On Sunday, June 26, team members and their LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Hope (Faith - Marietta, Georgia), Lizzie (Trinity - Savannah, Georgia), Seth (Eternal Shepherd - Seneca, South Carolina), and Zoara (Island Lutheran - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina) traveled to Spartanburg, South Carolina to honor fallen Deputy Austin Aldridge and to present a Heart of Mercy & Compassion to department Chaplain Sean Fortner for Deputy Aldridge's precinct to sign and to give to this hero's widow. 

The verse chosen was Psalm 34:18: The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Three law enforcement personnel traveled from all across the southeast to pay tribute to their brother whose "end of watch" was June 21, 2022.

On Sunday, June 12, LCC staff member Tim Laabs was honored to be invited by Community of Faith Lutheran Church in Sugar Grove, Illinois, to make a live presentation of LCC ministries, specifically the ministry of Hearts of Mercy & Compassion.

Fourteen church members were in attendance and pictured with Tim is  lay member, Lee Carpenter, who led the service while their interim pastor was away. All those in attendance were excited about the expanding ministries at LCC and how LCC continues to serve others nationally.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were present in Uvalde, Texas, to be with the hurting; to let them be seen, heard, and comforted in their grief.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and handlers were asked last week to attend two visitations to be there for the family and friends of the victims. The grieving needed the loving brown eyes and gentleness of the Comfort Dogs as they cried and mourned the loss of their loved ones. Many hugs were given, and prayers were shared at those times.
 
The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were a safe place for the children and adults to go to in their pain. No expectations, no judgments, only unconditional love and acceptance were found in time spent with LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Job (Christ the King - Memphis, Tennessee), Keren (Immanuel - Ellsworth, Kansas), Pax and Phoebe (St. Paul - Fort Worth, Texas), and Persis (King of Kings - Glenpool, Oklahoma).

At the Memorial site, the team spent time with police officers surrounding them in love, compassion, and prayer.

The team spent time with the Uvalde Memorial Hospital staff allowing Job, Persis, Pax, and Phoebe Comfort Dogs to do what they do best: love and comfort. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs helped the nurses and doctors to smile and relax for a moment and allowed them to process their thoughts, emotions, and loss they were feeling.

Each day the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their handlers spent time with parents, children, friends, neighbors, and first responders all affected and grieving the loss of the nineteen children and two teachers. The loss is a heavy weight on this community.
 
The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry has hopes and plans to return to Uvalde when the students and teachers return to school in the fall as this will be a very difficult time for all of them, including the parents.

Dear Lord, Please keep watch over the community of Uvalde who is grieving the loss of their loved ones. You know how deeply they are hurting, how painful the sorrow is, and what they need each day. We pray that you bring them the comfort and strength they need in their darkest moments. Please surround them with people who will show them love, care, and compassion. We pray they draw near to you for your love, hope, and healing as they continue to grieve. In Jesus’ name, Amen

LCC's K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministry never charge those we serve as we bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. We know that comfort is needed to help this shocked and devastated community and the first responders who serve them.

On Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5, the LCC K-9 Ministries participated in Leon's Triathlon, honoring injured veterans from around the nation. Leon's Triathlon is a historic, short-course racing tradition founded in 1983 by Leon Wolek. Known as "America's Race," Leon's is 100% dedicated to the support and empowerment of U.S. servicemen and women, especially injured military veterans.
 
LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs and K-9 Comfort Dogs greeted and comforted the triathlon's participants, who were comprised of injured veterans, first responders, and Paralympic men and women. Hundreds of athletes participated in this event ranging from world-class athletes to novices to support our veterans.

On Sunday, during the opening ceremony, the LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry were also honored for their work in serving with the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need.

Lutheran Church Charities and the K-9 Ministry were honored to be invited to this wonderful event and felt compelled to show our respect, appreciation, and love for these military women and men’s sacrifices and service by giving them a Heart of Mercy & Compassion (HMC) and LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry mini stuffed dog.
 
Both were presented to each military athlete at the camp as they registered for Leon’s Triathlon. The purple Heart of Mercy & Compassion is specifically for the military and reflects the branch they served.
 
LCC staff members Tim Laabs and Wayne Kolweier and LCC volunteers handed out small HMCs to veterans and first responders during the two-day event. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with our injured veterans and hear their stories in serving our country.

