Fw: Re: A message from Lead Pastor Rob Strong

[geo...@juno.com]

Dear Friends,

 

The letter from Pastor Rob Strong came to me from Ruth Crocker.  She is Mark Brower's sister who lives in Chelmsford, Mass. Mark is my son-in -law.Ruth is a member Grace Community Church, Rob Strong is her pastor and moved from Sandy Hook 5 years ago.  This is a very personal communication from the pastor to his congregation. 

On Dec 15, 2012, at 9:55 AM, Ruth Crocker <sr3cr...@gmail.com> wrote:

Here is a letter from our pastor. He moved about 5 years ago from SandyHook where the shooting was. His daughter would have been in one of the kindergarten classes. 

Blessings,

Ruth 

Begin forwarded message:

From: Grace Community Church <ema...@grace-community.org>
Date: December 15, 2012 9:15:48 AM EST
To: sr3cr...@gmail.com
Subject: A message from Lead Pastor Rob Strong
Reply-To: ema...@grace-community.org

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

Grace Community Church    December 15, 2012      Dear Grace Family, I have been writing and rewriting this letter since yesterday afternoon. I'm sorry you haven't heard from me earlier. The tragic school shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, yesterday, marked a moment in history that we all wish never happened. This letter is a call on us, as a community, to pray. When evil enters a school and shoots at small children, we are to immediately respond. I know we want to act out physically, but know that prayer...yes, prayer...is our best course of action. David cried out to God in Psalm 143:1, "Listen, LORD, as I pray! You are faithful and honest and will answer my prayer." Indeed, our Lord listens as we pray, and he responds. Prayer also helps us. It allows us to place trust into the hands of the Almighty. And He wants us to trust Him. It also comforts us as we pause and reflect in a healthy way. Prayer is a gift from God. To give you some context of how this hits my family, Sandy Hook Elementary School is the school that my oldest two children attended until we moved here to be with you. Our home was less than a mile away from the school. To move it one step further, if we were still there, our youngest would be in one of the kindergarten classes there, today. I didn't realize the emotional toll this event would have on our family at first, but then it hit myself and Susan harder than we expected. Last night, our oldest had had enough as he broke down and cried out that it wasn't right what happened. He remembers the hallways and classrooms, and to think that this could happen...it was too much. Many of you who knew of our history in Newtown contacted us with support and prayer and for that, we are very thankful. We do still have many friends in that area and know many people who live in the Newtown community and we were on the phone all day. One more thing: I received two particular calls from my two closest friends in Connecticut. One has three children in the school district and he asked if we could come and spend two days with them as everyone there is a mess. And then the second call came from my friend, Craig Mowrey, whom you-all have heard several times in our Sunday morning services. (In fact, he co-taught with me less than two months ago.) He spent the day, with other pastors and counselors, with the families in the firehouse next to the school. As the children came back, most of the families left. But when the children stopped coming back and the remaining families stood there, that was when Craig and others were called into action. For hours they waited, not knowing details. No television was available for viewing. Hope was dwindling fast, however, as no news, in this case, was bad news. Finally, the governor stood before this remaining group and had to tell them that there were no survivors and that none of their children were coming home. Craig tells me that it was a scene like nothing he had ever experienced. As I talked with him, I said that we were coming. He cried and said he needed it. He is broken. Grace family, this event is unlike any I've encountered because it involves such young innocence. Many of you contacted me and said that what happened in that school was the face of evil. I completely agree. Craig said to me, "Rob, no human could do this to another human...to a child...unless evil was present and driving." So, as a result, I am quickly pulling my family together and we are driving down to Newtown and will be there until tomorrow (Sunday) night. I will alert my former church that I am there and we'll see where God can use me. I ask for your prayers as we go. Jake contacted me as the events were unfolding and offered to take the preaching for Sunday morning. He knew I might need to go. Thank you, Jake. Your instincts were God-led. So Jake will be speaking tomorrow. I am blessed to be a part of Grace Community. I know you will be praying for those who have unspeakable loss and for me as I go. This tragedy is powerful, but God is the Almighty Power. He is a healer and a restorer. These families have experienced loss, and God weeps for that. Yes, he does. He didn't cause this. Someone took matters and lives into their own hands and defied the very God who created him. But although that man escaped this world by taking his own life, God will not leave. He will be there through the tragedy. He will be with the families. And someday, a long, long time from now, a tiny feeling of peace will enter the hearts of those who have lost their loved ones. And that will be the fingerprint of God. He makes that possible. I could go on and on, but must stop. Thank you, in advance, for your prayers. And you are in good hands on Sunday morning. Rob Strong Lead Pastor

Forward email This email was sent to sr3cr...@gmail.com by ema...@grace-community.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Grace Community Church | 275 Billerica Road | Chelmsford | MA | 01824