This year, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Julia (King of Glory - Elgin, Illinois), Samson (Zion - Marengo, Illinois), Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois) and Comfort Dogs in training Eternity, Gethsemane, Glory, Honey and Olive and their handlers were there to support the community and families, at McHenry County Suicide Prevention Task Force’s annual "Never Walk Alone", letting them know they walk with them in love, comfort and presence.  

The mission of the McHenry County Suicide Prevention Task Force is to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention, provide education, implement prevention programs and provide support for those affected by suicide within McHenry County, Illinois.  Each year they hold "Never Walk Alone" that brings awareness for suicide prevention in McHenry County. Never Walk Alone is a non-competitive awareness walk, a chance to honor those who have died by suicide, and the opportunity to hear stories of healing and hope for the future.

It was good to see and be with so many people at this very special and important event.

Thank you so much to your organization and all of the dogs and handlers for attending the 3rd annual McHenry County Suicide Prevention Task Force’s Never Walk Alone walk.  The walkers had a wonderful time petting the dogs and receiving their sweet comfort.  They truly made a huge difference and were the best addition to our walk.
 
Warm regards,

Nicole O’Dea 
Never Walk Alone, McHenry County Suicide Prevention Task Force

“Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God. “With gentle words, tender and kind." (Isaiah 40:1-2 )

Lutheran Church Charities is overjoyed to announce the addition of LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Saul and his dedicated team of handlers and ministry partners from Bethany Lutheran Church in Parma, Ohio, to the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry.
 
In August, the team from Bethany Lutheran Church participated in extensive handler and ministry training, where they met their wonderful K-9 Comfort Dog Saul. The bond that formed in those early days laid the foundation for a powerful partnership focused on providing comfort and joy to those in need.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams from St. Paul Lutheran Church, Napoleon, Ohio, with Damascus Comfort Dog and Trinity Lutheran Church, Toledo, Ohio, with Claudia Comfort Dog and Lazarus Comfort Dog were there to support and celebrate with Saul’s Comfort Dog Ministry team at their commissioning at Bethany Lutheran Church on Sunday, September 22. 
 
The Comfort Dog Ministry team at Bethany shared how wonderful it was to have the other LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams present on Sunday to share all of the joy with them and how their experiences and words of encouragement were such a blessing to Saul’s team.

Saul’s Comfort Dog’s Bible verse is 1 Timothy 1:15: "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst."

Bethany Lutheran Church’s handlers and caregivers for K-9 Comfort Dog Saul include: Carrie Broa, Tina Fandrich, Ingrid Lewis, Tim Lewis, Sandra Sefl, Jamie Spacek, Peggi Stahnke and LCC K-9 Police Ministry Handler, Bert Eggelmeyer.
 
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry is one of presence. When the Lord calls, we must go and serve Him. Bethany’s Comfort Dog Ministry team has heard the call and has said, “Here I am. Send me.” God is with them as they begin this new journey as part of the LCC K-9 Ministry.
 
Please keep LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Saul and the team at Bethany in your prayers for God’s guidance as they go out to share with so many who are hurting and alone, the Mercy, Compassion, Presence, and Proclamation of Jesus Christ.
 
As we celebrate this joyful event, we invite you to join us in our mission. Your support and involvement are crucial as we continue to expand our outreach and provide comfort to those who need it most. Whether through volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word about our ministry, every effort counts. Together, we can make a difference in our community and beyond. Thank you for being a part of the LCC family!

Last weekend, the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Southwest and Northeast Ministry teams came together for a gathering filled with training and fellowship, dedicated to enhancing their handler skills and deepening their ministry impact.

These moments of connection are not just about improving techniques; they are a testament to the love, support, and divine purpose that unite us all. Each session embodies our commitment to serve those in need, as we collectively share the mercy and compassion of Jesus Christ with those who are suffering.

It is truly inspiring to witness how God orchestrates these gatherings, bringing together passionate volunteers with a shared mission to offer hope and healing in our communities.

