The Chicago group will drive straight through and arrive tonight. Please keep all those affected and those traveling in your thoughts and prayers. If you would like to help and support towards the expenses of this trip please click here to donate.

Lutheran Church Charities and the Northern Illinois District and Beyond Respond to Tornado Devastation in Moore, Oklahoma

Early reports of many fatalities, injuries, and severe damage are coming in from Moore, Oklahoma where a massive tornado cut a two-mile wide path through this town of 56,000 people.

The best ways to assist with devastation on this scale always takes time to sort out. At this time only approved emergency responders are permitted to enter Moore. No specifics have yet been shared on what needs to be done and the process through which help will be received. However, the most immediate need is cash assistance.

Lutheran Church Charities - working through the District President of the Northern Illinois District - will be collecting money to help Pastor Mark Muenchow from Messiah Lutheran Church in Oklahoma City minister to the families in the community who have suffered loss. All donations for this disaster...dollar for dollar...will be directed to the most pressing needs as determined by Messiah Lutheran.

We will continue to monitor the situation for additional help that they may need, stay in contact with our churches in Oklahoma, and share updates as they become available.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs have received an invitation from Pastor Muenchow and Messiah Lutheran Church, and are on standby and will deploy to Oklahoma as early as tomorrow. We are waiting for word when it is safe to enter the area. Please keep all in your prayers.

LCC never charges those we serve and we rely on donors to help cover our expenses. Click here if you would like to help cover travel expenses for our K-9 Comfort Dog team.

How to Help

Thank you for Making A Difference in the name of Christ to those suffering loss.

Martin comes to us from a donor in Wisconsin. He is an American Golden Retriever and is nine weeks old. He will be trained in the LCC office by staff.

Eddie comes to us from a donor in South Dakota. He is a European Cream Golden Retriever and is 13 weeks old. He will be trained by LCC staff.

In recent years, the money raised at the annual rummage sale was used for internal ministries, but this year they all agreed to send it to the K-9 Comfort Dogs to further the ministry that God is doing with them.

LCC would like to thank Pastor Steve Lee, his family, the Ladies Aid and members of Holy Trinity for their support of the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry.

In Boston the K9's and their handlers worked with Pastor Jeremy Pekari of Messiah Lutheran, Lynnfield MA, and Pastors Ingo Dutzmann and Paul Lentz of First Lutheran Church of Boston in accomplishing many visits throughout the area. They visited Windrush Farm, which houses an equestrian program for developmentally disabled, an Alzheimer facility, a confirmation class, and a Ascension Thursday service. The group continued on Friday with two visits to the Back Bay Boston Police Station and also visiting patients on four floors of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Finally, they attended the Memorial Service at FLC, and had a visit with children at Francis Wyman elementary school in Burlington, MA. Truly with God all things are possible!

Attending the K-9 Handler training, from left to right are: Sue Piske, Doug Piske with K-9 Comfort Dog Bekah, Dylan Teut, Colton Gritzmacher, Toni Higgens-Thrash, and Charmaine Cornwell.

Also in attendance was LCC staff member Karla Albrecht.

There was also an opportunity for K-9 Comfort Dogs Tara, Zoey and Tillie to go visit students with the school counselors during their sessions. The dogs were welcomed by the students and instantly brought peace and comfort.

We wish everyone good luck with exams and a blessed Summer!

A Thank You from LCC President Tim Hetzner:

"THANK YOU TO ALL who make this possible - Being out in West, Texas, in the school and in the town, and all over Waco, confirms the need to be here to share the Mercy and Compassion of Jesus Christ with people who are in one way or another affected by the recent explosion. The Presence of Jesus Christ through his people and through his creation (Comfort Dogs) brings healing. Thank you to all who make this possible and who are an extension of the feet and arms and presence of Jesus Christ.

His answer:

"A gift from God to people who need help"

The K-9 presentation was on the use of Comfort Dogs responding to Newtown, CT and more recently, Boston and Texas.

About 26 people attended the presentation; they asked great questions about the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry. The group was also interested in the use of K-9 Comfort Dogs in the courts.