Living in Christ

“LIFE IN CHRIST” IS IMPORTANT

The Book of Acts registered all the events happened after the Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST.  It begins with a wonderful line. 

Acts 1:1 [NLT] – “In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach…”

“Jesus began to do and teach”

He did and taught! 

JESUS CHRIST is our only role model to be followed.  He taught what HE lived on this earth.  A Godly man once told: “JESUS didn’t study many books and taught the Sermon on the Mount.  But HE preached what HE lived”. He also said: “why are these days preaching are not powerful? Because many want only to preach (nicely).  They don’t want to live (nicely).”  

Ministry is important.  But not as important as life in CHRIST.  

Life in Christ is like a basement of a building.  Ministry is like a floor which should be built on the basement (life).  But today many are not willing to build a basement, but they want to build the floor first.  

Living with and living in Christ is very important.  Ministry will come automatically from that overflow of love on Christ.

In Ezekiel 36:27[NLT] we read that:

“…I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful with my regulations.” 

Why is GOD giving us HIS Spirit? To do miracles? – NO! The power of Holy Spirit is given to us to follow his WORDS on this sinful earth. That is what Jesus told in Acts 1:8[NLT] – “…you will receive the power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” 

What is that power? 

The power to LIVE in CHRIST in this world.  

I saw and seeing many other religious people who want to come to JESUS are not coming to HIM because of the bad testimony of Christians[not all] today.  They may do miracles, they may cast out demons, and they may prophesy.  But see what answer they’ll get from JESUS on the Judgement day.  We can read that in Matthew 7:21-23.

As a servant of GOD, Bible has some very good examples for us to follow.

2 Kings 4:7[NLT] – we read that Elisha got a testimony from the lady that: he is a man of GOD! See the 9th verse also: I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of GOD. What a testimony! 

Today I see many fights for titles.  But see Elisha.  He never said I am a servant of GOD or I am a holy man.  If you see someone saying that I am a man of GOD for himself, then surely he is not at all a man of GOD.  A true man of GOD won’t say himself that he is a man of GOD.  His life in CHRIST will automatically give that testimony.

Here’s another testimony for Elisha in 2 Kings 3:11: “He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah”.  

If our ministry for GOD stands before us means then it’s a testimony from people

If our life in GOD stands before us means then it’s a testimony from GOD.  Those who have testimony from people won’t go to heaven, but the testimony from GOD will.

The Book of Revelation 12:11[NLT] says – “and they have defeated him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.” A life with a Good testimony in GOD has great power. Revelation 12:10 says – satan is an accuser.  What will he accuse us about before GOD? Not about the ministry but Life.  

Dear brethren – let us think about our lives today.  We may have been called to do HIS Ministry.  Yes, it is important but not important than life. JESUS CHRISTS’ 30years of life is what turning people’s lives today to HIM.  Ministry (3 ½ years) is next.

Yeah GOD gives us HIS Grace to live a good LIFE before HIM.

Amen.

Author Bio-

Pastor M. Lazar from Tamil Nadu, South India. GOD has chosen him from a poor family. Started serving GOD while in Chennai.  During that time GOD gave a vision that: He was taking the Bible and walking in a valley of dry bones.  After that, he prayed to GOD so as to understand the vision and GOD said to him to preach HIS WORDS among poor people and to plant Churches in villages those who don’t know CHRIST.  (According to Ezekiel 37:1-14)

According to that vision, he obeyed GOD and came to a village named as Walajabad in Oct 2001 and started to serve GOD.  Now V.A.Koil(a village) as center serving GOD for the past 17 years also in many villages.

Pastor M. Lazar contact details
Facebook Page
Email: pr.lazarwbd@gmail.com

Pastor M. Lazar

Your Messed-Up Story

Even your failures and struggles can point others to Jesus

Your real story

Live such a good life that people will wonder what makes you different, and they’ll want what you have: Jesus.

