At every Chapel service, our students are invited to tithe! Each quarter, we choose meaningful charities and organizations to bless with our offerings. We love when Thomas visits, so we chose Comfort Dogs Ministry for the 1st Quarter.
At Lutheran Church Charities (LCC), the Comfort Dog Ministry is a unique, national outreach that brings the calming and healing presence of specially trained golden retrievers to those in crisis and need. With over 130 Comfort Dogs placed in more than 27 states, our teams respond to natural disasters, communities grieving after mass shootings, hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.
Comfort dogs are more than companions. With over 2000 hours of training, these working animals are placed in churches, schools, and ministries across the United States to serve as a bridge for compassionate ministry and create moments of peace and connection in the wake of trauma, grief, and stress.
Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Concordia, MO, is the home of Thomas Comfort Dog and previously Jessy Comfort Dog. Today, they are working on adding a second dog and creating a new team to support Concordia and the surrounding areas. Thomas is present for Counseling sessions at Trinity Lutheran and often spends an afternoon each week in the 6th grade classroom.
The comfort dogs only go where they are invited and we never charge those we serve. This work is made possible solely through the generosity of donors who believe in the healing power of compassionate presence.