The following LCC K-9 Ministry teams were honored to serve at Leon's Triathlon:
 
Illinois
LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Asher (Faith - Lake Forest, Illinois)
LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Brutus (LCC Squad)
LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Blitz (LCC Squad)
LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Julia (King of Glory - Elgin, Illinois)
LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Levi (Immanuel - East Dundee, Illinois)
LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Nigel (LCC Staff)
LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Samson (Zion - Marengo, Illinois)
 
Indiana
LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Caleb (Immanuel - Valparaiso, Indiana)
LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Isaiah & Jael (Trinity - Hobart, Indiana)
 
Kentucky
LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Mercy (Our Savior - Louisville, Kentucky)
 
Wisconsin
LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Mary (St Paul’s - Janesville, Wisconsin)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Charity (Brookfield - Brookfield, Wisconsin)

It was a privilege to meet so many courageous men and women and show them our love and support. We are thankful for these men and women who served our country with courage, dignity, dedication, and sacrifice to protect our freedoms and keep us safe. Please prayerfully consider continuing to help LCC support our veterans.

"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13

This week LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Cubby and Devorah (Redeemer – Fort Collins, Colorado), Gabriel (Messiah – Houston, Texas), Joy (Gloria Dei – Houston, Texas), Triton (Messiah – Plano, Texas), LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Abner (Bethany – Austin, Texas), Miriam (Emmanuel – Kingfisher, Oklahoma), and LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dog Elijah (Our Redeemer – Wichita Falls, Texas) and their handlers have served Uvalde with a calming, loving, and compassionate presence.

The K-9 Ministry teams brought with them twenty-one Hearts of Mercy & Compassion (HMC) and crosses, one for each of the victims of this tragedy. Each Heart of Mercy & Compassion bears the name of a child or teacher killed and the bible verse Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

The HMC and crosses are in remembrance of each of those beautiful lives and for people to share messages and prayers of love, hope, and sorrow. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and teams cannot erase the memories or replace the grief that is felt but they can share the love, empathy, and light of Christ with them. 

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs spent time with families at the school memorial site and the Town Square where people gathered to grieve. At the Town Square, some of the handlers helped parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles whose tears quietly flowed as they tried to find their child’s cross. To be with the grieving was what was needed at that moment. The Comfort Dogs brought comfort and distraction from the thoughts and emotions that flooded the grieving.

As people touched and looked at Abner, Cubby, Devorah, Elijah, Gabriel, Joy, Miriam, or Triton, it soothed them even if it was just for a while. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their handlers sat with the people and heard their stories, or sat with them in their silence. The handlers offered prayers that were readily accepted.
 
The Comfort Dogs were on call for special visits with those directly affected by the shooting. The teams also spent time with the community at a local store where families went to get away from the media attention that descended on their small town. The people quickly sought out the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs for their quiet gentleness and love.

On Tuesday, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Keren (Immanuel – Ellsworth, Kansas), Pax and Phoebe (St. Paul – Fort Worth, Texas), LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Job (Christ the King – Memphis, Tennessee), LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dog Persis (King of Kings – Glenpool, Oklahoma), and their handlers arrived in Uvalde as the need is still there for the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need.
 
We lift up Uvalde in prayer for God’s strength, peace, and healing.

LCC's K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministry never charge those we serve as we bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. We know that comfort is needed to help this shocked and devastated community and the first responders who serve them.

Hearts of Mercy & Compassion were presented to the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, honoring the eleven Corrections Officers who lost their lives between the years 2004 through 2022. The HMCs were placed in the Corrections roll call room in recognition of their service.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Julia (King of Glory - Elgin, Illinois) is pictured with Commander Cantwell, Correction’s Chief Garcia, Deputy Chief Schoenenberger, and Lieutenant Prosser in front of the memorial.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

Lutheran Church Charities partnered with Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) in Mequon this past week during their “Week of Service” event held on campus. Ninety-one students and twenty-five alumni attended this two-day event, where they painted 275 Hearts of Mercy & Compassion (HMC) and 350 fish that are placed upon the HMC Heart. The students learned how to make the wooden hearts “come alive” to share the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus with the giving of an HMC Heart to a recipient in need.

The “Week of Service” project team included Dr. Randall Ferguson, Director of Christian Service & Ministry, and Greg Witto, Director of Alumni & Parent Relations with CUW, Tim Laabs, Project Manager for LCC HMC, Wayne Kolweier, LCC staff member, and Bob Brandt, Director of HMC. LCC volunteers included Tom and Diane Moore from St. Paul, Janesville, Wisconsin, and Bob Desiron from Immanuel, Des Plaines, Illinois.

Hearts of Mercy and Compassion, Crosses for Losses provides a physical and spiritual symbol through the giving of hearts and crosses to families and friends who have suffered loss or serious illness of a loved one. Each one is lovingly handmade for someone in need.
 
If you would like to learn more about Hearts of Mercy and Compassion, Crosses for Losses, please visit www.LutheranChurchCharities.org.