Variants of this message have been reiterated to me throughout my lifetime in the church. It’s a critical component of evangelism, echoing verses like, “Live such good lives among the pagans that . . . they may see your good deeds and glorify God” (1 Peter 2:12, NIV) and, “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” (Ephesians 5:8).

Yet in my experience, I’ve found that this essential truth can oh-so-easily morph into a counterfeit message: Seem so perfect-so ideal, so sinless, so got-it-all-together-that people will wonder how you’re so flawless and will want what you have: Jesus.

Your real story

That kind of mindset? It’s dangerous. It pressures us to hide away our faults and failures, to hold back negative emotions or struggles, and to present a version of Christianity that’s simply not the bonafide gospel. Yet in reality, a façade of perfection is actually off-putting for most people who are well acquainted with their own struggles and can’t relate to a super-human, got-it-all-together life.

As I wrote in my Bible study Shine Your Light when it comes to sharing our testimony with others,
Our goal isn’t to show people how good we are-it is to reveal how good Jesus is. And this means inviting people into our real story-our story that includes struggles and sin, faults and failings, but also the joy of redemption, forgiveness, and grace! Rather than aiming to be fake, perfect-life people, instead we live as satisfied, still-a-bit-broken sinners who proclaim Jesus’ transformative grace. . . .

You most accurately proclaim the gospel when you’re real and authentic with others, willing to share hurts, questions, and struggles along with assurances, victories, and joys.

Beyond "before and after"

“Almost seven years ago, I was in my deepest cycle of bulimia, even though I was a student ministry intern and biblical studies and ministry major at a Bible college,” describes Anne Wilson, who today is on staff at a church. “Although I’m now fully recovered from bulimia, I still deal with body dysmorphic thoughts and an intense struggle with body image.

“It would be easy if God just waved a big magic wand and got rid of this,” continues Anne, “but for me, it hasn’t worked out like that. I thought this would be a ‘before and after’ story, like ‘I struggled with body image, met Jesus, but now am totally secure and my identity is on him alone.’ But instead, this ongoing struggle has kept me coming back to Jesus-asking him to continually write a bigger story with my life.”

While coming to faith in Jesus certainly changes our lives for the better, they don’t become instantly perfect. Troubles, heartaches, and failures persist. We still struggle; indeed, “We all make many mistakes” (James 3:2). Sharing not just our “before and after” stories but also our “in the middle of it” realities point others not toward ourselves but instead toward the Cross-toward the redemption and grace that both saved us and keeps on saving us.

We find a poignant example of such testimony in Paul’s first epistle to Timothy:
This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”-and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

Your struggle-your own ongoing failing or temptation or deep hurt-can also serve as a powerful example of God’s great patience with sinners when you choose to speak honestly about it with others.

Value imperfection

“We need to be real about the fact that we don’t have it all together, and this starts from the inside out,” says author and justice-advocate Amber Robinson. “It’s not so much about managing what we say, which is exhausting, but rather of us working on our inner life. Just like in the natural world in which growth comes from decomposed organic matter, our struggles, pains, and imperfections are what grows the good stuff. You can’t have one without the other.”

This mindset of acknowledging and facing the struggles and failures that can be part of the Christian life is built up within us through our own intimate walks with God-through practices like confession, self-examination, accountability, and Scripture meditation. First and foremost, we’re real before God. We invite him to search us and know us (Psalm 139:23), and through him, we better come to know ourselves. We’re able to value our imperfections because they goad us on toward greater reliance upon God.

It is then that we’re able to be more real and open with others about the “messy” aspects of our lives and, in doing so, we offer something richer and more substantive than any pretense of perfection can: a genuine gospel for the context of life as we actually experience it. We embody, through our honesty, a faith that has staying power even in life’s toughest moments.

Build trust

“I believe that evangelism comes down to communication and trust. They often open the door for the Holy Spirit to do his work,” says musician and worship leader Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin. “Sharing my seasons of life-both mountaintop and valley experiences-helps to tear down walls between me and others and offer a vulnerability that allows connection to happen.”