Last weekend there was much fellowship, learning and growing together during the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry Southwest Regional Gathering led by the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry staff and hosted by Bethany Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas.
 
Lutheran Church Charities thanks God for the wonderful turnout of over 60 handlers and ministry partners who came together from the following LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams:
 
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wichita Falls, Texas with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Elijah
Messiah Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Gabriel
Messiah Lutheran Church, Plano, Texas with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Triton
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Joy
Bethany Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Martha
King of Kings Lutheran Church, Glenpool, Oklahoma with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Persis
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Fort Worth, Texas with LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Pax & Phoebe

Soon to be LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Teams:
Bethany Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas - third Comfort Dog Ministry team
Our Savior Lutheran Church, McKinney, Texas
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Fort Worth, Texas - third Comfort Dog Ministry team
 
The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams participated in Spiritual First Aid training and certification. This training will help equip the handlers and ministry partners even more as they care for others struggling with everything from mild stress to mass trauma. It is an amazing opportunity for the Comfort Dog teams as they continue to share the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.
 
The handlers also enjoyed some refresher training of their handling skills as they trained with the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Elijah, Gabriel, Joy, Martha, Pax, Persis and Phoebe. It was a lot of fun incorporating the ministry partners as well into the training. 
 
During the regional gathering everyone joined in Comfort Core Conditioning – Rising to Your Best with Amber Fuentes. It was a fun and energetic way for everyone to kick off the gathering. Amber did a great job emphasizing and demonstrating the importance of proper form and technique to stay healthy and flexible.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams and LCC staff members are thankful for the warm hospitality and delicious food provided by the Bethany Lutheran Church and the Southwest Region during the training.
 
LCC looks forward to sharing Spiritual First Aid with the other LCC K-9 Comfort Dog regions across the country who will be gather at different times throughout this year for fellowship and refresher handler training as the ministry continues to learn and grow in God’s kingdom.

On September 20th and 21st the Northeast LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry gathered together at Our Savior’s Way Lutheran Church in Ashburn, Virginia for K-9 Handler Training and to refresh their skills and build confidence.
 
The attendees were excited to  learn more about Spiritual First Aid and have a new tool to use in the ministry as they go out to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ with those who are suffering and in need. The room was filled with sharing and discussion as they broke into groups to reflect on different scenarios of the Spiritual First Aid.
 
The gathering brought old friends and new friends together to reflect, encourage, and celebrate in fellowship and worship.
 
Our Savior's Way Lutheran Church, Ashburn, Virginia with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Amos 
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Old Bridge, New Jersey with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Lily
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Baltimore, Maryland with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Kezia
Trinity Lutheran Church, Hicksville, New York with LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Abraham & Beloved
King of Glory Lutheran Church, Williamsburg, Virginia with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Solomon
Messiah Lutheran Church, Lynnfield, Massachusetts with Joyce Sauca and Karen Kline, former LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Team Lydia
 
We give praise and thanks to God for this opportunity to come together to learn, grow and encourage one another.

At FedEx Ground in Grayslake, Illinois, overnight loading and warehouse workers, and incoming morning drivers, loaders and office staff were greeted with the smiles of handlers and the furry greetings from LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois) and five LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs in training Shadrach, Olive, Zion, Zechariah, and Gethsemane for the company's Suicide Awareness/Prevention Engagement Activity on Wednesday morning and then in the afternoon with LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Tobias and Hannah (LCC Staff). 

The handlers welcomed each of the FedEx workers with warm smiles and open and loving hearts, and the workers were happy to receive comfort and calmness in the midst of a busy warehouse.  Before going home, one of them  stopped at each of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and said, “I’m definitely not too tired for this!” 

September is Suicide Awareness and Prevention month. FedEx Ground in Grayslake provided their workers during both shift change times with bracelets and pins, a cool drink, and a quiet moment in a noisy warehouse with an LCC K-9 Comfort Dog that has no other agenda but to love them and make them feel special.

