church, Geneva, Illinois
Our congregation supports the Elgin Life Center.  Vivian Maly is the director and a member of Faith Lutheran Church. She has sent the following request and we are asking for your support:

We have a new goal of adding an ultrasound Machine to our ministry.  We believe that women considering abortion will fall in love with the little baby they see with ultrasound technology.   We pray that this "eye opening technology", which was called by one nationally syndicated columnist as an "abortion block", will become a reality at The Life Center.  Some centers report as high as 98% of their women who have ultrasounds choose to carry to term.  The program costs tens of thousands of dollars.  We are praying for a grant from Focus on the Family to cover 80% of the cost of the machine.  We are praying for faithful Christians to join us in raising the other 20% and the funds for a nurse to be on staff.  So will you join us in this life saving crusade? 

Vivian Maly, Director
The Life Center

Click here to donate to The Life Center Ultrasound.

Hi Everyone,

I could only take inside pictures, it has been raining ever since I got here!  I'm very happy to be back on campus but a little nervous too! I know that I couldn't have done this without the wheelchair.

Thank you for all the prayers and support!!

Katie

Thank You for your continued support as we continue to Help Her Dream Come True!

Can we help her dream come true?

Katie (pictured at right) is a vibrant 19 year old college sophomore at Illinois State University. Her major and passion is deaf education. Katie is one of four children in a single-mother family. Several years ago she was diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). She is in constant pain and can no longer walk across campus. Katie and her family are life long members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Palatine. Although LCC was contacted with a request to help move Katie back to school, in the course of the conversation we learned that her application for an electric wheelchair was still under review by her insurance company and might not be approved. Without an electric wheel chair, Katie could not start classes. The day before we received the call about Katie, Mildred Crowley (pictured above, left), a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Palatine, contacted LCC to donate her late husband's electric wheelchair. He had only used the chair twice and Mildred wanted it to go to someone who really needed it.

What a privilege to see the way God answers prayer and connects our needs with His resources!

Because of Mildred's generous donation Katie will be back on campus this week. RSD is a lifelong condition and because of it Katie will have continuing medical and equipment needs. Some of Katie's current needs are:

• portable ramps for her wheelchair
• a collapsible chair for the car and
• treatment for pain management.

Many of these expenses exceed or are disallowed by her insurance. Here is a young dedicated Christian woman determined to follow her passion to minister to deaf children. With God's help her dream will be realized. We invite you to be part of God's provision for Katie.  All donations will go dollar-per-dollar to assist Katie in her dream.

Click here to donate to the Get Katie to Class fund.

Thank You to all who donated.  You have helped this family make a new start!

NEED MET! You Have Made a Difference!

Help Church Help Kids From Troubled Homes!

$220 needed to cover camp costs for four boys.

Request from Pastor Andy Bauer of New Life Lutheran Church (WELS) Lake Zurich, Illinois

Our Church, New Life Lutheran Church in Lake Zurich, raised $580.00 to send four young boys to "Training Camp" (pictured above). The cost for the camp is $200.00 per camper. Training Camp is a week long camp for girls and boys grades 3-9. These boys, two sets of brothers, come from two unique situations. Two of the boys live with their grandma, because their mom doesn't want them and their dad is in jail. Two of the boys live with their dad, who had a heart attack two months ago and no mother because she took her own life last December. What a privilege it is to send these four boys to camp to spend time with other Christian boys and girls. If there are funds available to help defray some of the costs, it would be very much appreciated.

Click here if you can help with the remaining camp costs.

11 Year Old Boy with Incurable Brain Tumor Needs Prayers and Assistance

Request from Pastor Timothy Verity, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan I am writing about Ethan. Ethan is 11 years old. Ethan has an incurable brain tumor. He has had extensive surgery three times (1st in 2003; 2nd in November 2005 and 3rd this year), including a bone marrow transplant. He is now being treated with chemo therapy. No further procedures can be performed. Ethan is a delightful young man who wins the friendship of all he meets.No one knows how much time we have left on this earth. Certainly Ethan doesn't know. He wants to live. He's full of life. He has faith. Ethan and his family are members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids. The good folks of Immanuel are helping Ethan's family. But, indeed, more is needed.  ... Click here for the complete story To donate to the Ethan Family Fund-Immanuel Grand Rapids click here

Vehicle Need

Middle Aged Man in Desperate Need of a Vehicle and Financial Assistance

Request from Rev. Chris Bottorff, Salem Lutheran Church, Blue Island, Illinois

Pastor Chris Bottorff just contacted me about a man that he has been ministering to - not a member (yet) but attending regularly - who is in financial need. Salem Lutheran has been helping him out but they are running out of funds. This man is working 6-8 hrs a day at a minimum paying job, has a heart problem and is diabetic. His car is beyond repair. He needs a car to keep his job.