Sarah compares this type of purposeful vulnerability to something she’s observed in her kids: “When my children play on a playground and meet new kids, they immediately share where they ‘earned’ a particular scab or bruise. Once they’ve shared their rough spots, they’re best friends on the playground!
“Similarly,” she says, “I think this type of transparency leads to the appropriate amount of intimacy needed in order to talk about spiritual things.”

Be discerning and courageous

While it’s important to be open about struggles, our vulnerability must be tempered with caution. Just as others aren’t benefited by you presenting a flawless façade, they similarly aren’t blessed by hearing a barrage of your problems. What and how to share specifically may vary widely depending on who you are speaking to. What’s critical is leaning upon the aid of the Holy Spirit, discerning God’s guidance, and responding in obedience.

There are often legitimate reasons not to share difficulties or struggles. For example, if another’s privacy would be compromised or a relationship harmed, if sharing your difficulty might actually be a stumbling block that impedes faith and discipleship, it’s best to keep it to yourself. If you sense that the relationship or setting isn’t safe-if perhaps another might gossip about you or hold what you’ve shared against you-then wisdom and discernment in what and how much you share is especially critical.

But alongside these legitimate reasons to be cautious comes a whole host of illegitimate ones that try to lure you back toward the perfect-façade version of evangelism. It may be pride holding you back, or fear of being vulnerable, or even a hidden sense of shame. When you’re led by God to be more open about hard parts of your life, take heart like God urged Joshua: “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

Blessed by your mess

“After I had my son, I dealt with some postpartum depression off and on for several months,” describes Anne. “Almost a year later, I was sitting down at a wedding rehearsal, chatting with another mom that I went to high school with (who isn’t a Christian). She briefly mentioned her struggles in motherhood, and I told her about my own bout with postpartum depression.

“She was floored,” Anne continues. “She couldn’t believe someone ‘with so much faith’ also struggled with depression-like her. She felt relieved, actually, hearing about my similar experience.”
When we drop the veneer of never-let-‘em-see-you-sweat faith and instead courageously and honestly speak about our journey with Christ-even the tough bits-we build a real connection. We issue a compelling invitation to grace.






By Kelli B. Trujillo

Prayer Requests

Today's Prayer Requests

VERA BANKSTON-JONES | FATHER GOD, I HAVE ROADS THAT I HAVE CAME UPON THAT HAS ME TO WHERE I HAVE TO APPLY MYSELF IN AN ABUNDANCE OF BEING "MU BROTHER'S KEEPER", LET ALONE OTHER ATRIBUTES THAT YOU HAVE BLESSED ME WITH TO HELP OTHERS! I NEED TO BE ABLE TO APPLY THESE THINGS TO MYSELF TO SUBSTANCIALLY HELP SELF WITH THE TOOLS, SKILLS, HEART, MIND, DISCRETION, THROUGH IT ALL!!.......SELAH

Belinda JoAnn Deakle | That my son Thomas Lynch takes the Lord our God into his heart and raise his babies in a Christian home

Vera Bankston-Jones  |FATHER GOD,  Guide my steps and my heart!.......SELAH

ANIL KUMAR | Bro. your sending daily brief bible verses very useful,thank you once again. Please pry for me, 1.I am stable in Christ. 2.I have Job less(searching for job). THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYER HELP.

ohn Mod Bendu | In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, I request that you pray for my family members and I. Pray for my daughters, Adesatu Yabom Bendu and Salamatu Mamusu Bendu, plus their mother, Esther Kamara. May God protect them from all harm and danger. May God bless us all. Amen!!!!! n the Holy name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, I thank You for bringing me to prayer and power. Please bless Adesatu Yabom Bendu, and Salamatu Mamusu Bendu; my daughters, and their mother, Esther Kamara. May God protect them all from harm and danger. May I receive blessings also in Jesus mighty name. Amen!!!!

