GIVING THANKS FOR CROSSES & COMPASSION

As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude. We are thankful for the many hands and hearts that have joined together in the Crosses for Benny ministry. What began as a simple idea—to place a small cross into the hands of those facing hardship—has blossomed. It has grown into a powerful witness of Christ’s love. This growth is thanks to the generosity of so many.
Join us in celebrating this journey and in spreading love and kindness!

This fall, we have been blessed by the creativity and devotion of LWML groups, congregations, and schools across our district and beyond:

• Bethany Lutheran Church’s LWML of Erlanger, Kentucky partnered with us by providing crosses to be handed out with meals. They even used a 3D printer to craft some of them.

• LWML Missouri’s Northeast Zone made crosses at their Fall Rally. They also sent a generous offering to strengthen our ministry.
• St. Mark’s Women in Mission, from St. Charles Illinois lovingly sent crosses to be shared through Crosses for Benny.
• LWML Pine Ridge Zone from Alliance, Nebraska is actually part of the Wyoming District. They amazed us with their gift of 400 crosses. This generous act ensures that countless hands will hold a reminder of Christ’s presence.
• Trinity Lutheran School in Hoffman, IL, is a small but mighty school of 59 students. They embraced Crosses for Benny as their prayer family project. The school sent 300 crosses. Young servant hearts in the making!
• The LWML of Minnesota North – Lakeland 1 Region, joyfully made 442 crosses at their Fall Rally.
• Hope Lutheran Church’s LWML of Des Moines, IA, faithfully crafted crosses for Benny.
• Blessed Savior Women’s Ministry of New Berlin, WI sent crosses to bless those in need.
• LWML South Bend Zone of the Indiana District, joined together to make crosses for Benny.
• LWML Mt. Pleasant Zone of the Iowa East District sent 400 crosses along with a generous donation from their Fall Workshop.
• Jen Marler, shared special nail crosses handcrafted by Roger Potratz of Seward, NE.
• Many others continue to join this ministry of mercy. Each contribution is a testimony to the Gospel lived out in action.

Each cross, whether handcrafted, printed, or forged from nails, carries with it a prayer and a promise. It signifies that even in times of disaster, loss, or uncertainty, Christ is near. These small tokens of faith are more than stone, wood or plastic. They are symbols of hope, comfort, and the unshakable love of Jesus.

This Thanksgiving, we pause to remember that gratitude is not only spoken but shown. Through your gifts, prayers, and offerings, you have shown the love of Christ to neighbors in need. We give thanks for you, our partners in ministry. We are also grateful for the countless lives that will be touched by your generosity.

Together, we are building a legacy of mercy—one cross, one prayer, one meal, one act of love at a time.