If you have a car to donate, contact LCC@LutheranChurchCharities.org or call 1-800-466-6466

If you can help Pastor Bottorff and the members of Salem continue to make a difference with the Compassion of Christ, click here.

Thank you for Making A Difference!

Help Needed for Families Fleeing Persecution
Large numbers of refugee families are expected to arrive in the Chicagoland area this summer. We've already received information on 25 different families scheduled to come in June - more than double the number of referrals we usually receive, with more coming later this summer. Most families will bring little more than the clothes they are wearing. These refugees include:

Burundi: Violence forced these families to flee their homes in 1972. After living in remote refugee camps for more than thirty years, many Burundi families will finally find "home" in Chicagoland this summer. At least four Burundi families are expected to arrive in our area by the end of June.

Myanmar/ Burma: Burmese refugees, including members of the Chin and Karen ethnic minorities, fled persecution from the current military regime. At least 15 Burmese families will arrive in the Chicagoland area by the end of June. Many of the Chin Burmese are young men who fled as boys to avoid being kidnapped and forced into serving as child soldiers.

Iraq: The U.N. High Commission for Refugees estimates as many as two million Iraqis have fled their country since the war began. The majority fled into Syria and Jordan. Beginning in July, our community will receive the first of the 7,000 Iraqi refugees the United States invited to begin new lives in America!

Welcome these weary refugee families to our community! Collect and deliver a "Welcome to America! Pack" of household items and food staples with your family, church or group. You will provide the essentials needed to turn an empty apartment into a home. You will also communicate the very important message that these families are not forgotten! Help a new refugee family adjust to their community by visiting them on a weekly basis through the "New Neighbor" program. Exodus World Service provides everything you need to make a difference. Contact them at 630/307-1400 x108 or jessica.davis@e-w-s.org or visit their web page at www.e-w-s.org to learn more.

Help Support Pastor Isaac's Orphanage in Haiti

If you would like to donate to the "Isaac's Orphanage, Haiti" click here

The 10 Orphaned Children (pictured here) that Pastor Isaac has taken into his home have all felt hunger. There is never enough food for their stomachs but Pastor assures me that these children will have a better life with him, even without food everyday, because they are learning that they do not need voodoo to protect them. They have a Loving God and a Savior who is always with them and he will never abandon them like so many Haitian children that have been left to die.

My last letter asked for sponsors to help support these 10 children. 16 wonderful sponsors came forward to commit to $25.00 a month. The first months donation has already been received by Pastor Isaac and he is very grateful. He will now be able to put some of the children in school.

After talking with a LCMS Missionary who runs a orphanage in another part of Haiti we decided it will take 4 donors per child to cover food, clothing, medical and school expenses. Unlike Compassion who asks for $30.00 a month they do not cover living expenses for the children only fees for the after school projects run by local churches and maybe 1 meal a day. Pastor is responsible for ALL of their living expenses. So we are looking for 24 more sponsors.

Please consider feeding a child who is always hungry as you count your blessings this Thanksgiving.

Questions or comments:

suelynn144@aol.com
708-389-6676

Sue Gross
c/o Christ Lutheran Church
14700 S. 94th Ave.
Orland Park, IL 60462

If you would like to donate to the "Isaac's Orphanage, Haiti" click here

Update from Wilson Cohoon on Jan 29

Thank you for Making A Difference.

- Tim Hetzner

For more on the story, Click Here

If you are able, Help Make A Difference -
donate to the Haiti Leogane Mission

Young Man with Bi-Polar Disorder Needs Financial Assistance

Donate to the Ascension Bi-PolarFund

Concordia Lutheran Ministries - Cabot, PA

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Here at Concordia banners throughout the campus carry the message, we put our faith in caring. Since the November 5th fire, so have you. We want to express our heartfelt thanks for you donation of $14,621.00 to our family at Concordia in this difficult time.