vijay aggarwal | Plz pray for money in abundance for a comfortable life

Paris suburb halt Muslim street prayers

Tensions brewing over Muslim street prayers north of Paris

Hundreds of Muslims pray on the street in Clichy la Garenne.
This is what has officials so upset

Local authorities and citizens of a French suburb took to the streets on Friday to stop Muslims from praying on the street, amid a constant challenge with regards to a lack of mosques in France.
Walking in line beneath a large banner reading "Stop Illegal Street Prayers," Mayor Remi Muzeau led over 100 demonstrators through the streets of Clichy-la-Garenne to demonstrate against the utilization of the town's market square for weekly Friday prayers.

"We'll do it every Friday when necessary," said Muzeau.

"I must assure the tranquillity and freedom of the people in my city," he said. "We must not allow this to happen in our country. Our nation, the French Republic is ruined."

Local Muslims seem to have been praying within square every Friday for months in a demonstration about the closing of a prayer room.

A small number of worshippers attempt to pray anyway but decided to stay away from confrontation with the protesters and retreated towards a less visible area. However, the key demonstrators pushed them toward a wood wall.

While the confrontation remained largely peaceful, both groups competed in chanting slogans. The worshippers, who numbered a few dozen, chanted "God is great" in Arabic, whilst the demonstrators loudly sang the French national anthem. Many of the protesters were seen waving French flags and crucifixes.

mayor of a Paris suburb tried to block the town’s Muslims
from praying on the street

In the midst of pushing and shoving, a banner the worshippers were carrying reading "United for a Grand Mosque of Clichy" was torn down.

The rival groups were then separated by police officers who made a human barrier.

While the protest drew towards a close, Mayor Muzeau promised of the fact that demonstration will return back next week. The worshippers, who clapped in celebration after performing their prayers, also vowed to come back.

Hamid Kazed, president of the Union of Muslim Associations of Clichy, who headed the prayers, said, "We will certainly continue until there's a discussion for a defined location."

"That's their ambitions. To split the citizens," he said. "We typically are not fundamentalists. We are for Islam in France."

Despite the fact that Islam is certainly the second religion, the nation has a serious lack of mosques for its approximated 5 million Muslims. This has resulted in Muslims in various towns turning to praying on the streets, creating the anti-immigrant sentiment of far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen.

Muslims praying in a street in Clichy, near Paris

Clichy Muslims have been renting a prayer hall from City Hall. However, the key town's mayor thought they would turn that space into a library for the town's 60,000 residents, and the prayer hall was closed in March after a court battle.


City Hall says Muslims can worship a new Islamic cultural and prayer centre, previously utilized by many hundreds when the town inaugurated a year ago. But a majority of Muslims say the new facility is way too small, distant and will not meet safety standards.




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Christian Aid Group: "from Christians through Christians to Christians"

Hundreds of Middle East Christians Rescued and Resettled in Australia, Thanks to Christian Aid Group

Iraqi Christian children being greeted by their new friends

 Even though many countries have opened their doors to Muslim migrants coming from the Middle East, the path is actually not as simple for Christians looking for new homes after fleeing from intense persecution from their own countries. Nevertheless, an aid organization that offers help precisely to Christians is wanting to change the impression.

The Barnabas Fund, an international and interdenominational group that seeks to meet the practical and spiritual needs of believers by channelling aid "from Christians through Christians to Christians" offers a program which enables Christians coming from the Middle East to resettle in Australia.
Ghassan along with his family are some of those that the agency, through its Operation Safe Havens, has helped to relocate to Australia.

Ghassan said they ran to Lebanon in March 2014 to escape the war in Syria. Through the help of a relative, they were able to find somewhere to rent. However, they might no longer afford the costly living in Lebanon, hence they made a decision to give Australia a shot and applied for a humanitarian visa.

Their visas were approved. Ghassan along with his family members flew to Australia, and Barnabas Fund shouldered their airline tickets.

