Comfort Dog Ministry Update, January 2023

We are so pleased to see the interest in a potential comfort dog ministry at COS!! There were 25 people who attended (and more that were unable to attend) the Comfort Dog informational meeting on Sunday, January 8. Trinity Lutheran Church of Toledo, Ohio brought their congregation’s two comfort dogs to inform us of the 'nuts & bolts' of the ministry and the various outreach opportunities it has provided their congregation (schools, courts, hospital visitations, etc.).

The Toledo team remarked to us after their visit how impressed they were at the response they received from the COS congregation – indicated by remarks and conversations with the people, the interested questions of the ministry and the good attendance at their presentation. "Your congregation has great interest!" the comfort dog coordinator mentioned to me. These affirmations encourage us to continue exploring a comfort dog ministry with Lutheran Church Charities (who breeds and trains the dogs), to continue communicating the details with our congregation, and to assess response and interest in developing a comfort dog ministry.

There will be job descriptions of the necessary roles to be filled in February’s newsletter. A successful ministry requires many interested and committed individuals. There are many opportunities available for many people to play a role in a Christ Our Savior Comfort Dog Ministry. Please be in touch with Gini Krenz (ginigramma@yahoo.com), Linda Waara (lswaara@att.net) or Pastor Davenport (pastord@christoursavior.org) if you are interested!