Good News Florida

GoodNewsFL.org 25 MARCH 2018 LOCAL haunted by this tragedy” and to care for the individuals in the hospitals recovering. “Give us the courage and wisdom to make sound decisions to make sure every child in the state can go to a safe and productive school,” he added. Praying for these families who are suffering unimaginable loss, Pastor Doug Sauder, of Calvary Chapel Fort Laud- erdale, said, “Many of us have lost children, but not like this. Fa- ther, we pray we’d learn to listen and to walk with these families on the long road of healing and redemption… that you’d give us the ability to love like we’ve never loved before, and that we’d see love win over hate.” Reading in both English and Creole, Isaac Petit-Frere, pastor of The Font Church, recited Psalm 23, encouraging others to find comfort in God’s words. For the students affected by this tragedy,Andy Fernandez, of Firewall Centers, said “We mourn for potential lost, for hope, joy and dreams never re- alized. Lord, heal our broken hearts…” He prayed for those in the hospital and for the doctors. “Remember the survivors of this attack. Ease their suffering, help them release their trauma and give them the strength to move forward and courage to heal so they can live lives of wonder,” he added. “Father, our community and schools are hurting, and we need you Jesus to touch our lives, to heal our land,” prayed Chris Lane, of First Priority of South Florida. After praying for teachers, coaches, administra- tors and staff, Lane continued, “We lift up Douglas High School…We pray for all the stu- dents in all of our schools that you would protect and watch over them… School is more than academics and books. It’s also about life and you. This next generation is so important to changing our world. May you be the One we turn to for an- swers.” Virgil Sierra , of Vertical Church, recited Psalm 46 in both English and Spanish, em- phasizing “God is our refuge and strength… The Lord of Heaven’s armies is here among us.” For first responders, Brett Opalinksi, pastor of Christ Church UMC, prayed, “For so many who showed compassion and understanding, so many who left concern for self aside to provide safety and care for oth- ers… may the witness of our first responders, their courage and compassion kindle those flames in our own hearts and may we see the beauty that comes even on the darkest days.” Reading from Lamentations 3:19-26, Robey Barnes, pastor of West Pines Community Church, said, “…I will never for- get this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends!” In offering prayers for the MSDHS staff, John Jones, Pas- tor of First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale, said, “We pray today, Lord, for the athletic direc- tor, for the assistant football coach, martyrs who sacrificially gave themselves to protect their students and friends. Cover their families with your love and grace, help them in a way that only you can. Bless the staff.” Dr. Marcus Davidson, pastor of New Mount Olive Baptist Church, prayed for strength, peace and courage for Superin- tendent Robert Runcie and each school boardmember. “As they face the reality of dealing with policy that will protect our students, as they seek to walk away from the tragedy and deal with the reality that they are hu- mans yet are challenged with the burden of asking them- selves questions that they have not answers for. What could they have done? How could they have helped? Lift them to new levels of leadership that they would be able to lead us not only through this moment but beyond this moment.” Rob Hoskins, president of OneHope, read from Romans 8:31-39: “If God is for us, who can be against us? …Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threat- ened with death?... No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us…” Parkridge Pastor Eddie Bevil read from Ephesians 2, saying, “we were once all sons of dis- obedience…But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love … made us alive to- gether with Christ.” He prayed, “Lord we rejoice in these two words, ‘but God.’ We have a merciful and loving God who cares for all people… We pray for Nikolas Cruz and for his extended family. We ask that you would intervene in his disturbed mind and show him the hope that can only be found in you. While we believe in the need for justice and safety in re- gard to Nikolas… we know nothing is too difficult for your mercy. We recognized this may be too difficult for us, but you are the answer we need. We beg you tomeet us here in our pain.” Before reading a statement from the churches and pastors of Church United, Tom Hen- drikse, pastor of Rio Vista Com- munity Church, recalled, “I’ve been a pastor in this community for 20 years and I’ve never seen a day quite like this one, but I have also never seen anything quite like the unity that exists in the Christian community today. In the last few years we have come together in relationship and we have come together in mission and I think that it pleases the Lord, but as I drove here today I was thinking, Lord, you have been bringing us to- gether the past few year for this – that wemight be ready for this. That we might approach this with one heart, with one love, with one passion, with one em- blem of selflessness, with one willingness to lay ourselves down after the fashion of the One who laid his life down for us, and that we might speak as one voice. (You can read the official statement in its entirety on page 12.) He emphasized that this is just the beginning of their efforts. Adam Pizarro, of The Village Hymns, sang Amazing Grace before the pastors gathered to release 17 silver balloons in honor of the victims. And Arthur Connor, pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church, closed with the words of Paul in Philippians 4:7 and Jesus in John 14:27, praying “Father use our hands and lives to bring peace and healing to this city and use our hands to help the families of those who have lost loved ones.” For those who would like to contribute to the needs of the victims of this tragic event, Church United has set up an as- sistance fund through the Na- tional Christian Foundation at bit.ly/MercyFund. Students huddle in prayer