Please join us in prayer for Charleston

 

We were very shocked and saddened by the events that took place during a mid week meeting at Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. Police say Dylann Roof shot the pastor and eight other church members in cold blood as they gathered to do a bible study.  A church is a place where everyone is welcome and Christians should feel safe, but it is increasingly somewhere they have to be vigilant, as our brothers and sisters in Pakistan already know too well.

Our American representative, Kendra Malczyk, would like us to join her in prayer for the victims and their families:

Beloved Heavenly Father and Sovereign God, it is with
overwhelmingly heavy hearts that we lift up to You the families and
friends of the nine victims lost in the Charleston shooting at Emanuel
African Methodist Episcopal Church. 

We pray for peace and comfort to
rest heavily upon their family members, church family, co-workers, and
community. 

We give You immense thanksgiving that Reverend Clementa
Pinckney, Reverend Daniel Simmons Sr., Cynthia Hurd, Sharonda Singleton,
Myra Thompson, Tywanza Sanders,  Reverend DePayne Middleton, Susie
Jackson, and Ethel Lance are forever in Your Eternal care, and that this
brings us hope, the hope that one day You shall wipe away every tear,
and reconcile the families and friends of those belonging to You. 

Thank
you that these loved ones mourn with the promise of redemption and
reunion because of Your great love for us in Christ Jesus.  As they pour
out multitudes of tears to You in the coming months, overshadow them
with this promised hope of redemption, and comfort them with the
assurance of reunion, that they may be strengthened to walk in the love
that they desire for the shooter, and overcome hatred in every way. 

We
know their hearts will struggle with difficult emotions; please make
that struggle as light as possible, and leave behind for them the oil of
joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of
heaviness. 

Jesus, thank you that You told us that those who follow You
will carry Your easy yolk and light burden and find rest for their
souls.  Let this be felt by all of them.  In Your gracious name we pray,
Lord Jesus, Amen.

 

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