|
-----Original Message-----
To: Linda A. Minor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Sunday, September 19, 1999 12:57 AM Subject: Fw: Prayers Needed Dear Lin,
I thought you might like reading this letter from
someone who tells about the Ft. Worth church shootings from within the
church. A friend from Wichita Falls sent this to us. We've read the
articles you've sent us regarding the shooting and it's all interesting and sad
that this kind of thing happens in our society.
Date: Saturday, September 18, 1999 12:02 PM Subject: Prayers Needed of my youth choir and youth ensemble "The New Generation" when I was minister of music in Nederland, TX. This was written by his brother, a professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I think it speaks for itself: Dr. Dan R. Crawford Professor of Evangelism and Spiritual Formation Chair of Prayer Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary P.O. Box 22,298 Fort Worth, TX 76122 Phone: (817) 923-1921, Ext. 6670 FAX: (817) 921-8767 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dear Friends, Family and Prayer Partners, Last Sunday, my sermon subject was "When God Gives a Test" from Genesis 22. Little did I know how much I, myself would need the truths of that sermon this week. Wednesday evening, while my family worshipped at our church, Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, our faith was suddenly and dramatically put to the test. A lone gunman entered our church facilities. In the foyer, he shot two Southwestern Seminary students and a recent graduate, then entered the worship center and began to shoot into the audience of mostly teen-agers attending a post See-You-At-The-Pole Prayer and Praise rally. More than forty were injured before the gunman took his own life. As of today, eight are dead and several others remain in hospitals in various conditions. Two of the dead were Seminary students, one was a recent graduate. Others were our friends and fellow church members. My wife, Joanne, heard someone shouting, "I've been shot! This is no joke! I've been shot!" She walked out of the Fellowship Hall, where the adults were having Prayer Meeting, and saw Kevin Galey, our church Counselor laying on the floor, being attended too by other church members. His shirt was covered with blood. Twenty years ago, when I was Baptist Student Ministries Director at the University of Texas, Kevin was on my Student Leadership Council. He used to baby sit with our children. Wanting to stop and help, Joanne also knew that our seven-year old granddaughter was in GAs in another part of the building. She ran, passing other wounded, to where Whitney and other girls were participating in their children's activity. As the first to arrive there with the news, Joanne helped get the children safely out of the building and across the street to an elementary school. Later I would spend several hours at that elementary school ministering to Seminary students and friends. Our phone rang into the wee hours of Thursday morning and has continued as friends from near and far call to see if we are OK, to assure us of their prayers and to get information. Thursday morning my office e-mail was filled with correspondence from around the world as former students picked up pieces of the news over the internet. Yesterday's Seminary chapel service was long and emotional. Classes were turned into group counseling sessions. Everywhere I went, someone wanted to talk about the shooting. Reporters were every where competing for quotes. CBS news even called our home phone number to get a quote. Today has been much of the same. Tomorrow, we will attend three funeral services. Sunday, I will sit aside my planned sermon and try to offer biblical answers to the questions of the people who attend the church where I serve as Interim Pastor. How can you pray for us? Many have asked. Please know in advance that your prayer support is and will be greatly appreciated. 1. Pray for Joanne. She is still processing all of the events and today is emotionally drained and physically tired. Today's Fort Worth had a diagram of where each shooting actually happened and Joanne realized for the first time how near she was to some of those who were killed. 2. Pray for our granddaughter, Whitney. She saw far too much blood and chaos. She doesn't want to go to school because they prayed at the flagpole and people got shot in the same day. She doesn't want to go to church because she is afraid there are dead bodies there as well as a killer who will try to kill people. Also, pray for our daughter Danna as she tries to minister to her daughter, Whitney. 3. Pray for me as I try to find satisfactory answers to difficult questions I'm being asked. I have tried to give strength and encouragement to so many people and now I find need for the same thing. Who helps hurting Samaritans? 4. Pray for our friend and Pastor Dr. Al Meridith. On Wednesday, he had just returned from Michigan and the funeral of his mother. He had gone by his house to freshen up and grab a bite to eat before going to the church for some after-prayer service meetings. His home phone rang and a reporter wanted a quote. It was his first awareness of the shooting. He has been up since then, ministering, answering reporters questions, speaking in Seminary Chapel, etc. He has three funerals tomorrow and more to come. He must address a hurting congregation on Sunday. 5. Pray for our church family. We are grieving. We are stunned. We have many questions. We must go on. We will worship Sunday in a worship center where some of our friends and fellow church members were killed. Check our church web page for updated information. http://www.wedgwoodbc.org. 6. Pray for the Southwestern Seminary family. We have lost students and alumni. We have many students who will address congregations, youth groups, Sunday School classes, etc. this Sunday and be expected to provide insight if not answers. 7. Pray for our society. I am absolutely convinced if God does send spiritual awakening in response to our prayers, we can say good-bye to our society as we have known it. Where can we go to avoid violence? Work? Malls? Public Buildings? Schools? Churches? Home? We need a national, God-sent revival. We need more, but that is the beginning that will save us from the end. 8. Finally, give thanks to God for His protection over the hundreds who were present in the church facilities and were not physically injured. A former student shared this verse with me yesterday via e-mail. It is appropriate. "The Lord is good, a stronghold in times of trouble. He cares for those who take refuge in Him." Nahum 1:7. |