When tragedy strikes and the road ahead seems darkest, it's only human to ask, "How could this happen - and where can we turn for help?" The recent fire at Concordia Haven Apartments was a tragedy, but thanks to the thousands of helping hands like yours as well as the power of our God, not a soul was harmed and restorative efforts are already under way.

Your caring and faith have touched us deeply. At this time of year we pause to count our blessings. Thanksgiving for the Concordia family this year takes on new meaning. We are giving thanks for you and your kind generosity. We shall be forever grateful and take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones an especially blessed day of harvest.

In Him we put our trust,

Keith E. Frndak President and CEO

Shirley M. Freyer Director of PR & Development

Click here to donate to the Concordia Lutheran Ministry - Cabot, Pennsylvania Fund

Emergency Appeal to Help 137 Elderly People - Victims of Fire this past Sunday

On Sunday, November 5th, Concordia Haven, a Christian Senior's Home run by Concordia Lutheran Ministries (St. Luke Lutheran Church) caught fire. In less than an hour, 137 people were left without housing; all of their belongings were destroyed. Twenty-nine elderly members of St. Luke lost everything. Many did not have insurance. They are being temporarily housed in a skilled care living facility that had not yet been opened. Immediate needs are financial assistance to help care for them until more permanent housing can be located and they can be resettled.

Read the News Story at  KDKA Television   
View the Video report from KDKA Television   
Slideshow:  Fire Guts Senior-Citizen Complex

Please keep St. Luke and Concordia Lutheran Ministries in your prayers.

Thank you for you support in bringing the Compassion of Christ and the Presence of Christ to the people displaced.

Click here to donate to the Concordia Lutheran Ministry - Cabot, Pennsylvania Fund

You can also donate directly by making Checks out to

On the day before Thanksgiving Tim Hetzner at Lutheran Church Charities received the below email from Pastor Dan Hawkins at New Song Lutheran Church in Aurora, Illinois

Dear Tim,
How are you brother? Ministry keeps things moving at New Song.
I wanted to take a moment and put a request in to you for a car. Someone in our congregation is going through hard times and is in need of "wheels." He is a young man I met through a basketball program for at-risk teens that I led when I was a pastor at St. Paul's in Aurora. This young man has had a very bumpy past. His dad left the family before he was born. His mother is an alcoholic and recently "kicked him out" of their apartment. He is now on his own living in a small apartment in downtown Aurora. He has recently joined New Song & is planning on getting involved with our youth ministry. He currently has a job at a local Jewel grocery store & he's barely squeaking by with enough money for rent and food. He asked if I could put in a word to any Church organizations that could help him out with a dependable car for transportation in the winter.
If there is anything you can do to help or if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to call. Thanks for all you do.
Celebrating the Victory,(1 Cor.15:52)
Dan Hawkins, pastor of New Song church

NEED MET - LCC contacted Pastor Hawkins the same day and had a vehicle for the young man in need. Tim Hetzner at LCC commented to Pastor Dan: "Dan - this is exactly how it is to work! You started reaching out to a young man in his teens who was going through troubled times, you continued that relationship with him and shared the Compassion of Christ with him as you continue to do during his time of need - and shared his need to the larger church community for them to respond! You can call it Ablaze, you can call it what you want - what I call it is the Body Of Christ working as the Body of Christ is to work!

Keep up the wonderful work of God working through you brother!"

Help Needed for a Sierra Leone Refugee Family

Request for Assistance (June 5, 2006).
A month ago, after worship, I was approached by a stranger. His name is John (not his real name) and right now is working at a downtown motel. He lives not far from our church on the north side of Chicago. He is now attending our worship services when he does not have to work.
He is seeking financial assistance for his family, still in a refugee camp in Sierra Leone. He met his wife while in the camp, and they were married in 2003. They have 2 sons, one who is not yet 3 years old and his wife’s older son (8), whom he adopted when they married.
John explained that the visas he has obtained for them will expire in about 6 month’s time. He recently showed me a fax directing his wife to claim the visas in early April.
John needs to raise $2,000 to bring his family to join him in America. This is not the full cost of their airfare. The airline is willing to accept this amount as a down payment, and allow them to pay back the rest over time. I have contacted John’s case worker at Heartland Human Care Services and established both the truth of what John told me and that the usual refugee revolving fund does not apply here. He is quite willing to contribute from his small earnings to the cost, but at the rate he is able to save, the visas would expire before the down payment is met.
I am asking our congregation to plan and host a fund-raising activity for this family. Once a service team is formed, we will send information, asking your help in promoting the event(s). Perhaps you or your organization can assist in raising funds as well.
Once the family is able to come to America, they will have resettlement needs as well. I expect they will need furniture, linens, cooking pots and utensils, etc. His wife will need assistance in finding work, as John’s income will probably be insufficient (and they have the balance of the airfare to repay). Consider these future needs as well.
Whatever tangible assistance you are able to provide or connect, please keep this family in prayer. John’s family is not perfectly safe in the refugee camp.
Thanks,
—The Rev. Chris Browne, St. Philip Lutheran Church (N), Chicago

