HMC AND K-9 COMFORT DOG MINISTRY TEAMS BRING GOD’S PRESENCE TO WINDER, GEORGIA, COMMUNITY

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

Lutheran Church Charities ministry teams traveled to Winder, Georgia, this weekend to be with the heartbroken and crushed community after the Apalachee High School shooting that took the four precious lives of Christian, Mason, Cristina, and Richard.

HELP LCC BE THERE—EMERGENCY DEPLOYMENT TO GEORGIA

On Friday, LCC deployed a Hearts of Mercy & Compassion team to place hearts and crosses at the high school flagpole for the community to sign.

Within 48 hours, all four hearts and crosses were filled with messages of encouragement and love, and some of grief and sorrow.

On Sunday, nine LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams from six states arrived to stand alongside the community in this time of sorrow, serving as a beacon of hope and solace in various community settings: visiting schools, connecting with first responders, meeting Boys & Girls Club kids, attending community vigils, and talking with students and teachers of all grade levels.

With hearts full of empathy, these teams offer a presence that speaks volumes, providing emotional support through listening, comforting companionship, and heartfelt prayers. In moments when words fail, the unconditional love and hope of Jesus shine through, reminding everyone that they are not alone in their pain.

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.

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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.

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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.

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The team also visited the Boys & Girls Club of Winder-Barrow. Many children went there on Monday as the school would not reopen for students until Tuesday. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs spent time with the children, parents, and staff providing a calming and safe place for them to process the weight of this trauma.

We give thanks to God for the Comfort Dogs and their innate capacity to make people feel cherished, valued, and unique. In their eyes, each person they meet is the most important person in their world. Jesus also works in and through each of the handlers with their gentleness, open hearts, kind eyes, and willingness to listen and pray with those who are suffering and in need.

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.

HELP LCC BE THERE—EMERGENCY DEPLOYMENT TO GEORGIA