A moment that resonated with many of the teams was when they were at Apalachee High School and a high school volleyball team from another high school came to the memorial site in support of Apalachee. 
 
The players gathered in a circle that continued to grow as others joined, along with the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog handlers.
 
The prayer was beautifully led by one of the young volleyball players. It was a moment of people coming together in love, support, and faith for Apalachee High School and the Winder community.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Faith, Hope, Peace, Phinehas, Seth, Job, Moriah, Jemimah, and Zoara visited many of the Barrow County District schools last week as a calming, welcoming, and safe presence for the students and staff as they returned to school.
 
There were many God moments that happened throughout their time there:

On Lutheran Church Charities’ social channels, teachers, parents, and community members had these kind words to share about the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry’s presence in Winder:

These nine LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams came together from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Nebraska to be there for Winder. Each of the handlers, with their Comfort Dogs, engaged and connected with people throughout the community.
 
Sometimes the connection was through just being there, sometimes listening, sometimes sharing words or a hug, always sharing God’s love. They were another reminder that “Love will prevail,” and God’s light and goodness will overcome the darkness of this tragedy.

We are incredibly thankful for your support, which makes it possible for us to BE THERE where we are needed most. Your donations are making a tangible difference in the lives of the people our dedicated teams of volunteers are able to help. The love, healing, and comfort we are able to provide are a direct result of your generosity.

The HMC and K-9 visits created moments of connection and joy, as hurting individuals found comfort in the gentle presence of a heart bearer, and our loving Comfort Dogs and their dedicated handlers. Each interaction was a testament to the healing power of companionship, as students lit up with smiles or found a moment of respite.

Through these ministries, LCC remains committed to providing emotional and spiritual support in times of distress, reminding us all that we are never alone in our struggles.

Hundreds visited the memorial site at Apalachee High School where four LCC Hearts of Mercy & Compassion were set up in memory of each victim. People formed prayer circles and filled the hearts and crosses to the brim with messages of love and support

With uplifting sentiments like “God has you,” “Never forgotten,” and the comforting words of Isaiah 41:10, individuals found solace in each other’s presence, reinforcing the importance of emotional and spiritual support during difficult times.

The messages of “3 hours away we are praying for you” and “prayers and may God hold you in His loving hands” resonated deeply, reminding us all of the power of community in healing and hope. Through such acts of compassion and mercy, we are reminded that together, we can navigate even the most challenging moments.

On Sunday evening the Comfort Dogs and their handlers attended a vigil at Apalachee High School’s football field. The handlers were able to support those who attended, providing a safe and comforting place. The fear of going back to school for both students and parents was there and shared in conversations both spoken and unspoken as well as a deep sadness and pain for those precious lives taken.

It was evident to the team that the Winder community is a large family, one of strong faith and hope in God. So many people welcomed prayer from the Comfort Dog Ministry team and were thankful for the prayers shared with them.

The Comfort Dog Ministry teams for Faith (St. Stephens - Hickory, North Carolina​), Hope (Faith Lutheran - Marietta, Georgia), Jemimah (St. Paul - Boca Raton, Florida), Job (​Christ the King - Memphis, Tennesse), Moriah (St. Luke's - Oviedo, Florida), Peace (Trinity - Orlando, Florida), Phinehas (Trinity - Fremont, Nebraska), Seth (Eternal Shepherd - Seneca, South Carolina) and Zoara (Island Lutheran - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina) spent time on Monday with some of the teachers in the Barrow County School System, just being there with them and for them, as they talked, and cuddled with the Comfort Dogs, sharing God’s light in this dark time.  It was a time to be together to help them carry the load of their grief and to share smiles and tears.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams will be in Winder, Georgia until Saturday, September 14.