Click to donate to the Sierra Leone Family Fund

Financial Assistance Needed for Student from Kenya

The Rev. Capt. Daniel Mulwa from Carlisle College has called for assistance for his Cousin, Samuel Mbithi. Mr. Mbithi has completed his under graduate studies in Law at the University in Nairobi. He has just received notice that he has been awarded a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame to pursue a masters degree in International Human Rights Law. This is a wonderful opportunity, not only for Mr. Mbithi, but for the resource he will be for the ministry of Carlisle College. This seminary trains indigenous pastors for 9 countries in East Africa and also has a Centre for Urban Ministry that operates in Kibera, one of the largest slums in the world. They train pastors and evangelists with skills to address the special needs for the large slum communities found in most African cities. Mr. Mbithi has only a short time - 2 months - to fulfill three requirements for the scholarship. He must have a return air ticket, medical insurance, and a laptop computer. He will happily accept a used computer if someone is upgrading. Donations towards these requirements would also be thankfully received.

The actual quote for the return ticket is Kshs. 237,600/- (US $ 3,252). The medical Insurance is given by the Notre Dame University as approximately US $ 1,200.

Click to donate to the Kenya Student Fund

UPDATE - Cole Family Update

Human doctors held out no hope for Allison Cole to recover from the injuries she sustained on Feb. 25th in a car accident that brought her mom, dad, sister, and future sibling, to heaven. The past few weeks Allison has shown significant improvement.  It seems that around the 45 day period, when she was moved to Children's Memorial Hospital she starting showing signs of more brain function.  We all were very protective not to set ourselves up with any false hope. The reality now is that I can share with confidence that she is recognizing people and able to communicate by nodding. I have seen this miracle with my own eyes. She is going through rehab for the physical injuries that she has.  Someone told me, "It will take a miracle of God for Allison to ever recover."  God still works miracles!  Thank God that Allison's grandparents have something positive to focus on as they journey through the grief of this accident. Thank you so much for the support, prayers, and donations that you have given along the way.  God has great and eternal plans for Allison Cole.  May He continue to carry out His plan through your life. 

In His Service,
Rev. Mark Nordman

(Pictured at right: a check from the donations received thus far that was delivered by LCC Staff member Marie Payes to Pastor Mark Nordman (left) with Daryl Kruse (school principal, at right) on March 6, 2006.)

March 17, 2006 - From Rev. Mark Nordman from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rochelle:

FRIENDS IN CHRIST, thank you for reaching out with your prayers, love, and donations. Your faith in action has meant a lot to this family as they walk through this deep valley. Chuck and Julie Cole have been encouraged by your outpouring of love and your donations for Allison. Allison remains at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Madison, WI. She is off the ventilator and the swelling on her brain has gone down. The main concern has been that Allison has not yet shown any sign of purposeful brain function. This is due primarily to the impact of the accident back on Feb. 25th. Please keep praying that God would work a miracle and bring the healing Allison needs. We thank HIM for the greatest miracle HE has given in saving Allison, and all of us for eternity. 1 Thess 1: 8 "The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia-your faith in God has become known everywhere." Thank you for extending the Kingdom of Christ's love to this hurting family. God's grace and peace in Jesus be in your hearts.
Sincerely,  Pastor Nordman

A special fund has been set up for the daughter and her ongoing expenses. Contributions can be made out to Lutheran Church Charities -" Cole Family Fund "- and Dollar per Dollar your support will go to St. Paul's to assist the family.

