 Lutheran Church Charities ministry teams with Hearts of Mercy & Compassion and K-9 Comfort Dogs continued to walk alongside the Minneapolis community, bringing the hope and love of Christ to places heavy with grief. An 8-year-old and a 10-year-old from Annunciation Catholic Church were killed and 18 people were injured in a shooting during morning mass on August 27. After five days of on-the-ground ministry, stories of comfort and compassion linger. LCC teams have partnered with Pastor Pat Simmons and the congregation of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Minnesota, to visit first responders and school families in the days following the tragedy. The hearts and crosses for 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski were moved to different vigils and locations, allowing the community to gather, pray, and write messages of love and support. A Prayer Interrupted by Grief Outside of Annunciation Catholic Church, a young man was kneeling and praying in front of the hearts and crosses. After he stood up, he seemed lost as to what to do next. “I placed my hand on his shoulder and asked if I could stand there with him for a minute,” said Jessica Ganzen, HMC ministry coordinator at Faith Appleton, Wisconsin. “He fell into my arms and hugged me so tight and just sobbed for several minutes.” The man was a delivery driver, and Annunciation was on his regular route. He shared that his family had suffered some tragic losses and that his heart broke because he just knew that these kids’ lives would never be the same. The brokenness of the tragedy reached into quiet places and affected the everyday lives of people who are often unseen. Children’s Strength Amid Tragedy The children of Annunciation continued to visit the church and memorial, offering unwavering support. “One thing I observed was their strength and resilience,” said Debbie Endres, HMC ministry coordinator from Brookfield Lutheran, Brookfield, Wisconsin. “They had just experienced such a heavy tragedy, but they were walking around serving all the people visiting the church – arranging flowers, cleaning up trash, putting water in coolers.” One young student, who had been there several days, offered a smile and shared that she was getting the support she needed. Another set of young girls simply replied, “This just seems like the best place to be.” A Hug That Spoke Volumes A young man at the memorial was alone and crying. Jessica Ganzen put a hand on his shoulder and asked if she could stand with him. A moment later, they hugged. “Each time I went to give him space, he wasn’t ready to let go yet,” she shared. Afterward, the man said that he wasn’t from Minnesota but attended college nearby, and his heart was just hurting for what happened. He shared that he was originally from Appleton, Wisconsin. “When I shared that Appleton is where I traveled from, he was shocked. He thanked us for being there and said that even if all we could do was offer a hug to those hurting, it made a huge difference. I was continuously in awe of who God led me to specifically comfort and speak to.” Comfort for the Hidden Helpers LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams for Charity (Brookfield - Brookfield, Wisconsin), Gideon (St. Michael’s - Bloomington, Minnesota), Hagar (Faith Lutheran - Appleton, Wisconsin), Mary (St. Paul's - Janesville, Wisconsin), Samaria (Shepherd of the Hills - Greenville, Wisconsin), and Samson (Zion - Marengo, Illinois) and HMC teams from Faith Appleton and Brookfield, visited the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office during their morning shift change. “Their work is rarely seen by the public, yet it carries a heavy weight—especially the week of all the vigils,” said Pam Lienemann, Top Dog for Gideon and member of St. Michael Bloomington, Minnesota. “These workers step into the most difficult moments of tragedy with compassion and care, and the burdens they carry can often go unnoticed. Our teams were grateful to bring them a quiet moment of comfort, peace, and appreciation for all they do.” Supporting the First Responders The HMC and LCC Comfort Dog teams also visited Hennepin 911 Dispatch, that provided calm voices on the other end of the line in moments of fear and chaos. “This week has been incredibly hard for them as they took the heartbreaking calls from Annunciation Catholic School,” said Tim Schwan with Hagar Comfort Dog of Faith Appleton, Wisconsin. “People don’t see their faces, but they are the first to respond. It was an honor to give them a chance to pause, breathe, and simply be surrounded by unconditional love.” Hospitality in a Time of Service The Hilton Garden Inn Minneapolis/Bloomington served as home base for the LCC ministry teams while they served in the Twin Cities. But the hotel staff quickly showed their appreciation for their guests with the furry four-legged friends when they learned they were in town to serve. The front desk staff wrote multiple thank you notes to the group, expressing their appreciation for the team’s kindness and care. “They were so accommodating,” said Joann Schwan with Hagar Comfort Dog of Faith Appleton, Wisconsin. Katie and Brian Rollefson with Samaria Comfort Dog of Shepherd of the Hills, Greenville, Wisconsin, received one too, thanking them for making a difference. LCC is grateful for the hospitality and support Hilton Garden Inn showed the group. When Tragedy Hits Home For Pam Lienemann, the tragedy was especially impactful because Minneapolis is her home. As the five-day deployment ended, opportunities to serve and care continued. But the support of K-9 Comfort Dog and HMC teams from neighboring Wisconsin and Illinois was deeply meaningful. In a note to the group, she shared: “Your willingness to drop what you were doing and travel here — to be present, to sit with those in pain, and to share the calm, comfort, and hope of Christ — was such a blessing. The love you brought through gentle interactions, listening hearts, and faithful presence brought the light and peace of Jesus to a season of shock, bewilderment, and grief. This time, it was our city, our children, and out people who were hurting. Your presence gave our team the strength to set aside our own shock and do the work God has called us to do.” Thank you to the following teams for answering the call to serve:
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams Charity Comfort Dog (Brookfield Lutheran- Brookfield, Wisconsin) Hagar Comfort Dog (Faith Lutheran - Appleton, Wisconsin) Gideon Comfort Dog (St. Michael's - Bloomington, Minnesota) Mary Comfort Dog (St. Paul's - Janesville, Wisconsin) Samaria Comfort Dog (Shepherd of the Hills - Greenville, Wisconsin) Samson Comfort Dog (Zion - Marengo, Illinois) LCC Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministry teams Faith Lutheran - Appleton, Wisconsin Brookfield Lutheran - Brookfield, Wisconsin Please keep the Minneapolis community in your prayers. Thank you for being a partner of Lutheran Church Charities. Comments are closed.
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