Our Prayer During Crisis
17 Apr 2007 / Dave / talks
Nearly 200 people gathered downtown on Monday night to pray, mourn, and embrace. Thanks for your outpouring of love for brothers, sisters, and those never met. Matt Rogers was interviewed about the event on NPR’s Morning Edition Tuesday. A table of 32 candles was lit in memory of those who passed away. The following is a prayer that was read during the vigil, written yesterday by Terri Dewey:
Jesus, son of God, we need you now. Today we have been attacked, we have been broken, and we have been shocked as peace has been ripped away from our lives.
We have feared.
Jesus, our friends, our hallmates, our classmates… people we know have been unfairly hurt today. The innocent have died.
We are confused.
Of all the people today who have asked us how we are doing, you are the One innocent one who ask how we are today, and truly understands. You know what it feels like to be afraid, to be unfairly attacked, and to suffer and die. You took the place of each of us when you didn’t have to, when you didn’t deserve it. You took our bullet.
Jesus, son of God, we need you now.
Father, you created the lives of each of us, and you love each of us. You value our unique personality, our gifts and skills, and our individual lives. Today, life you created was killed.
We have lost something precious.
Spirit, we are already broken, and the worst may be yet to come. There are so many names we still don’t know, and so many people who are wounded. We are holding our breath, hoping for the best, and steeling ourselves for the worst.
We wait.
Spirit, Jesus said that you would come after he left, and that you would be our comforter. We ask you to hold us as we wait, and to be with us as we continue to experience grief this week.
We mourn, and we invite you to mourn with us.
God, we ask you to be with each family, and each friend, of every person who died today. They are loved, and we mourn them.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We ask you to be with each person who is wounded tonight in body and spirit, and with the family and friend of everyone who was wounded. Guide each doctor and nurse who works with the wounded. Guide their hands to heal them.
Give us hope. Help us be faithful to pray for the wounded, and please be with them as they heal.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We thank you for each person who was there to help bring safety on campus today, for each policeman and emergency worker who helped us and our friends today. We ask you to be with them, to bless them as they have blessed us, and to heal them from all they have witnessed today.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We ask you to walk with us through all that comes this week; to be a light to our path for each step we take in this dark and confusing time. We ask you to fill the campus of Virginia Tech with your light and hope, and use us to be your light, and your hope. Help us to listen, and to mourn with all of our friends who are mourning.
Lord, hear our prayer. We wait, and we mourn in silence.
11 comments
Joanne / 17 Apr 07 at 1:38pm
I would like to share and corporately read this prayer with my small group tomorrow. would this be okay with you?
LeRoy Bechtel / 17 Apr 07 at 2:46pm
We have watched and listened in horrow. We grieve with all of you who grieve, confident that He who suffered the most ignominious death in the place of each of us, will grant grace in abundance for all who will rely on Him in this time, and commit their lives to Him.
We have been praying for you and are grateful that we know Terri Dewey who is actively seeking to help bring comfort and encouragemnet in this time.
Ian Montgomery / 17 Apr 07 at 5:35pm
So sad to see the photos of all those, but especially the young, who lost their lives. I pray also for the ’shooter’s’ family. Having lived through troubled times we can say that we share your pain and want to assure you of our prayers.
‘Yet where sin was powerful, God’s kindness was even more powerful.’ Romans 5:20 (CEV)
Ian Montgomery Northern Ireland
Life’s Journey » Blog Archive » Virginia Tech Tragedy - Prayer Request / 17 Apr 07 at 6:56pm
[...] Our Prayer During Crisis is a prayer written by New Life Christian Church as they are responding to the turning of their world into a battlefield. Pray for them, and pray this prayer with them as they take an opportunity to minister to the scared and suffering in the aftermath of the VA Tech shootings. [...]
Jack Hager / 18 Apr 07 at 10:12am
The staff of Family Life Network has been praying specifically for Terri and NLCF…praying the Lord allows you to shine brightly, reflecting Him, against this horrifically dark background.
Vaughn VanSkiver / 18 Apr 07 at 10:29am
The staff and Body at Victory Highway Wesleyan in Painted Post, NY are praying for Terri, the NLCF Team, and the Virginia Tech family. May God’s grace be more than sufficient during these days.
Life in student ministry / 18 Apr 07 at 11:36am
Pray for these three Virginia Tech campus ministry workers…
Three students who graduated from PBU the year before me are serving at New Life Campus Fellowship, a campus church at Virginia Tech of about 1,000 people.
Terri Dewey (connections team leader)
Chris Backert (pastor, teacher)
Dom Saia (equipping ministry)
Please remember to p…
Fred Guevara / 18 Apr 07 at 7:39pm
To the Christian workers at V-Tech: We praise God for your ministry, and that you are there to serve those whose pain is unbearable. You are brave servants of the Lord, and we rejoice in you as you go out to serve Him in this difficult time….
Sherrill Babb / 20 Apr 07 at 10:46am
Here atPhiladelphia Biblical University we have been praying through the week with the NLCF family and especially with Terri, Chris and Dom. We praise our Lord that you are where you are in these critical days. May Christ continue to richly bless you and VCU students, faculty and staff.
ChurchNiche » The Church Responds To Virginia Tech Tragedy / 20 Apr 07 at 2:14pm
[...] New Life Christian Fellowship posts prayers and encouragements. [...]
Earlene Shelmire / 20 Apr 07 at 4:00pm
my brother-in-law formerly of Big Pines
Florida said Dave & Keti Williams are
working with you at Virginia Tec. Be
assured of our prayers for you all from
the 24/7 House of Prayer here in Sunder-land, England. Our Fire School of young
people will also remember you, the families and victums of this atrocity.
May the Lord richly comfort and bless
you during these days of deep tragedy.