When the promotional advertisement you’ll find on page 16 of the June 2 issue first ran in The Alabama Baptist a few weeks ago, those eyes staring back at us stopped me cold. If you had been with me, you would have noticed a bit of glistening around my own eyes.
I read about the children who attend Camp of Champions and how making positive, fun and healthy memories “can help heal the abuse, neglect and trauma” many have experienced in their past.
Glancing back at the ad now on the other side of a really horrific couple of weeks for our nation, it’s even harder to fight back the tears.
My heart aches for so many who are cradling extreme depths of pain with what happened in Ulvade, Texas (see story here) and Buffalo, New York (see story here) — and what continues to happen in Nigeria (see story here) and other parts of the world where Christians are persecuted.
It’s also been a little more than three months now since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, and the degree of human suffering there is beyond what I can comprehend.
And of course, all of us in Southern Baptist life are attempting to make sense of findings from the recent SATF investigation (see coverage here).
More unnecessary pain and tortured lives at the hands of those who are supposed to be our shepherds and protectors.
How can all this be happening at all, much less compounding on top of each other?
Many have expressed deep anger, disappointment, sorrow and embarrassment over what has taken place in some of our churches and other areas of ministry as well as among the leadership ranks of the SBC.
Questions are swirling among pastors about how to lead their congregations through the reality of the situation — what to say, how much to say and when to do what.
Several pastors and other ministry leaders are sharing through letters, blog posts and articles (click here).
Stay informed
We are working to help connect you to as many of our Alabama Baptist voices as possible so you can continue reading and reflecting in the days ahead.
We urge you to prayerfully and thoughtfully navigate the situation and assess your words, comments and actions carefully so as not to add more pain and confusion.
As you process, grieve and lament, also hold tightly to the hope we know exists amid all the unimaginable, unspeakable events taking place around us — and coming at us daily.
God is working through His people and in His strength we are finding our way through it.
What’s always inspiring to me is to watch how believers strongly in tune with our Savior immediately run toward the crisis and seek to comfort the hurting, tend to the wounded and share the love of Christ amid what might seem hopeless to a watching world.
No amount of darkness can snuff out the Light we have in us, and the gospel truly is the ultimate answer.
At the same time, the heaviness of the difficulties around us, especially as they compound on top of one another, are harder to carry alone. We need each other and are better together.
- What are ways you can help someone who is hurting today?
- How are you seeking the Lord’s guidance on how to address the ugliness of this world?
- Which Scripture comes to mind as we attempt to hold strong against the storms?
Scriptural promises
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will heal their land.” —2 Chronicles 7:14.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” —Romans 12:21
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” —Psalm 34:18
“Blessed are those who mourned, for they will be comforted.” —Matthew 5:4
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