Students at Plano's Faith Lutheran School often support the work of missionaries through their chapel offerings.  But this semester, they are gathering funds to help the son of the school's own fourth grade teacher.

Rev. Micah Wildauer, son of Faith Lutheran School fourth grade teacher Cheryl Wildauer of Allen, was most recently the Pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Rev. Wildauer accepted a call from The Lutheran Church-Missouri Board for International Mission to become a theological educator at the French Language Seminary in Dapaong, Togo, Africa.

Rev. Wildauer and his wife Robin recently attended orientation meetings to prepare them for their work and are now working to obtain financial support for deployment in 2014.

"Our staff is thankful to the Lord for the opportunity to teach about Christ and to serve the students and families of Faith Lutheran School.  It is a special blessing for us to see Rev. Wildauer embark on this exciting journey and  enter this new, exciting phase in his service to the Lord.  We are fortunate to be a part of his journey," said Faith Lutheran School Headmaster Timothy Merritt of Plano.

Working alongside another Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod pastor Rev. Wildauer will be teaching courses in doctrine and theology to men who wish to become pastors among the people of Togo and surrounding French-speaking countries in West Africa.

 “The face of mission work is changing in Africa," said Rev. Wildauer. "Many small emerging church bodies are desiring our pastors and theological educators to train their own men to be pastors, rather than the former concept of church planting among people who are completely unfamiliar with the Gospel. Teaching at the seminary in Togo will provide an answer for many neighboring church bodies who long for such. Their pastors will then return equipped with the theological foundation to lead their congregations. In essence, the students of Faith Lutheran are supporting the proclamation of the Gospel in Africa so that generations yet to be born know the Lord.”

 The Wildauer family will be sharing updates about their work at http://wildauersgototogo.blogspot.com/. Those interested in pledging financial support or who are interested in learning more about mission work in West Africa can also visit www.lcms.org/wildauer

About Faith Lutheran School

In 1971, the congregation of Faith Lutheran Church in Plano, Texas established a four-year-old preschool for children of the congregation. Since then, the school has grown and opened enrollment to others in the community on a tuition basis. Faith Lutheran School is fully accredited and currently provides classes from pre-school three-year-olds through the twelfth grade.   School curriculum is based on the classical model of education. The school's educational program also includes both sports and the fine arts. To learn more about Faith Lutheran School, please visit the school's web site at www.flsplano.org or call 972.423.7448.

The Assistance Center of Collin County announced today that the non-profit has launched an online version of Collin County Cares, a comprehensive directory of services for those in need or in crisis in Collin County, featuring information about virtually all human services and aid agencies in the county.

The free, online tool is available at www.collincares.org.

The Collin County Cares tool includes listings for human services agencies, government services, housing authorities, medical facilities, police departments, school districts, support groups and much more. Each listing contains contact information, hours of operation, names of the organization's leadership, services offered and more.

The information contained in the resource was previously only available in printed booklet format which was updated every two years. The new, online tool is easily accessible 24 hours a day. Featured agencies can update their information at any time, and agencies seeking to have their services listed can apply for inclusion and, upon acceptance, update
information quickly and easily.

"The Assistance Center of Collin County is known for coordinating financial and material assistance for those in need in our community," said Assistance Center of Collin County executive director Tanya Sastoque. "By making this tool available online to anyone, we are able to get this valuable information into the hands of the many in our community who need aid. Individuals can use the tool to search directly for things they need, or if those in crisis are seeking aid through a shelter, church, agency or other service organization, those groups can access the online tool to easily and quickly provide relevant information customized to the unique situation of those they are serving."

The new, online version of Collin County Cares was made possible by a $30,000 financial sponsorship from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano.

“Texas Health Plano recognizes that identifying significant health needs in our community is an important step in implementing our mission,” said Mike Evans, R.N., M.S.N., president of Texas Health Plano. “Through collaboration with the Assistance Center of Collin County, we are able to support our community by providing individuals access to useful social services that will, in turn, improve the health of people in the communities we serve.”

The Assistance Center of Collin County, located at 900 E. 18th Street in Plano, brings carefully-qualified and prompt short-term assistance to individuals and families in financial crisis to help them regain self-sufficiency. Residents of Collin County facing a financial crisis or an emergency situation can contact the Center to obtain financial assistance, information, guidance, direction and references to appropriate human service resources. Anyone may obtain help by calling the Center's hotline at 972-422-1850 or visiting the Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. For more information, to donate, or to volunteer, call 972-422-1125 or visit www.assistancecenter.org.

About the Assistance Center of Collin County

The Assistance Center serves Collin County by responding to people in crisis with food, shelter, clothing and medical assistance. The ACCC achieves this mission by informing, guiding, directing and linking people to appropriate human service resources and providing emergency, short-term financial assistance to residents with valid needs. The
Assistance Center aides clients in the process of reclaiming financial self-sufficiency through counseling, training, referrals, and financial support. Founded in 1977 by former Plano Mayor and current former Texas State Senator Florence Shapiro, the Assistance Center of Collin County was formerly known as the Information and Referral Center of Collin County. Through discerning programs, guidance and funds, the Center works to help stabilize the home economies of Collin County families in order to fight homelessness, hunger and poverty. For more information, please visit www.assistancecenter.org or call 972-422-1125

About Texas Health Plano

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano is a 366-bed acute care hospital and recognized clinical program leader, providing technologically advanced care to Plano and surrounding areas since 1991. The hospital’s services include orthopedics, cardiovascular services, oncology, pediatrics and women’s services. An affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, Texas Health Plano has more than 1,600 employees and 1,200 physicians on the medical staff. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL or visit TexasHealth.org/Plano.

About Texas Health Resources

Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 24 acute care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources. It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial and Texas Health Harris
Methodist hospitals, a large physician group, outpatient facilities, and home health, preventive and fitness services, and an organization for medical research and education.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit www.TexasHealth.org.