"We love our new country and wish that someday we are able to thank those who were the first to support us and taught us the important lesson in the human life that is to give love and do the good to others as per Christ's teachings," Ghassan said. "We pray to the Lord that he protects Barnabas Fund and its supporters."

Syrian Christians arrive in Australia, sponsored by Barnabas Fund

By May 2016, Operation Safe Havens has rescued as many as 1,071 Christian refugees globally, and 823 of these are now living in Australia.

On the other hand, these figures are smaller compared to how many Muslims refugees which have been taken into Australia. With Christians in the Middle East being the particular target of extreme persecution and genocide, there may be still a considerable way to go.

While in the U.K., the number of Christian refugees taken was below 1 percent, especially from July to September 2016. As reported by the Barnabas Fund, only 13 of the 1,583 refugees from Syria were Christians. This implies only 0.8 percent of the Syrian refugees who entered the U.K. for that particular period of time were Christians.

"It is actually well established that Christians, Yazidis, and Shi'a Muslims are encountering genocide in Syria - however, these will be the very groups that are widely underrepresented in the united kingdom and US refugees admissions - even if they were not being targeted for genocide," the Barnabas Fund said.

A recent study reported that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world. In 2016 alone, 90,000 believers were killed because of their faith, with a third of them dying at the hands of Islamic militants.

The study, released by the Center for Studies on New Religions, also said that at least 600,000 believers worldwide were suppressed from practising their faith.



SOURCE

Prayer Requests

Today's Prayer Requests

Liz | Thank You to those who prayed for my Mom. I sent out a prayer request last OCT. 2016. She has recovered but been to ICU this July 2017 and many hospitals after. The Lord has been merciful, she is now recovering well. God gave us the wisdom on where to bring her as her doctors said there is no hope. Now she is gaining so much strength and slowly getting off the wheelchair. Thank God! and Thank you very much to all who prayed. I am praying for all of the requests here. God Bless.

michael rotimi | Please help me to pray for the gift of the Discernment of spirits and more insight into the world of God

Brenda | My husband is cheating and wants a divorce. He is moving in with the mistress. He tells me he knows this isn't right, but still prays to God to bless this Union. Please pray that God gives me the guidance, strength and endurance to get on with my life. Please also pray for him that God will give him the courage and guidance to end this adulterous relationship permanently. Thank you

vijay aggarwal | Plz pray for money in abundance for a comfortable life

Michelle Celillo | Praying for peace and to sell our home as we make our final move. God bless. Thank you

VERA BANKSTON-JONES | FATHER GOD, KEEP ME AND GUIDE ME THROUGHOUT MY DAYS!.......SELAH



Click here to join our Global non-denominational online community and engage in bible discussions, ask questions, studies, prayer support, engage in the civil debate of Christian doctrines from the scriptures and friendly fellowship.

'So Help Me God' : Atheist Immigrant Sues America Government

Atheist Immigrant Sues Gov't to Remove 'So Help Me God' in US Citizenship Oath

A French national and green card holder who resides in Massachusetts has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. government over its citizenship oath, which ends with "so help me God."

In her lawsuit, Olga Paule Perrier-Bilbo, an atheist as well as a resident of Scituate, claims she would like to become an American citizen but she can't do so for the reason that oath demands her to say those four words, according to MassLive.com.

"By its very nature, an oath that indicates 'so help me God' is saying that God exists," says the lawsuit. "Accordingly, the present oath violates the initial 10 words of the Bill of Rights, and to take part in a ceremony which violates that key element of the United States Constitution is not supporting or safeguarding the Constitution as the oath demands."

Perrier-Bilbo was handed the chance to use a modified oath or take part in an exclusive citizenship ceremony, but she insists the inclusion of "so help me God" is an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.

"By putting a religious statement (to which Plaintiff does not adhere) into the Oath of Naturalization, and then forcing Plaintiff to make use of a replacement oath (so that she must feel less than a new citizen), Defendants substantially burden Plaintiff in her exercise of religion," the suit says.

