At weekend worship services on October 13 – 14, Lutheran Church Charities was the Featured Mission Partner at Prince of Peace in Palatine, Illinois. Deb Baran, Rich and Dona Martin (LCC Staff), and Steve MacKay, Co-Lead of the Palatine LERT team were present to share information about how LCC Disaster Response, Palatine LERT, and LCC K-9 Ministries serve communities in times of crisis and disaster.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Emma and Ruthie (LCC Staff), JoJo (Living Christ – Arlington Heights, Illinois), Susie (St. Peter – Arlington Heights, Illinois) and LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Flex (LCC Squad) were present to visit with members and guests. The K-9s also made a special visit to all of the POP Children’s Ministry classrooms to talk about how they comfort and help others in need.

Thursday, October 11, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Adeena (St. John – Burlington, Illinois) and Eunice (LCC Staff) spent time with students at Kaneland High School in Maple Park, Illinois. Adeena and Eunice Comfort Dogs saw lots of great kids and their handlers got to tell the students all about the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry.

On Sunday, October 14, the Elmhurst Fire Station in Elmhurst, Illinois, held its annual open house for the community. Hundreds of people showed up on a beautiful day. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Eve (St. John – Lombard, Illinois) and Susie (St. Peter – Arlington Heights, Illinois) and LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Brutus (LCC Squad) were there to educate everyone about the Comfort Dog ministry. They comforted many children, parents, firefighters and veterans!

On October 9 – 10, LCC President / CEO Tim Hetzner and LCC K-9 Ministry staff members Rich & Dona Martin attended the Northern Illinois District’s (NID) North & West Pastors’ Conference held at the Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan, Wisconsin. NID pastors and staff gathered to renew and refresh to the conference theme “To Hear That Voice Again.”

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Ruthie and Emma (LCC Staff) and Tobias (Lord of Glory – Grayslake, Illinois) greeted attendees during the conference. They enjoyed a visit with Bill Harder, Lay Minister, Pastor Warren Schilf, Pastor Don Antor and Deaconess Suzanne Fingerle from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Palatine, Illinois.

Wednesday, October 3, was National Coffee with a Cop Day! LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Sheba (Immanuel – Washington, Missouri) has such a wonderful Police Department, so Sheba Comfort Dog and her handlers were happy to stop by and say hi to all of her friends there! Thanks to all law enforcement officers for all you do. God bless you!

Recently, the LCC K-9 Ministry team at Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church in Alpharetta, George, kicked off a fun read to Luke Comfort Dog program with the children of Open Arms Daycare Center. With the help of congressional member Dorothy Sutton, they obtained a Thrivent Action Team Grant. The seed money purchased official LCC Comfort Dog coloring books. Each Comfort Dog featured in the book can be colored and their Bible verse is included in the books.

The team hopes this program will encourage the children to read with their parents each evening. Once each child reads to their parents, they will return with Luke Comfort Dog and offer mini stuffed Luke dogs for the children’s rooms at the school. Thank you Dorothy and the children of Open Arms Daycare Center for the warm welcome. We look forward to many visits!

On Sunday, September 30, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Cubby (Redeemer – Fort Collins, Colorado) and Top Dog Bonnie Fear were invited to ride in Kathy Heiden’s Pace Car during the Susan B. Komen’s Race for the Cure in Denver, Colorado, held at the Auraria Campus in Denver. Kathy Heiden was Cubby Comfort Dog handler Joni’s sister-in-law (married to Kathy’s brother Rod) who passed away from breast cancer 10 years ago at the age of 49. Joni shared, “Rod and I invited Cubby to the race because I have witnessed the calming/comforting effect she has on people of all ages. I knew Kathy would have been blessed and comforted by Cubby during her years of treatment and would love to have Cubby ride in her mustang! The race has a variety of people who participate - survivors, family members/friends of both survivors and those who lost the battle, health care providers, etc. All have been touched by cancer in some way. I knew Cubby would make a difference in their lives and I watched that happen before, during, and after the race. There was not one moment but many moments that I witnessed! Cubby indeed shared the mercy, compassion, proclamation and presence of Jesus to all she came into contact that day!”

On Wednesday, October 3, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Isaiah (Trinity – Hobart, Indiana) traveled to Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois to meet the students of Trinity’s Little Lambs Preschool. LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Mahlah (Our Savior – Milford, Illinois) visited on Thursday to tell them about how the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs bring God’s mercy and compassion to those who are hurting and in need. The children’s chapel offerings will be donated to help the Comfort Dogs continue their mission.

On Wednesday, October 3, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Tobias (Lord of Glory – Grayslake, Illinois) and his handler visited Lotus Elementary School. One of the teachers there shared a writing response from one of her students. The assignment read “Describe one situation at school when you have experienced more than one feeling What were the feelings?”

The student responded as follows: “Once I felt excited and happy because Tobias the dog came to school. Man I love him. He is the best doggy in the world. Who’s-a-good-doggy. ”

Tobias Comfort Dogs favorite line is "Man I love him." It made his tail wag!