Northern_Illinois

Originally headquartered in Addison, Illinois, and currently in Northbrook, Illinois, Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) was founded in 1947 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry to help support Christian human care ministries of the Church. LCC works throughout the United States and Internationally in bringing the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those Suffering and in Need. LCC works with and in partnership with our churches. LCC is an RSO (Recognized Service Organization) of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

LCC Disaster Response deploys, coordinates, and manages volunteer teams as they respond after natural disasters and storms throughout the United States. With expertise in heavy equipment, chainsaw use, debris removal, cleanup, and construction, LCC Disaster Response helps communities recover — at no cost — while showing them the mercy and presence of Jesus Christ. LCC trains and certifies Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT) in coordination with LCMS districts and congregations.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry is a national human-care outreach that embraces the unique, calming nature and skills of purebred Golden Retrievers. With more than 100 teams in 27 states, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry is a bridge for compassionate care, opening doors for conversation about faith, helping people process stress and trauma, and creating opportunities to share the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ.

LCC staff and volunteer handlers and ministry partners are not licensed counselors, but they have experience in crisis situations and training in Spiritual First Aid™, a peer-to-peer spiritual and emotional care framework using trauma-informed best practices. SFA is biblically based, rooted in psychological research, and field-tested by the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College. LCC has equipped and certified more than 2,000 volunteers to be front-line spiritual caregivers.

The LCC Cares Ministry partners with churches to form Care Teams that extend the congregation’s outreach. LCC Cares helps them engage the community and build a network of resources. These teams receive training in Spiritual First Aid™️, equipping them to respond effectively to trauma, crisis, and urgent needs. Some teams provide basic necessities, job training, and financial support, while others concentrate on visiting vulnerable individuals, serving alongside partner organizations, and responding to large-scale crises.

LCC Hearts of Mercy & Compassion volunteers place wood hearts and crosses at memorial sites, schools, first responder workplaces, and town squares to provide a physical symbol of God’s mercy and compassion for those who are hurting and in need. Hearts are also presented to families and friends who have suffered loss of a loved one. Mourners are encouraged to write support messages on the hearts and crosses.