The legal action is unlikely to alter much, Erwin Chemerinsky, a First Amendment expert and dean of Berkeley Law, was quoted as saying. "Courts usually have not been open to this in the context of the Pledge of Allegiance."

Atheists routinely bring cases challenging alleged government endorsements of religion.

A Washington, D.C.-based secularist group, American Humanist Association, a week ago filed a response brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in its litigation against a Texas school district's prayer policy at public board meetings, expecting to appeal a lower court's decision ruling in favour of Birdville Independent School District.

"The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that school districts may not subject their students to prayer and has never made an exception to this rule for school board meetings," Monica Miller, senior counsel for the AHA's Appignani Humanist Legal Center, said in a statement. "Forcing students to select from attending board meetings to be able to receive school credit or recognition for academic achievements and not attending only to avoid personally offensive religious rituals runs afoul longstanding constitutional principles."

In August 2016, U.S. District Judge John McBryde ruled in favour of the school district, citing the Supreme Court decision Town of Greece v. Galloway, which made it possible for Christian prayers to be given at county commission public meetings.

UK Christian Student Expelled Over Facebook Comments

UK Student Expelled Over Facebook Comments Outlining Biblical Stance on Homosexuality Loses Appeal

LONDON - A student at a well-known university in the UK who was expelled over comments which he made on Facebook explaining the biblical position on homosexuality has lost his appeal right before the Royal Courts of Justice.

Although Judge Rowena Collins-Rice found out that the “right to express the information of deeply held religious viewpoints is worthy of respect in a democratic and plural society,” she said that the issue came down to “how [the student’s comments] could possibly be accessed and read by people that would perceive them as judgmental, not compatible with service ethos, or an indication of discriminatory intent.”

“That was a problem in its own right,” she wrote. “But whatever the actual intention was, it was the perception of the posting that would cause the damage. It was reasonable to be concerned about that perception.”

As previously reported, in September 2015, Felix Ngole, 39, checked his Facebook account and saw a news story in his feed regarding Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, who had gone to prison for declining to personally sign same-sex “marriage” certificates.

As a number of commenters were speaking against Davis, Ngole decided to chime in and note that “the Bible and God identify homosexuality as a sin.” When he was asked where the Scriptures state that homosexuality is sinful, he provided the citations, including the biblical law of Leviticus.

However, nearly two months later, Ngole’s remarks were brought to the attention of administrators at the University of Sheffield, which touts itself as a “world top-100 university and number one in the U.K. for student satisfaction in the 2014-15 Times Higher Student Experience Survey.”

Ngole, who was a second-year Master’s student studying to be a social worker, then became the subject of a “Fitness to Practice” hearing, as he was advised that he “may have caused offense to some individuals” and had “transgressed boundaries which are not deemed appropriate for someone entering the social work profession.”

Following additional meetings, the Sheffield committee concluded that Ngole’s beliefs would negatively affect his “ability to carry out a role as a social worker,” and was consequently advised that he was “excluded from the further study on a program leading to a professional qualification.” The school recently informed Ngole that he is “no longer recognized as a university student.”

“Your student record will be terminated shortly and your library membership and university computer account withdrawn. You may wish to contact your funding body for advice on your financial position,” it wrote.

Ngole appealed the decision, but last April, he received a letter from the appeals office at the University of Sheffield stating that his post was “inappropriate” in light of the professional conduct standards outlined in the Health and Care Professions Councils (HCPC).

It was additionally asserted that Ngole had not “offered any insight or reflection” on the “potential impact” that his comments might have had on his Facebook friends, or how it would reflect on the social work profession.

With the assistance of the Christian Legal Centre, Ngole took the matter to the Royal Courts of Justice. However, while finding the university’s punishment of Ngole to be “indeed severe,” Judge Collins-Rice agreed on Friday that his words could negatively affect his social work.