Consider making a financial donation to help the Cole Family. Dollar per Dollar it will be used for their expenses accrued because of her medical condition. You can contribute on line via the LCC Web Site or send your check to Lutheran Church Charities, 333 West Lake Street, Addison, IL 60101 and mark "Cole Family" in the memo.

Click here to read Pastor Nordman's email to Tim.

Special Appeal - Sunday Morning Fire affects family

I received the following from Rev. Wahl from St. Paul Lutheran regarding a church member family and a fire that they had in their home Sunday, April 23rd. LCC has set up a fund to assist the family; Dollar per Dollar donations will go to St. Paul to help this family. More specific needs will be posted on Tuesday in our Making A Difference Newsletter. If you would to help Make a Difference in helping this family, click here to donate online or send a check to LCC and mark your donation for the St. Paul, Thornton Family.

Thank you for helping this family and Making A Difference in the name of Christ!

In Him,

Tim Hetzner
President
Lutheran Church Charities

From Pastor Wahl, St. Paul Lutheran, Thornton on Sunday, April 23, 2006:

Dear Tim:

Greetings in the name of our resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ.

This morning, during our Sunday School/Bible Class hour at St. Paul, Thornton, things were interrupted when folks became aware that there was a fire in the house next door to our church building.

It was the home of Tim and Michelle Van Dommelen (both mid to late '20s) and their two daughters Taylor (age 4) and Payton (age 1 1/2). They are members of our congregation. Michelle is also our Sunday School Superintendent. She of course was at Sunday School as was Taylor. Tim was still at home with Payton when he discovered flames coming out of a heat register. He was able to get out of the house with Payton, only to watch the flames engulf the house. It was a total loss as well as all its contents. Tim and Michelle rented the house from Michelle's grandmother who owned the house. She is Mrs. Peggy Kelly who belongs to Markham Lutheran (English District) in Markham. As I understand it, Tim and Michelle did not have any type of renter's insurance.

Of course things were confusing at St. Paul as well, as fire equipment from several communities blocked the street as well as the driveway to the church. Some parishioners were able to make it into the church parking lot while others had to park on side streets and walk over to the church. I think this discouraged some people from coming to worship this morning as our attendance was diminished; but then again it was "low-Sunday" anyway following Easter.

In our worship service this morning, we had prayers of thanksgiving that the Lord spared the family of any bodily harm or loss of life. We also prayed the Lord's blessing and strength for them to get through the present circumstances. We also took up a door offering from people attending this morning and received $272.00 which we have given the family.

A couple families with children around the age of Taylor and Payton are gathering some clothing for them as well as some individuals who are about the same size as Tim and Michelle.

The Red Cross came on the scene as well and offered some type of vouchers to them to help with some immediate needs. Some of our members are planning a Benefit supper of some type in the near future.

For the time being, the family is staying in Thornton with Michelle's parents, Bob and Debi Brandy who also belong to St. Paul.

Between all of these efforts, I think the majority of immediate needs are being met for the family.

Michelle works as a teacher in nearby South Holland area. Tim is a chef and was scheduled to begin a training program with Applebee's tomorrow to eventually be the chef of one of their restaurants.

Long term, I think Tim and Michelle will look for another home to rent in Thornton. There will then be the need for furniture and appliances and other necessities.

In addition, I understand that there was another relative of the extended family staying in an upstairs room at the time. I believe that it is a single middle aged female. I do not know her or anything about her circumstances. She was not present when the fire hit. I understand that she is out of town in another state for a couple of weeks. Presumably, there would be some additional needs that would have to be met in the future.

Is there anything that Lutheran Church Charities can do to assist these folks? Kindly let me know.

Pastor Harold Wahl
St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church
508 Chicago Road
Thornton, IL 60438

Click here to donate to the St. Paul, Thornton Family Fund.

Retired Rev. Moritz and family enjoys their new furniture and Quilts

On March 31st a semi-trailer truck pulled into a warehouse in Harahan LA. It was filled with furniture for the Moritz Family. The family lost everything when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf States. Wednesday April 5th Sonny Mack and Chuck Schild from the Lutheran Layman's League/Lutheran Church Charities Easter Project Team were on hand to celebrate with the Moritzs' when they received the furniture and a quilt for each of them.

 

Baptist Churches AND LCC and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Need Met for Redeemer Peru

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