Visiting the Pulse site is not only deeply moving. It is also educational. You cannot learn what is needed if you do not visit a place and get to know people. As I mentioned at the beginning of this series, many Orlando churches are already serving survivors and families who lost loved ones. No one needs an outsider from Boston to tell them what to do. Orlando churches are already living out the Gospel in powerful ways!
The purpose of this post is to address EVERY church across America. You can do something to serve victims as well as those who are helping victims. Here are some ideas:
1 | The Orange County Regional History Center will collect memorial gifts that are left at the Pulse site. One day, history will show a trail of memorial gifts sent from across our nation and around the globe. Will history show that the church grieved? You can send a memorial gift from your church. Ask those in your congregation gifted in wood, glass or metal to make a memorial gift to remember those who lost their lives in this terror attack.
2 | You could commission a local artist or stained-glass expert to make a gift expressing God’s love. Possibly one that includes the words of Christ: “Come to me all who are weary and burdened.” You could have a memorial message engraved in native stone and sent to either the Pulse site or the Orange County Regional History Center.
3 | You can give funds to one of the many local churches who are investing directly into material recovery support for victim’s families and survivors. Such assistance can include housing, transportation, paying utility bills or purchasing gift cards that can be used to buy groceries. If you need a list of churches, simply contact us.
4 | Your church can offer a private Christian school or college tuition scholarship to help a survivor or victim’s parent or sibling continue on with their life following this tragedy.
5 | Join Lead Them Home on a mission trip to visit the Pulse site and minister basic care, encouragement and support to those who are grieving. We are next heading to visit the site on a brief 2-day trip on December 12-13, 2016. This will be the 6-month memorial date.
Contact us to learn more about how your church can extend care to Pulse victims and survivors. May history show that Christ showed up and extended His great love to hurting people.
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Thank you Bill, it was a blessing to meet you and get to hear some of your story and to share mine. I do not know where the Lord is take Eve and I, but I know that it will include loving a community that I was a part of for so many years and the Lord in His sovereignty changed my life. I have been afraid to reconnect with the community because I thought that my flesh could draw me away from God, but I know that God has plans for me and I must trust Him to complete them how He sees fit. At the pulse six month anniversary I was able to see love in way I never had. I was able to love like I never had. I grieved in a way I never have. The Posture Shift conference opened up more to the possibilities of what God would have me do as a follower of Jesus Christ. I am still reeling from two days of, I don’t know what to call it. I feel raw, maybe like the older brother in the prodigal son. I don’t know, I have been rot with emotions. I love you, I thank God for you, I am looking forward to getting to know you and what this kind of ministry looks like. Your Brother in Christ, David Windell Thorpe