Good News Florida

LOCAL 24 MARCH 2018 Good News • South Florida Edition ‡ &URZQV ‡ %ULGJHV ‡ ,PSODQWV ‡ 'HQWXUHV ‡ )XOO PRXWK UHFRQVWUXFWLRQ ‡ 70- WKHUDS\ DQG PRUH ´:H EHOLHYH HYHU\RQH GHVHUYHV D VPLOH WKDW LQVWLOOV FRQILGHQFH DQG OLJKWV XS D URRP µ &877,1* ('*( 7(&+12/2*< :H RIIHU DOO WKH ODWHVW GHQWDO WUHDWPHQWV 1( WK $YHQXH 3RPSDQR %HDFK )/ DO OVPL OHVI ORU LGD FRP ‡ )LOOLQJV ‡ 5RRW FDQDOV ‡ ([WUDFWLRQV ‡ :KLWHQLQJ ‡ ,QYLVDOLJQ ‡ 9HQHHUV "TSFRVJSFECZMBX5IFQBUJFOUBOEBOZPUIFSQFSTPOSFTQPOTJCMFGPSQBZNFOUIBTBSJHIUUPSFGVTFUPQBZDBODFMQBZNFOUPSCFSFJNCVSTFEGPSBOZPUIFSTFSWJDFTFYBNJOBUJPOPSUSFBUNFOUUIBUJTQFSGPSNFEBTBSFTVMUPGBOEXJUIJO IPVSTPGSFTQPOEJOHUPUIFBEWFSUJTFNFOUGPSEJTDPVOUFEGFFFYBNJOBUJPOPSUSFBUNFOU$PTNFUJDEFOUJTUSZJTOPUSFDPHOJ[FEBTBTQFDJBMUZBSFBCZUIF"NFSJDBO%FOUBM"TPDJBUJPOPSUIF'MPSJEB#PBSEPG%FOUJTUSZ 'U 1DWDOLD $ 6WDGOHU *HW WKH VPLOH \RX YH DOZD\V ZDQWHG Speaking as one voice, rep- resentatives of Church United, hosted a community prayer vigil for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Thurs- day, February 15. Students, friends and family gathered on the lawn at Parkridge Church located just one mile from the scene of the horrific shooting that took the lives of 14 stu- dents and three adults so abruptly and left our community in mourning. Parkridge Church originally met at Marjory Stone- man Douglas High School when it was founded in 1992 and Pastor Eddie Bevill, its founder, said many of their church families have students who attend the local school. Edwin Copeland, Executive Director of Church United, began the call to prayer, saying “We gather not as leaders of var- ious church expressions, but as citizens. This is our home and it’s pain becomes our pain.” Recit- ing Psalm 34:17, he said, “‘The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart…’ We pray the love of Christ would shine through this community in unprecedented ways.” More than a dozen pastors from a variety of church denom- inations offered prayers from the podium along with prayers from school and government officials. Noting that many of our local churches are already working with our children, Broward County School Board member Dr. Rosalind Osgood, said “Our children need us to be in rela- tionship with them in a way that we’re helping themgrow spiritu- ally… Mr. Cruz is just one of many troubled children. It is a horrific time for us as educators and school board members. Our hearts are aching… I don’t have answers but I know there is power in prayer… My prayer is God convict us that we would do more to meet the social and emotional needs of our chil- dren.” Governor Rick Scott asked God to “help all at the school Church United Held Prayer Vigil for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Shelly Pond Good News Parkridge Church Pastor Eddie Bevill speaks during the prayer vigil.