Saturday, March 13th -

Rev. Gregory S. Walton, President, The Florida-Georgia District, LCMS writes:

Lenten greetings to you all as we begin those final weeks of this season that truly points us to the hope we have within us, the risen Lord Jesus!

The Psalmist wrote, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Psalm 116:15

This morning we learned of the murder of Pastor Doris Jean Louis, the father of Lutheranism in Haiti, truly one of God's saints. Apparently as he was entering his residence last night he was attacked by some men and brutally murdered. While we have no details and can't comprehend how this could happen, God's people cry out in anguish for this dear soul. We pray that God's mercy, comfort and peace would surround his family, the Lutheran community in Haiti, and the whole nation still embroiled in such difficulty following the devastating earthquakes.

In the grace and mercy of God, I would request that Pastor Louis' family be lifted in prayer in your worship service tomorrow, that you would continue to pray for the Lutheran community in Haiti, and continue to pray for this nation. The Apostle Paul wrote of the Church being like a human body, and said, "that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." 1 Cor. 12:25-27

Tuesday, March 9th -

Tim Hetzner and members of the Haiti Medical Mission team met with Congressman Peter J. Roskam of Illinois to thank him for his support for our Relief Efforts for the people of Haiti.

Among those pictured are Sue Gross, Illinois Haiti Mission Director, Dr. Susan Busse - head of the Malaria Initiative, Tim Hetzner, President of Lutheran Church Charities, and Congressman Peter Roskam.

Sunday, March 7th -

Mr. John Peterson of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in LaFox presented a check to LCC President Tim Hetzner for the March 11th Haiti Medical Mission trip. John shared that the money was raised Sunday morning after church when it was announced that the Medical Mission Team would be leaving this week for Haiti.

Local Lutheran group sends Haiti donations in truck loads

In what they call one of the largest Chicago-area Haiti relief efforts, Lutheran Church Charities officials collected an estimated $1 million in donations from 22 area churches.

But what always overwhelms Tim Hetzner, the group's president, is "the outpouring of people and the love and compassion of the volunteers."

The effort, in partnership with Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's World Relief/Human Care, was launched with an e-mail blast. Both groups recruited more than 200 volunteers to work at an Itasca warehouse for three shifts per day this week to help sort and pack donations.

Skokie responds to need in Haiti

St. Paul Lutheran Church & Academy has joined the larger Lutheran Church Charities in efforts to collect items for Haiti Earthquake Relief.

Supplies are being accepted at a drop-off site through Sunday at the school, 5201 Galitz St.

St. Paul is collecting bottled water, canned food with pop tops, peanut butter, dry rice, dry beans, dishwashing liquid, sheets and pillows, shovels and tools for rebuilding, buckets, antibacterial ointment, washcloths, soap, deodorant, individual packets of disinfectant wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Band-aids, first aid ointment, baby food, baby bottles and tents.

On Tuesday, January 19th, LCC President Tim Hetzner was interviewed by Mike Moen of WNIJ, NPR affiliate at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb about our Haiti response.

On January 22, 2010, legislation was passed that allows certain 2010 contributions for Haiti earthquake relief to be deducted on your 2009 tax return instead of your 2010 return. This means you can receive an immediate tax benefit, rather than having to wait until you file next year's return. Certain requirements apply.

Below is the link to the IRS website which lists the requirements. Ask your tax advisor for additional details.

Rev. Bingue, a native of Haiti, is a Lutheran Pastor ministering to Haitian immigrants in the Chicago area

Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ,

As I spoke to you concerning the container to send to Haiti I would like to serve about six suburbs from Port-au-Prince such as Carrefour, Gressier, Leogane, Carrefour dufort, Grand Goave and Petit Goave. Those are the areas that are heavily affected by the earthquaque. So far about four hundred people are already dead. Mostly all the people in this area do not have place to sleep, they are in the streets. Things that are mostly needed are medicine, food, clothes,water and money. Whatever we can do to help these people will be very appreciated. All the major facilities have collapsed, the parliament, the tax office, schools, hospitals, the cathedral. Now, concerning the town of Leogane you could literally play soccer there, there is no house standing. I am planning on leaving on the 5th of February or sooner to start the process of helping them to rebuild Haiti.
Thank you for your concern,

Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jean Andre Gerard Bingue