“Public religious speech has to be looked at in a regulated context from the perspective of a public readership,” she wrote. “Social workers have considerable power over the lives of vulnerable service users and trust is a precious professional commodity.”

The Christian Legal Centre has expressed concern over the ruling, opining that while homosexuals are coming out the closet, Christians are being shoved into it.

“Rulings like this show that society is becoming increasingly intolerant of Christian moral values. Christians are being told to shut up and keep quiet about their moral views or face a bar from employment. Unless the views you express are politically correct, you may be barred from office,” Chief Executive Andrea Williams said in a statement. “This is very far from how a free and fair society should operate.”

Ngole plans to appeal.

“My passion is to love everyone regardless of their race, sexuality or gender. I want to love everyone just as Christ loves them, but also to proclaim His truth. This is what I was doing during the Facebook discussion that I took part in,” he said in an article published by Premier Christianity. “I was convinced I had done the right thing by answering a question from someone who wanted to know if homosexuality was a sin and what the Bible said about it.”

“It is because of love and not hate that we share the word of God,” Ngole continued. “I don’t think I have lost the case at all because right now this very important issue is being discussed throughout the world for His glory. The word of God was also read in court, and as a result, it has been recorded for future reference. The body of Christ continues to unite in prayer in one accord because of today’s verdict. Clearly traditional Christian beliefs are being censored by our government.”



SOURCE

Pastor Frank Pomeroy: 'I Don't Understand, but I Know My God Does'

The Pastor Whose 14-Y-O Daughter Died in Texas Church Shooting: 'I Don't Understand, but I Know My God Does'

Annabele Pomeroy, the 14-year-old daughter of First Baptist pastor Frank Pomeroy

The pastor of Sutherland Springs' First Baptist Church in Texas and his wife have spoken publicly following the mass shooting that left 26 people dead, including their 14-year-old daughter, saying only God has the answers for such a tragedy.

"We've had a long night with our children and grandbabies we have left," Pastor Frank Pomeroy, who has been absent on Sunday at the time the shooting took place, told reporters on Monday.

"I don't understand, but I know my God does," he later said when answering questions, urging folks to rely on Jesus Christ.

The father said that his daughter, Annabelle, was "one beautiful girl," and a "special child."

Texas church massacre victim Annabelle Pomeroy pictured with her father, Pastor of the church, Frank

Pomeroy's wife, Sherri, said the family lost a lot more than Annabelle on Sunday.

"And one thing that gives me a sliver of encouragement is that Belle was surrounded yesterday by her family that she loved fiercely," she said.

The mother explained that the church was not comprised of "members or parishioners," but was a "very close family."

"We ate with each other, we laughed alongside one another, we cried together, and we worshipped together. Now nearly all of our church family is gone, our building may perhaps be beyond repair as well as few of us that are left behind lost tragically yesterday," she said.

"As senseless this kind of great loss was, our sweet Belle wouldn't have had the ability to cope with losing a whole lot family."

Respective authorities continue to piece together the details surrounding the shooting which was executed by 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley.


Authorities have at this point said that they don't really know the incident was racially inspired or it has been over religious belief and noted that Kelley relatively had a conflict with his mother-in-law.

Pastor Frank Pomeroy, with his wife Sherri, listens at a news conference
outside the site of the shooting at his church in Sutherland Springs, Texas

Sunday's victims included people aged from 18 months old to 77 years old and a woman who was pregnant, with relatives and friends showing countless tributes to their family and friends online.

Scott Pomeroy, Annabelle's uncle, paid respect to her in a Facebook post following her death.

"Heaven truly received a real gorgeous angel today along with many others. I lost many family and friends today but that simply means Jesus needed them more. I know all that have taken their last breath of dirty air and took their first breath of heavenly air with new bodies with no pain and suffering," he wrote.

