Texas Pastor Knows Grief of Illinois Church
March 15, 2009 Leave a comment
The pastor of a Texas church where seven people died in a 1999 shooting will preach at an Illinois church Sunday, one week after its pastor was killed.Rev. Al Meredith of Fort Worth’s Wedgwood Baptist Church says he will preach a message of recovery to members of First Baptist Church in Maryville, Illinois. Meredith says he will let worshippers know they will never get over it, “but the rest of God’s kingdom around the world is praying for you.”
Meredith says his church received more than 13,000 emails and more than 20,000 cards and letters after the 1999 shootings.
“We wall-papered our hallways with those e-mails and cards and letters, and for six weeks we’d come into church and we would just feel the comfort and hope and encouragement from the church around the world,” he recalls. “And we could stop anytime and read an email — it might be from Australia or South Africa or Alabama — but people just saying they’re praying for us and they care for us. That’s when the body of Christ pulls together.”
A man entered the Illinois church last Sunday and walked toward the pulpit where Rev. Fred Winters spoke to him before the gunman opened fire. Meredith says he will encourage the Illinois congregation to trust in God’s promises.
“That this isn’t the end. And that the lie that they’ll never be happy again is just that — it’s a lie. And that God is in control and God is faithful. God has promised to turn even our worst tragedies together for our good,” he points out. “You get real with each other and with God. And if you’re angry with God, you tell Him. He can handle your anger. And that is just part of the healing process. It’s going to take a long time because it’s ten years down the road for us, and we still got people in counseling.”
Terry Sedlacek has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and aggravated battery. Authorities said they still have not determined a motive for the shooting.
