The Rev. Glenn Merritt, director of LCMS Disaster Response, greets a Golden Retriever with the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry at the 5th LCMS National Disaster Response Conference in St. Louis. During breaks at the Oct. 7-10 event, pastors knelt to pet and pose for pictures with the cuddly canines. (LCMS Communications/Amanda Booth)
