Lutheran Church Charities Welcomes Immanuel – St. Charles, Missouri, and Our Savior’s Way – Ashburn, Virginia, to the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry

On September 27 – 29, Immanuel Lutheran Church – St. Charles, Missouri, and Our Savior’s Way Lutheran Church – Ashburn, Virginia, joined LCC staff for handler training. Each church was very excited to meet their new LCC K-9 Comfort Dog and to become part of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry. The new handlers and caregivers spent many hours training in ministry and in handler skills.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Patience will serve at Immanuel Lutheran Church as a bridge to share the Mercy, Compassion, Presence, and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need.  Patience Comfort Dog’s Bible verse is Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Our Savior’s Way Lutheran Church will continue their outreach ministry in their community with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Amos. Amos will serve as the bridge so the handlers and ministry partners can be the Hands and Feet of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need. Amos Comfort Dog’s Bible verse is Psalm 116:6, “The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in need, he saved me.”

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry is one of presence. When the Lord calls, we must go and serve Him. Isaiah 6:8 tell us “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?’  And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me.’”

The following new handlers to the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry have heard that call:

K-9 Comfort Dog Handlers
Immanuel – St. Charles, Missouri
Barbara Bogucki
Gregg Bogucki
Lewis Fruend
Holly Gillette
Tom Gillette
Kathryn Huster
Scott Huster
Scott Kohrs
Dennis Lueck
Julie Lueck
Diane Schade

K-9 Comfort Dog Handlers
Our Savior's Way – Ashburn, Virginia
Joe Apecechea
Leslie Apecechea
Beth Cummings
Donna Davis
Nikki Deacon
Allison Diener
Matt Diener
Jodi Folta
John Kluge
Suzanne Kluge
Pastor Tyson Labuhn
Maria Nicolau
Ministry Partner Karen Torstenson

LCC is honored to welcome the following individuals to the LCC Kare-9 Military Ministry:
Lewis Fruend, United States Army, 1964-1970
John Kluge, United States Air Force, 1983-2004

LCC is also honored to welcome Beth Cummings, Police Detective, Fairfax County (VA) PD (Ret.) to the LCC K-9 Police Ministry.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to Lewis, John, and Beth for their service and to all of our volunteer handlers for their dedication to the LCC K-9 Ministry.

Donate - LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Fund