On December 14 the way we speak of tragedy changed with the unspeakable shooting at Sandy Hook elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.
Following that, I got pretty disgusted that a lot of people (Christians included) used the tragedy as a sounding board for their agenda or idea. You can read that post here.
The bottom line is that I think too many people run their mouth without ever doing anything. So, in a case of “Kevin, you should live up to your own words,” I did something. And as a result, I’d like to share an opportunity with you.
I wasn’t sure what to do in response to this tragedy, and as I prayed about it I remembered reading an article in World Magazine about the shootings. They had interviewed a pastor at a local church which was responding to the tragedy. One thing led to another and I simply sent an e-mail to the church, letting them know I’d seen the article and communicating my desire to pray for them.
I never expected a reply, let alone a personal one. But, I got a personal reply from one of the staff pastors at Walnut Hill Community Church, about 5 miles from the Newtown area. And the pastor’s reply included a link to a fund that is being spearheaded to help with ongoing counseling for the area. The fund is going to be overseen by its own board. Mental health professionals are telling them that ten years of counseling will be necessary following a tragedy of this nature. So, they’re trying to raise $300,000, and you can donate by clicking here:
http://www.walnuthillcc.org/home/news/0000/00-00/reaching-out-to-sandy-hook-community
I plan to donate at some point in the near future and I encourage you to do the same. Don’t have much money? Please commit to pray, or send a letter to this church, or another in the area. From the pastor who responded to me there was genuine gratitude for the prayers and encouragement of outsiders.
1 Cor 12:26: …If one part suffers, every part suffers with it…