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“At the very heart of our mission and purpose at Lutheran Church Charities is to share the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ with those who are suffering and in need. This is why we go. This is why we serve. That is our calling. That is our privilege.” - LCC President and CEO, Rev. Chris Singer When tragedy struck the quiet town of Grand Blanc, Michigan, the community was shaken to its core. Four lives were lost, eight more were wounded, and an entire town was left grieving after a horrific mass shooting and fire. When Pastor Robert Scott of Faith Lutheran Church in Grand Blanc extended an invitation for support, Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) answered without hesitation. Within hours, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion (HMC) volunteers were on their way—called to bring the mercy and presence of Christ into the heart of heartbreak. Faith Lutheran: A Light in the Darkness For Pastor Robert Scott and the congregation of Faith Lutheran Church, hosting the LCC teams was an extension of their own calling to be a refuge for the hurting. “We want to help our neighbors, especially those who are hurting,” Pastor Scott said. “When I got home from church that day, as everything was unfolding, the first thing I thought of was the Comfort Dogs. By Monday, they were here. You could feel something healing about their presence.” “People like to come together in tragedy,” Pastor Scott reflected. “There’s something healing about gathering together. Having LCC with us brought peace and comfort to people who were broken.” Faith Lutheran will continue that healing work in the months to come through Spiritual First Aid™—a faith-based trauma care training that equips congregations to respond to crisis with LCC—equipping members to walk with those who grieve long after the headlines fade. “This wound will have long-term consequences for our community,” Pastor Scott said. “Partnering with LCC helps us begin that healing—and prepares us to help others in the future.” “We’re Called to Be the Hands and Feet of Jesus” Among those walking closely with both the hurting and the helpers was Deaconess Christie Hansard, a parish nurse and deaconess at Faith Lutheran Church in Grand Blanc. Her voice carried both tenderness and conviction as she reflected on what these days had revealed. “I think one of the distractions in this world is that we forget how much evil is out there,” she said. “And it isn’t until something like this happens that we’re reminded that there is evil in this world—and God can use that to His glory. When something like this happens, we’re called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. That’s why Lutheran Church Charities was here—to help and assist people on the ground.” For Deac. Hansard, this deployment was not just about tending to others—it was about the ministry of mutual care. “If we’re the ones doing the ministering, we need care, too,” she added. “Our community needs care. And that’s why you’re here.” Deac. Hansard has been instrumental in bringing Spiritual First Aid™ to the church and surrounding district. “I’ve been doing this for twenty years,” she said. “And I can honestly say that Spiritual First Aid knocked it out of the park—above and beyond anything that’s ever come across my desk. It gives people the confidence to say, ‘I wanted to help, but I didn’t know what to do.’ It bridges that gap.” Presence in the Midst of Pain The first stop for the LCC teams was the community vigil outside Henry Ford Genesys Hospital. There, hundreds gathered to weep, pray, and remember. Volunteers gently set up the blue Hearts of Mercy & Compassion—handcrafted wooden hearts bearing the names of the victims. Each heart quickly became a sacred space, covered in handwritten prayers, Bible verses, and messages of love. One woman hesitated before writing on a heart. “I have to think about what to write,” she said softly. A volunteer encouraged her, “Yes, it’s hard sometimes. How have you coped with loss in your life so far?” The woman paused, then replied, “My faith sustains me.” She smiled as she picked up the marker and began to write. In that small exchange, faith became testimony. Hope was rekindled.  “The Dogs Bring Back a Sense of Reality” While the Hearts of Mercy & Compassion created places for the community to gather and grieve, the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs became living reminders of God’s presence and peace. Six golden-furred friends—Caleb, Claudia, Damascus, Eternity, Jared, and Magdalene—traveled from Indiana and Ohio to Grand Blanc. They spent their days visiting hospitals, police departments, fire stations, and community gatherings, quietly sharing the love of Christ through gentle touch and compassionate presence. Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye described what those moments meant: “This incident brought a lot of emotions and heartache for me, my staff, and our community,” he said. “Being the police chief of such a terrible, evil act—and balancing public, operational, media, and employees’ needs—has caused long work days and sleepless nights. I’m not only a police chief; I’m a husband, a father of two beautiful girls, and a dog dad myself.” “Being with the dogs brought calm, love, and a time to decompress for a moment. The dogs bring back a sense of reality—that the world is full of love and peace, not just what we experienced in this community. The Lutheran Church Charities team is doing great work healing our community. I believe these kind, compassionate acts will make our community stronger. We are better together.” A City’s First Responders Find Comfort Each day, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams visited those who had carried the heaviest burdens. They met with dispatchers, firefighters, and police officers who had run toward danger that night, now left to wrestle with the memories. Firefighter Michael Hertzberg, one of the first on the scene, shared through tears, “It’s an invaluable gift to have LCC and the Comfort Dogs here. There’s been a lot of emotion over the past four days. Seeing the support and love of all of these people means so much to me and to all of us.” At the Grand Blanc City Police Department, Chief Brian Lipe echoed those feelings: “Being with the Comfort Dogs has allowed our blood pressure to drop,” he said. “In this stressful situation, it’s a relief to have the support of groups like LCC. With all of the bad happening in the country and the world, it’s comforting to have these teams come in from across the country  Moments of Mercy, Acts of Grace For the LCC teams, the deployment was filled with sacred moments—quiet, powerful encounters where Christ’s compassion shone through. Nancy Borders, deployment lead and Top Dog for Claudia Comfort Dog, described one she will never forget: “When we entered the Grand Blanc Township Hall, all the employees had gathered. Our six Comfort Dogs lined up before them, and when everyone was invited to pet the dogs, they eagerly rushed forward. The Township police chief couldn’t hide his joy when one of the dogs gently placed her paws in his lap. Later, our team prayed with the chief and the employees, sharing a moment of compassion and comfort that will not be forgotten.” Nancy recalled watching a woman sit silently beside one of the Comfort Dogs, tears falling freely. “No words were needed,” she said. “In that simple moment of connection, peace began to replace pain. It was a powerful reminder that love and kindness can bridge every divide.” Hearts That Heal The Hearts of Mercy & Compassion became a central symbol of this mission of healing. Seven hearts were gifted to first responder departments across Grand Blanc and neighboring communities:
“The leadership was very grateful,” Sarah Sekki, LCC shared. “Each person stopped to read the messages written. We heard many stories of that day, and we encouraged the responders in their continued recovery and healing.” At the barricade site where the tragedy occurred, the hearts now stand as silent witnesses to love stronger than death—a place for the community to gather, to mourn, and to remember. “Comfort, Comfort My People” Throughout the deployment, one passage echoed again and again: “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” – Isaiah 40:1 That verse became both command and comfort. For the volunteers who served long days listening, hugging, and praying. For the first responders who found space to grieve. For the families and children who found peace in the soft fur of a Comfort Dog. Rev. Chris Singer reflected, “Your presence is His presence. Your compassion is His compassion. Thank you for being His hands and feet in such a time as this."  Hope That Endures As the teams prepared to return home, their hearts remained with the people of Grand Blanc. The wounds of that Sunday will not heal quickly—but even amid the sorrow, seeds of hope were planted. Sarah Sekki shared, “The people of Grand Blanc showed remarkable kindness and warmth. Even in the midst of sorrow, their graciousness shone through. Prayers were not only welcomed but embraced, offering moments of shared comfort and hope. It reminded us that even in dark times, light shines brightest through the kindness of others.” To the community, she offered these words of encouragement: “May the peace of Christ surround you and bring comfort to your hearts. God is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. You are not walking this road alone. His love is present in every prayer, every act of kindness, and every tear shared. May His light shine through the darkness, reminding you that hope endures and His grace is sufficient for each new day.”  Why We Go Lutheran Church Charities exists to bring the love of Christ into places of pain—to serve with humility, to listen with compassion, and to remind the brokenhearted that God is near. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3–4: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” That comfort—the comfort of Christ Himself—was shared again and again in Grand Blanc. This is why we go. This is why we serve. That is our calling. That is our privilege. In every hug, every prayer, every paw print left behind, the mercy and compassion of Jesus Christ were made known. And through His people, Grand Blanc was reminded that even in the darkest moments, love has the final word. Help LCC Be There — Crisis Response for Grand Blanc, MI
Your prayers and support make it possible for Lutheran Church Charities to be there in the moments that matter most—bringing the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need. Every donation helps us send K-9 Comfort Dog teams, Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, and crisis response ministries to communities like Grand Blanc—where hope is needed most. 👉 Donate Now to Help LCC Be There — Crisis Response for Grand Blanc, MI See the Story in Action: For more coverage of LCC’s response in Grand Blanc, click here: Fox 2 Detroit coverage Comments are closed.
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