LCC K-9 and HMC Teams deploying to Florida State 

to BE THERE for university community after shooting

2 killed, 6 injured 

in Maundy Thursday

campus attack

Florida State University

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me.

Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows.

But take heart, because I have overcome the world." 

(John 16:33 NLT)

Lutheran Church Charities and LCC affiliate churches and volunteers are deploying to Tallahassee, Florida, today to offer HOPE, care, compassion, and the presence of Christ to the heartbroken campus of Florida State University after two individuals were killed yesterday afternoon in a shooting that injured six others.

Rev. Jay Winters, Senior Pastor of University Lutheran Church of Tallahassee, has invited LCC to bring K-9 Comfort Dog and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion teams who are trained in Spiritual First Aid™ to bring HOPE to the hurting and to provide support to those who have been deeply affected by this tragic incident.

LCC will be present at a candlelight vigil today at 5 p.m. local time on the FSU campus with volunteers from three congregations from three states:

·       Lizzie Comfort Dog team from Trinity Lutheran, Savannah, Georgia

·       Peace Comfort Dog team from Trinity Lutheran, Orlando, Florida

·       Zoara Comfort Dog team from Island Lutheran, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

·       HMC Team from Island Lutheran, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Your support helps LCC BE THERE

to bring HOPE to the hurting!

LCC President/CEO Rev. Chris Singer urges LCC supporters to pray for the students, staff, and university community during this time of sorrow. Florida State University has more than 44,000 students and was the site of another mass shooting in 2014. 

“Please lift up the campus community in your prayers,” Rev. Singer said. “Let’s join together in prayer for the two victims and their loved ones, as well as for those who were injured and are recovering. And please pray for the first responders, medical staff, and law enforcement who are still working to help at the scene.”

When news of the shooting broke, Rev. Singer was in Wisconsin addressing a group of LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams, visiting members of the Wisconsin LWML. 

His words to them ring true in light of the shooting.

“All of us would like the opportunity to go back in time and change some of the events that have happened to the people whom we comfort and serve,” he said. “But we cannot do that. What can we do? We can choose to BE THERE with them through the hurt and provide the hope of Jesus.”

Florida State University students created a campus memorial. (Associated Press)

LCC can offer this early response care because of generous and faithful donors and volunteers who are willing to give and serve.

“Your financial support will go directly to helping the ministry work of our K-9 Comfort Dog teams, HMC teams, and LCC Spiritual First Aid™ Care teams,” Rev. Singer said.

If you are compelled to give, please donate to the BE THERE for FSU Fund. Thank you for sharing in the Mercy and Compassion Ministry of Lutheran Church Charities.

LCC places hearts and crosses at memorials and vigil sites and makes visits with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog ministry teams as a reminder to hurting communities that people across the nation love and support them. LCC seeks to provide those impacted by tragedy with opportunities to process their grief and receive messages of love and hope, ultimately finding solace in the peace of Jesus Christ.

Thanks to you, Lutheran Church Charities will continue to BE THERE to bring HOPE to the hurting and provide the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are struggling, suffering, and in need. 

At LCC, we never go where we are not invited.

We never charge those we serve.

May the LORD open doors for these teams to deliver the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus. 

Thank you for being a part of Lutheran Church Charities ministries. 

Serving Together in the Comfort of Jesus!

P.S. – This tragedy hits close to home for the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog ministry. The daughter of one of our Top Dogs and the niece of another Top Dog are students at Florida State University and were nearby when the shooting happened. We're lifting their families up in prayer, along with the whole campus:

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