A Teddy bear lies under police tape at a makeshift memorial for those
killed in the shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland, Texas

"My focus is now towards the many families which all have loved ones in all the different hospitals and to those grieving the loved ones that have been lost. God knows and is in control of all things and if something as evil as this should only revive us for a revival to be sure all we know and love should know and have a relationship with Jesus even more," Scott Pomeroy continued.

"After this outrageous week of numerous persons passing away it really should tell us life is only for a moment and we're dying every day and where you spend eternity is the most important thing. Not money, not jobs, not education, not possessions just the ones you love and your relationship with Jesus."

Multiple People Dead Following Shooting at Texas Church

Shooting at Texas Southern Baptist Church Kills 26 Worshipers

SOUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas: During its 11 a.m. worship service, a Southern Baptist church in rural Texas suffered not only America’s latest mass shooting but the deadliest at a US church in more than 50 years.

At least 26 worshipers died at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, according to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. YouTube videos of the church’s weekly service indicate that recent Sundays have drawn between 50 to 75 attendees.

The Texas tragedy is only the 14th mass shooting at an American house of worship since 1963, according to statistics compiled by church security expert Carl Chinn. “It seems apparent that the death toll will mark this as the worst [church shooting] in US history,” he told CT.

A pastor of a neighboring church told a group of TV reporters that he knows most of the church’s members, and he is confident that the victims are “in the loving arms of Jesus” right now.

“Another church shooting. Lord have mercy,” tweeted Russell Moore of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).

“Violence and evil once again have made an impact at one of our churches,” stated Frank Page, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee. “Innocent men, women, boys, and girls went to church to worship, pray, and study God’s word, and were met with unspeakable violence.

“Our prayers are for the people of Sutherland Springs and the people of the church,” he continued. “One does not get numb to this kind of egregious violence. God help us all.”

President Donald Trump tweeted, “May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI & law enforcement are on the scene. I am monitoring the situation from Japan.”

The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC) and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association have dispatched chaplains and rapid response teams to Sutherland Springs to assist the congregation in its grief and recovery.

SBTC executive director Jim Richards stated:

We’re calling our churches to prayer for our brothers and sisters in Sutherland Springs. We don’t know the details yet but early reports indicate that several people have lost their lives in this tragedy. We will have chaplains available to [Sutherland Springs] and will find ways to support this dear church. We pray God’s mercy and comfort on those who are grieved and those who are wounded.

TV news anchors discussed the fact that the church, located about 40 minutes southeast of San Antonio, posts its services to YouTube, and thus there may be a recording of the shooting that investigators will be able to study.

Last Sunday, a green Harley Davidson was parked in front of the stage as a prop for pastor Frank Pomeroy’s sermon on Proverbs 3, entitled “You Don’t Need Training Wheels. You Need Christ.”

Pomeroy and his wife, who both happened to be traveling out-of-state today, told TV news outlets that their 14-year-old daughter Annabelle was one of the victims.

Facebook users have been posting prayers to the small church’s page. One wrote:

To the martyrs of Southerland Springs:
Remember God is our comfort, God is our patience. God is our refuge.
We fear nothing that man can do to the body, and then have no more they can do, for we are dead, and our lives are hidden with Christ in God.

Violent incidents in churches are on the rise, including high-profile shootings in sanctuaries. In September, a shooter killed one person and injured seven others after Sunday worship at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ outside Nashville.

Chinn reported that 2015 marked a record year for violence on religious property or involving senior pastors, with 248 incidents and 76 deaths. The most prominent that year, of course, was the attack on Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. (CT followed up with the families of the nine victims on the first anniversary of the shooting in 2016.)

“I would say we are at one of those critical times in church history that truly calls for prayer,” Chinn told Church Law and Tax. “I believe our churches are under attack in a way rarely seen in world history and never before seen in American history.”

“This news makes me realize how much I wish those of us teaching churches to get ready were wrong,” Chinn told CT today. “When I first heard [the news] today, I wanted nothing more than to later hear it was a false report. But it is true, and there are more coming.”



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