LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry

10/12/2023

Don't worry, the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry is still a big part of our mission here at Lutheran Church Charities. We are just condensing our accounts so you can find more great content in one easy place. Make sure you are following the main LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs page as this one will no longer be active. Thank you for your continued support of Lutheran Church Charities!

09/11/2023

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation." -Isaiah 12:2

It is with great sadness that we tell you of the passing of Kare-9 Butch, who is now Permanently Deployed Serving the Saints. We give praise and thanks to God for his years of faithful service alongside his handler, Veteran Keith Stanton and Judy Stanton. Keith Stanton is a U.S. Air Force veteran. We are so grateful for Keith's service and how he is able to offer comfort to fellow members of the armed forces and first responders.

Kare-9 Butch and Veteran Keith and his wife Judy touched countless lives through their ministry work. Butch was a part of the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Squad which was launched on August 1, 2014 to serve our military, veterans and their families. Kare-9 Butch and Veteran Keith made regular visits to connect with the military community in the Chicagoland and Freeport area. Their visits included events sponsored by VFW Post 1461, American Legion 76, and Yellow Ribbon. They were also active with schools in the area such as Highland Community College and Immanuel Lutheran School. They also visited several area nursing homes. Kare-9 Butch and Veteran Keith had the honor of attending several funerals for first responders and military personal to pay their respects and bring comfort to their grieving families.

We are thankful to Our Lord for His gifts that He gives. Today, we praise God for the time He has given us with Butch. Our Lord has proved to be true to His word: He is near to the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. Our God is with Keith and Judy Stanton and is near to us all with His comforting presence.

Thank you for your service, Butch, well done.

09/11/2023

09/04/2023

Happy Labor Day to each and every one of our amazing volunteers. We are so grateful that you have joined us in our mission to be there for those who are suffering and in need. We couldn't do it without you! ❤️

08/01/2023

Today marks 9 years of serving our military through the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry! It's been an honor to serve veterans, active-duty military and their families over the years. Thank you to everyone who has helped this ministry grow to what it is today. We can't wait to see how God continues to lead us in this important mission! ❤️🇺🇸

07/04/2023

Happy 4th of July! Let's honor the values that unite us and pray for unity, justice, and peace for our country. God bless America! 🇺🇸❤️🙏

05/29/2023

On this Memorial Day, we humbly gather to honor and remember the courageous men and women who selflessly laid down their lives for our freedom. Today, we lift our prayers for the families of fallen heroes, asking for God's peace to surround them.

05/04/2023

On this National Day of Prayer, let us turn our hearts to God, seeking His guidance and blessings. Together, we lift our voices in faith and trust, knowing that with God all things are possible. May His love and grace shine upon us, now and always. 🙏❤️

05/01/2023

During Military Appreciation Month, we honor and thank the brave men and women who have served our country and sacrificed so much to defend our freedom. Your courage, dedication, and sacrifice will never be forgotten. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

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04/17/2023

Today marks the start of National Volunteer Week! LCC is blessed to have many incredible volunteers and we want you to know that your contributions do not go unnoticed. You are the backbone of what we do at LCC and your efforts are what make our world a brighter, kinder, and more hopeful place. We thank you for your tireless work, your boundless energy, and your unwavering commitment to serving others. Happy National Volunteer Week!

04/12/2023

Today LCC Kare 9 Amos and his veteran handler, George Folta were honored to join Kezia Comfort Dog (Emmanual - Baltimore, MD) in Washington, DC to meet Isaac Comfort Dog (Redeemer Lutheran - Spokane, WA) and the 95 veterans here from the Inland Northwest Honor Flight.

It is truly a privilege to honor and welcome the veterans to the memorials recognizing their service and to be present to offer the comfort of Jesus's love as the veterans experience the many emotions that this trip brings to our nation's Heroes.

We accompanied veterans from WWII and the Korean and Vietnam Wars as we walked alongside them in support. We prayed for those who have died in their service to our country and for the treasured memories of those who love and mourn them.

At one point, after finding his friend’s name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall, a veteran went over to Amos and hugged him deeply while sobbing. He told us that he had just lost his own dog last week. They carry their losses, still as painful as ever.

We each experienced conversations with the veterans telling us their stories and memories and it was a great honor to listen and share in their experience. George enjoyed a special camaraderie when meeting two fellow Coast Guard veterans.

God is so good to have placed us there today to share His comfort and love.