We are incredibly thankful for your support, which makes it possible for us to BE THERE where we are needed most. Your donations are making a tangible difference in the lives of the people our dedicated teams of volunteers are able to help. The love, healing, and comfort we are able to provide are a direct result of your generosity.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Devorah and Zacchaeus (Redeemer - Fort Collins, Colorado) were invited by the Loveland Police Department to participate in the first Fentanyl Awareness Community Event. The event was held at Thompson Valley High School in Loveland, Colorado. This important and needed event drew together community members and organizations to create awareness and combat the horrible losses of life due to fentanyl use.

The goal of the event was to raise awareness and provide education and resources to community members about the dangers of fentanyl. The event was geared toward students, young adults, and parents with an emphasis on how to start those difficult conversations. The keynote speaker was Andrea Thomas, founder of Voices for Awareness, who lost her daughter to fentanyl poisoning. There were several other families present who had lost family members to fentanyl. The Northern CO Drug Task Force Detective and Senior Deputy DA also spoke about their key points being Educate. Act. Prevent.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams for Devorah and Zacchaeus were present to greet and connect with friends they already knew (first responders, teachers, health care providers, etc.) and to meet many new friends from near and far. A moment in time to strengthen relationships and give support to families impacted by the damaging effects of fentanyl use.

Devorah’s and Zacchaeus' teams look forward to being present when more education and awareness events are held in the future to offer comfort, support, and friendship. We thank God for opening this door for the Comfort Dog Ministry at Redeemer Lutheran Church Fort Collins to support the Loveland community in this way.

 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." (Ephesians 4:2 )

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry continues to grow and move forward sharing the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ with those who are suffering and in need.

Recently LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry had seven compassionate, passionate, and dedicated individuals from the East Coast to the West Coast, attend Top Dog training at Lutheran Church Charities in Northbrook, Illinois. These seven new Top Dogs will coordinate and lead their new LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams at their churches.

Four of the churches represented are working towards building a new LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry team in addition to the Comfort Dog Ministry team they currently have at their church. It is exciting to see the ministry continuing to move forward, deepening existing relationships in their community and establishing new ones.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry is also excited to share that two new churches will be part of this national ministry. First Lutheran Church from Tonawanda, New York and Christ the King, from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, will spread the reach of the Comfort Dog Ministry in their communities, sharing the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ with those who are suffering and in need.

We give thanks and praise to God for leading this ministry and speaking into the hearts of those who will lead these new LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams.

Janet Boye - Trinity, Lincoln, Nebraska
James Casner - First Lutheran, Yuba City, California
Linda Hunt - Atonement, Columbus, Ohio
Roxy Seifert - Trinity, Auburn, Illinois
Chuck Lowell - Immanuel, Charleston, Illinois
Miriam Deuel - Christ the King, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Barbara Reardon - First Lutheran, Tonawanda, New York
 
“If God has called you to lead, let nothing stand in the way of the privilege you have to serve Him and to serve His people through applying the gift, the resources and the opportunity He has provided to you.” George Barna, Leaders on Leadership

On Monday, August 26, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Jael (Trinity - Hobart, Indiana) and Michael (LCC Staff) along with their handlers responded to the invitation to be at Dakota Jr./Sr. High School in Illinois after the unexpected and heartbreaking loss of one of their former students Cody Penticoff who was killed in a car accident on Friday, August 23.

Cody had just graduated from Dakota Jr./Sr. High School representing the Class of 2024 and was planning on attending Highland Community College to study Criminal Justice this fall. He planned on becoming a police officer when he turned 21 years old. Cody was serving on the Rock City Fire Department prior to his death.

Cody was loved by many in the community of Dakota. Comfort Dogs Jael and Michael accompanied by their dedicated handlers, provided emotional support to approximately 100 students and staff, helping to ease their distress during this difficult time. The comfort and companionship offered by the dogs allowed many students to find calm amidst their sorrow.

The team from Lutheran Church Charities was profoundly honored to serve this grieving community, sharing not just the warmth of the Comfort Dogs, but also the he light and hope of Jesus Christ with those who mourn the loss of Cody Penticoff.