In the United States, it’s sometimes easy to distance
ourselves from the terrorism and violence taking place around the world. Here
is a story of how it got personal for us here in Nashville. As many of you know, earlier this month, over 250 Iraqi citizens were killed during a bombing in Baghdad. One of the refugee students we have gotten to know is from Iraq and had family members killed in the attack. This high school student organized a candlelight vigil at a prominent park in Midtown Nashville to honor those who were killed or missing as a result of the bombings. She invited us to attend.
Since six or seven of her peers from the refugee high school
program wanted to attend, we brought them along as well. Gathered on a street
corner, lit candles in hand, we circled up to pray. Muslims, Christians, Iraqi,
Congolese, Burundian, Burmese, and American- united in our humanity and our
desire for peace, hope, and comfort. Our hearts were both broken and joyful over
this experience as we saw people from different cultures and religious
backgrounds united together in support of those affected by such tragedy, yet
knowing that some of them are seeking hope, comfort, and peace from a god who
is not able to offer these things.
Oh that they may know the One True God who offers peace that passes understanding, is near to the brokenhearted, and brings hope to the most difficult of circumstances! Please join us in praying that the Lord would use this tragedy to draw our Muslim friends to Himself.
Oh that they may know the One True God who offers peace that passes understanding, is near to the brokenhearted, and brings hope to the most difficult of circumstances! Please join us in praying that the Lord would use this tragedy to draw our Muslim friends to Himself.
-Courtney