July 14, 2021 Weekly Update
I hope you are hitting your summer stride and enjoying the sunshine, even if the air is hazy with wildfire smoke!
Like me, maybe you’ve been following the tragic collapse and subsequent search, rescue, and recovery efforts at the Champlain Towers in Surfside, FL. Almost 100 people lost their lives, and unfortunately the death count is not yet complete. This tragedy is so difficult to hear about, to process, and to understand. It didn’t have to happen, and yet – it did. And now an entire community is trying to care and comfort one another as they pick up the pieces to move forward.
How can churches make an impact in communities like Surfside? Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry sent nine Golden Retrievers to Surfside to help first responders and community residents process their grief and suffering. The dogs were present and attentive at a makeshift memorial near the collapsed tower. They gave hugs, snuggles, and paw shakes in an effort to help people find a moment of peace and compassion for the sake of their mental health. This ministry has over 130 dogs that serve in 27 states. They are trained to interact with people of all ages who experience suffering and tragedy. Thanks be to God for these precious dogs and their handlers who help bring the love of God into the darkest moments of people’s lives.
You can read more about this ministry here: https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-miami-area-condo-collapse/2021/07/14/1015663935/surfside-florida-building-collapse-comfort-dogs-therapy
Blessings,
Pastor Jared
