LCC deploying K-9, HMC, Care Teams to Michigan after shooting, fire

With shock and heartbreak still weighing heavy on the community of Grand Blanc, Michigan, Lutheran Church Charities deployed teams of K-9 Comfort Dogs, Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, and Care ministries on Monday to bring support and encouragement after a tragic mass shooting and fire resulted in four deaths and eight injuries.

On Sunday morning, a motorist crashed a truck into a Latter-Day Saints meetinghouse and began shooting, then set a fire that consumed the building.

“Our hearts are broken at the senseless loss of life in Grand Blanc, Michigan, this week,” said LCC President/CEO Rev. Chris Singer. Lutheran Church Charities seeks to be present with those who are mourning and are devastated by this terrible tragedy. We have staff and volunteers on-site to listen, encourage, and pray with those who need a shoulder to lean on. Our prayer is that God will bring comfort through His holy presence today, this week, and over the weeks to come.”

Amid grief and loss of their neighbors and friends, Pastor Robert Scott of Faith Lutheran Church in Grand Blanc invited LCC to serve alongside them this week to offer care, compassion, and the presence of Christ to the hurting community.

Responding were six LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs from Indiana and Ohio, who were present at Faith Lutheran Monday night and will serve the community in the comfort of Jesus through Friday, visiting with families, healthcare workers, law enforcement, and community members.

LCC staff members are bringing Hearts of Mercy & Compassion in honor of the victims to be displayed at memorial sites. A community vigil will take place next week.

Additionally, LCC will have volunteers trained in Spiritual First Aid™ to provide support to the public, especially those who have been deeply affected by this tragic incident.

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On Tuesday, Rev. Singer sent out a special appeal to assist LCC in responding to the Michigan tragedy and urged LCC supporters to pray for the families and individuals affected.

Comfort Dogs teams for Caleb (Immanuel Valparaiso, IN), Claudia (Trinity Toledo, OH), Damascus (St. Paul Napoleon, OH), Eternity (Cornerstone Carmel, IN), Jared (Holy Cross Fort Wayne, IN), and Magdalene (Cornerstone Carmel, IN) began their ministry efforts at Faith Lutheran to meet with members of the congregation who knew victims of the shooting and fire.

The teams also connected with nurses outside Henry Ford Genesys Hospital to pray with them and relieve some of the stress of the week.

Later this week, K-9 teams will meet with law enforcement officers and attend a Wednesday night prayer service at Faith Lutheran, where community members have been invited to attend.

Sarah Sekki, director of Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, and Denise Snider, director of LCC Care Ministry, arrived Tuesday and coordinated setting up hearts and crosses at memorial sites and lining up help resources within the Grand Blanc community.

A community memorial event is scheduled for next Tuesday.

LCC is able to offer this early response spiritual care because of generous and faithful donors and volunteers who are willing to give and serve.
 
If you are compelled to give, please donate to the HELP LCC BE THERE – CRISIS RESPONSE FOR GRAND BLANC Fund. Thank you for sharing in the Mercy and Compassion Ministry of Lutheran Church Charities.

HELP LCC BE THERE — CRISIS RESPONSE FOR GRAND BLANC