 LCC Ministry Teams Still Serving in Waukesha, Wisconsin, following the Christmas Day Parade Incident On Tuesday, November 30, a mass shooting occurred at Oxford High School in the Detroit exurb of Oxford Township, Michigan. Four students were killed and seven people were injured, including a teacher. Authorities arrested and charged a 15-year-old sophomore. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were invited by Pastor Matt Schuler and Mike Felten, Director of Family Life, from Journey Lutheran Church in Oxford, Michigan. Twelve LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs from Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin traveled to be with the heartbroken community of Oxford, Michigan after the horrible shooting at Oxford High School. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry has been sharing the mercy, compassion and presence of Jesus Christ at different schools in the area, 911 Call Center, fire departments, and at various community events since arriving on December 5.  Anna & Claudia (Trinity - Toledo, Ohio) Beloved (Comfort Dog in training) Caleb (Immanuel - Valparaiso, Indiana) Dove (Peace - Fremont, Indiana) Isaiah & Jael (Trinity - Hobart, Indiana) Jared (Holy Cross - Fort Wayne, Indiana) Gideon (St. Michael’s - Bloomington, Minnesota) Malachi (St. Matthew - Hawthorn Woods, Illinois) Mary (St. Paul's - Janesville, Wisconsin) Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois) During the teams' visit at Meijers last week, which served as a reunification center, a mom met us with her three kids. Here is a testimony she shared with us:  My heart is absolutely hurting. I can’t think straight. When I am alone with my thoughts the world feels so incredibly broken. I have spent nearly the entire day on the verge of tears thinking about humans and how their choices hurt others. Typically during times like this, I am driven to help in some way. Not this time. I am frozen and can hardly move. I took the kids today to Meijers and we were greeted at the door by beautiful dogs. I learned that these dogs traveled with their handlers from other states to bring comfort to our community. Not only did they bring us sweet, goofy, lovable, dogs to love up, but the idea that these people took time out of their lives to travel to us brought me hope. I have been reminded to “look for the helpers”. The helpers do so much more than their task, they truly do bring peace, hope, and love to our world. Thank you to all the helpers. You remind me of all that is good in the world.  On Tuesday, December 7, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Anna, Claudia, Caleb, Dove, Isaiah, Jael, and Jared spent time with the students at Rochester Adams High School, Rochester Hills, Michigan. These students are also feeling the fear, confusion, uncertainty, and loss of what happened at Oxford High School. The students needed the unconditional love and gentleness the Comfort Dogs and their handlers provided.  Some of the students spent time petting the Comfort Dogs, with no words spoken, laying their worries aside, and finding a moment of calm and comfort. While petting Claudia, one student shared, “This is the safest I have felt all week.” Claudia just knew he needed her. The school administration at Rochester Adams High School was extremely grateful for the Comfort Dogs and handlers being there and were overwhelmed by the joy they saw in the kids' actions and faces. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalms 46:1 On Wednesday, December 8, the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were invited to spend time at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Orion, Michigan. Pastor Ben Oelschlaeger invited the Comfort Dogs to visit with the students and teachers at the preschool. The Comfort Dogs loved spending time with the little ones and reading with them.  On Thursday, December 9, the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their ministry teams visited two Oxford Fire Departments and the Oakland County 911 Dispatch Center to bring some much-needed stress relief and comfort. On the day of the Oxford High School shooting, over 100 calls were made to the dispatch center. We praise God for these brave firefighters and dispatchers who are there for us in our time of need. Thank you to the LCC K-9 Ministry teams for being there to show love to these heroes. "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 On Monday, December 13, LCC's second K-9 deployment team with LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Gideon, Malachi, Mary, Tobias, and Beloved Comfort Dog in training spent some time at Divine Child Catholic Schools, in Deerfield, Michigan. The students need the comforting presence of the Comfort Dogs and their handlers after the loss of a student to suicide last week. Their grief was compounded by the ripple effect of the mass shooting that happened at the neighboring high school in Oxford, Michigan.
LCC K-9 and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion (HMC) Ministry teams are serving with open hearts to listen to the hurting, bringing them hope, comfort, and prayer. The hearts/crosses were placed at the memorial at Oxford High School for people to sign and leave condolence messages, pray, and pay their respects to the four lives lost so far.  The LCC K-9 ministry teams will continue to serve this hurting community as the requests come in for the Comfort Dogs and their handlers to be present.
Please join LCC as we pray for the Oxford High School community during this incredibly difficult time. The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministry NEVER charge those we serve as we bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. We know that comfort is needed to help this shocked and devastated community and the first responders who serve them. Comments are closed.
|
Categories
All
Archives
March 2023
|
RSS Feed
Location |
|