How Therapy Dogs Open Doors for the Gospel
Episode notes
What if the key to sharing the gospel with a lonely neighbor has four legs and a wagging tail?
In this episode of Cultural Connections, we sit down with Lesley and Terri from Doggie Disciples and the real star of the show, Cheyenne, to talk about how certified therapy dogs are being used to reach people in assisted living, memory care, hospitals, and more.
It started with a simple question at the Awakenings Conference: what is the greatest need in our community? The answer was loneliness. Doggie Disciples was born by pairing that need with something dogs do naturally, break the ice, build trust, and open the door for real human connection and for Christ.
🔹 In this episode:
• Why Mark 16:15 ("preach the gospel to every creature") sparked this ministry
• How Doggie Disciples began and why loneliness was the catalyst
• "We don't go in presenting Jesus necessarily but we know Jesus is present"
• Why therapy dogs are a bridge into gospel conversations
• The science of touch: oxytocin, mirror neurons, and why petting a dog matters
• Powerful stories from memory care and assisted living visits
• How Cheyenne and other pups helps calm patients even during medical care
• National certification, insurance, and how to get your dog involved
• How churches can partner or launch their own chapter
🐾 Learn more & apply:
https://doggiedisciples.com
⏱ Chapters (welcome @ 0:26):
0:26 Welcome: Cultural Connections Ep. 15
0:34 Meet Lesley, Terri & Cheyenne (Doggie Disciples)
0:51 "Preach the gospel to every creature"
1:36 Pastor's visit to assisted living / memory care
2:01 How Doggie Disciples got started
3:13 Awakenings Conference & loneliness
3:39 Founding Doggie Disciples
4:26 Jesus is present, every visit is a God moment
4:40 Praying before each visit
4:58 When Cheyenne puts on the vest
5:32 Cheyenne's cards & sharing God's Word
5:52 Dogs as a bridge to the gospel
6:21 Why we love dogs / man's best friend
8:24 Touch, oxytocin & mirror neurons
9:48 "I feel like I'm looking at the face of God"
10:05 Fruits of the Spirit in a dog
10:37 The woman who had never spoken
13:24 Cheyenne soothes patients during care
16:25 Who fits this ministry? / the working vest
16:51 National pet therapy certification
17:25 How to apply (meet & greet → evaluation)
19:46 Can an anxious dog serve?
21:46 God redeems our affections, use what you love
22:53 Growing chapters nationwide (launched Nov 2025)
23:34 Hospital therapy dog story
24:13 doggiedisciples.com
25:23 G-O-D / D-O-G
26:23 Closing
📖 Key verse:
Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."
🎙 Cultural Connections
Honest conversations about faith, family, and culture from Calvary Church.
👉@CulturalConnectionsPodcast
👉 calbaptist.net
👉 Previous episode: https://youtu.be/9IJwMIIXoxM
More episodes & resources: https://culturalconnectionspodcast.com