A year ago, Miriam and her team were poised and ready to serve.

However, with a pandemic raging, opportunities were limited.

Freshly commissioned LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Miriam and Kingfisher Emmanuel Lutheran team members still found ways to share warmth and cheer with others.

Initially calming patients and dispensing cheer at the Compassion Medical Clinic in Kingfisher and visiting health care workers at the Canadian County Health Department, the team has also recently been able to take Miriam on outings to nursing homes and a trip to see employees at Mercy Hospital Kingfisher as well as other community service opportunities, top dog handler Keith Leimbach said.

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

“We don’t judge,” Leimbach added. “We do a lot of listening.”

Both Miriam and the team went through significant training to be prepared for their ministry and now they want to add more instruction to increase their ability to minister to people who have experienced trauma.

Miriam and her handlers are partnering with No Boundaries International (NBI) of Edmond to provide a free oneday class in Kingfisher which will focus on understanding the causes and effects of trauma and provide a framework to help lead individuals into healing and restoration without causing further harm.

A nonprofit ministry, NBI is a trauma-informed organization working to restore, train and deploy the hurting locally and globally, according to its website. With an emphasis on ending human trafficking, NBI works to provide realistic solutions to those in need, whether it is the prostituted woman, at riskchild, homeless individual or those struggling with addiction and brokenness.

Anyone is welcome to participate in the class, Leimbach said.

The class will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13, at Kingfisher Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 124 W. Douglas Ave. and lunch will be provided.

“We would like anyone to join us as No Boundaries International shares how you and your group can reach out and love others safely and effectively with a trauma informed approach,” Leimbach said.

“No Boundaries International is reaching a lot of people and we’re excited to have this opportunity.”