Her gentle, loving presence will be missed.

Miriam, Emmanuel Lutheran Church’s comfort dog, unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 21, following a surgical procedure.

One of approximately 130 golden retrievers involved in Lutheran Church Charities K-9 comfort dog ministry, Miriam began her journey when she was only 8 weeks old.

Two years and 2,000 hours of training later, she joined her team members from Emmanuel Lutheran Church, who themselves had been training for their new roles.

Arriving in the fall of 2020, Miriam and her team members got off to a slow start due to the pandemic, but they made the most of their time and soon began to see doors opening all around them.

Pastor Tim McCarty and his wife, Heather, served as Miriam’s primary caregivers and other dog handlers included top dog handler Keith Leimbach and his wife, Wendy, J. Juan and Denise Jech, Roger and Susan Post and Mickie Post.

Other ministry partners included Ora and Sharon Yoder, Cliff and Karen Benson, Pat and Sheila Luedders, Liz Pendergraft, Karin Leimbach, Lois Henderson, Katie Schroeder and Mary Krepel.

With a gentle, loving nature, the golden retrievers naturally draw people to them and serve as a bridge for their ministry partners to share compassion and the love of Jesus, Keith Leimbach said.

From the very beginning, Susan said, “Miriam was the bridge and we really saw that.”

As people reached out to Miriam, just petting her and letting their cares melt away for a moment, team members began to see opportunities to share the love of Jesus.

Once the pandemic let up, the team quickly expanded its ministry to include visits at nursing homes, assisted living centers, the Compassion Clinic, a homeless ministry in Oklahoma City, a boys shelter in Norman and other places.

“Miriam helped us so much to have the courage to go places we wouldn’t have before,” Heather said.

As the team participated each month in the homeless ministry, Susan said her husband, Roger, built a bond with one individual who was struggling with addiction.

As the individual began to receive help for his addiction, Roger and the team kept up with how he was doing.

Sometime later, Roger had the opportunity to witness his baptism, Susan added.

As Miriam shared snuggles and pets with residents of assisted living centers and nursing homes, Denise said, “They may not remember us, but they sure remembered Miriam…and they knew her name, too.”

When Miriam was at home, Denise added she was like any other dog running around and enjoying herself, but when she had on her vest, she knew it was time to go to work.

Discussing the impact Miriam had during her three years of ministry, Heather said one of the things she portrayed to them was her unconditional love.

She didn’t care what a person was wearing, how they smelled or what their hair looked like…she just loved them, Heather said.

“It made me stop and think, this is how we’re supposed to love people… with the unconditional love of Christ,” she said.

“I really loved that Miriam helped us see people like Jesus sees them.”

Stressing the importance of the relationships the team members were able to develop with those in need, Keith Leimbach recalled the monthly visits to the boys shelter in which he witnessed a noticeable difference in many of the boys over a two-year period.

At the end of each visit, Leimbach said the team would lead a prayer circle and the boys had the option to pass or pray and though most chose not to pray in the beginning, that changed as they began to build relationships with them.

“We got to know a lot of them very well and by the time they were getting ready to leave the home, most of them were praying with us,” he said.

“They didn’t necessarily pray for themselves either, but for their family, the staff or us and when they did pray for themselves, it was asking God to show them direction for their lives.”

Only going where they were invited, the team was also deployed by LCC-K9 ministries to a join a number of the other dogs in providing comfort and support to those affected by the mass shootings which occurred in Uvalde and Allen, Texas.

Closer to home, Miriam was invited to Tishomingo, Choctaw, Kingfisher and Lomega public schools in response to tragedies which occurred in those areas.

Miriam’s presence also brought about an unexpected bonus for team members allowing them to grow much closer to one another, Heather said.

As one of Miriam’s primary caregivers, Heather said, “When team members would come to pick her up, it was such a joy to get to talk to them on a regular basis, maybe just for five minutes or so and pray together.

“That’s how our body of Christ is supposed to be and she helped us be that.”

A few weeks before Miriam passed away, she hosted her second annual 5K fun run and walk.

Over 100 individuals participated in the event, which raised $9,000 to support Kingfisher Meals on Wheels.

Reflecting on three years of ministry, Leimbach said though it will take time to determine what the future looks like, the team hopes to continue serving in many of the areas in which they’ve been involved.

“We’re really grateful for all the community’s support and continued prayers for us at this time,” he said.

As Miriam’s ashes are laid to rest in the church prayer garden beneath an engraved memorial stone, she will always be remembered with a special place in many hearts.

“Miriam opened doors for us and was in essence a bridge helping get us into places, but the goal has always been to share the gospel and the comfort of knowing Jesus…and she led us to those people,” Pastor Tim McCarty said.

“It was a unique ministry and without Miriam, a piece is missing, but we hope we can continue the things that God has brought to us through her.”