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From: "Kluczynski, Paula" <Paula.Kluczynski@hroc.dla.mil> >To: "'Testimony, Weekly'" <weekly@testimony.org> >Subject: FW: Follow-Up On Wedgewood Baptist Shootings >Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 11:06:03 -0400 >X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2232.9) From: "Kluczynski, Paula" <Paula.Kluczynski@hroc.dla.mil> >To: "'Testimony, Weekly'" <weekly@testimony.org> >Subject: FW: Follow-Up On Wedgewood Baptist Shootings >Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 11:06:03 -0400 >X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2232.9) ~~~~~~~~~~~~> >The following is from personal correspondence with a member of the Wedgwood >Baptist Church: > -------------------------------------------------------------- >RE: WHAT GOD IS DOING AT OUR CHURCH >By now almost everyone has heard of the tragedy that took place on Sept.15, >when a gunman entered Wedgwood Baptist Church and killed 7 people and >injured 7 others before taking his own life. That morning had been the day >of "See You at the Pole," when students gather around their flagpole in the >morning to pray for their school and nation. What the media hasn't reported >however, is how God has been so evident, both during and after the shooting. >He has done amazing works! >Before The Shooting: >Our pastor, Brother Al, had prayed that God would do whatever it took to >expand the ministry of Wedgwood Baptist Church. Our church is one that is >used as a model of how NOT to pick a location, because no one in the world >can find it. Now almost everyone in the world knows exactly where it is. >Evidence of God's Control During The Shooting: >To enter the church, the gunman walked past our children's playground, which >should have been full of kids, but for some reason every single children's >and preschool class was running late. No one had made it to the playground >yet. >He fired over 100 bullets into a crowd of over 400, but only 14 people were >hit. He did not shoot the over 60 bullets he still had with him. >The bottom fell off of the pipe bomb he threw, and the bomb landed without >ever exploding. >One of the youth that was wounded (she was shielding a disabled friend with >her body) has scoliosis. The curve in her spine directed the bullet away >from major organs, saving her from serious injury. >Because the first 911 call came in on a police radio, emergency vehicles >were dispatched immediately, without spending precious time to verify that >the call was real. >One of the people in the church at the time was a paramedic, and he was able >to stop bleeding and stabilize injured people before the emergency crews >arrived. >Leaders were able to get the children out of the building without the kids >having to see any victims or any of the mess. >Each children's worker stayed with his/her class even though they all had >children elsewhere in the building, and some had teens in the sanctuary. >Not one worker left his or her post. >None of the adults who died have children. >All 7 victims were not just Christians, but bold Christians who were >passionate about their faith. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it >for good to accomplish what is not being done, the saving of many lives." >(Genesis 50:20) >Or, what God has done since the shooting: >Many denominations have pulled together to offer help and support. One >example is the United Methodist Church who sent 15 people the following >Sunday to cover our child care. They didn't want any church members to have >to miss the service because they were taking care of the children. >A church in Tulsa, Oklahoma drove over 5 hours just so they could march >around our church and pray during our Sunday morning services. >The Fort Worth Police Dept. planted flowers in the flower beds before we >reentered the sanctuary to worship. >We have received over 10,000 e-mails, 5000 cards, and $60,000 from all over >the world. >Al Meredith, our pastor has had the microphone in his face continually and >has over and over given an outstanding answer to the reason for our hope. He >presented the gospel beautifully on Larry King Live when prompted by a >question asked by Vice President Al Gore. >Because of the live news coverage and interviews, over 200 million people >have heard the gospel because of this tragedy. >Fifteen thousand turned out for a community wide service at TCU football >stadium. Brother Al gave a very serious challenging message calling for a >day of fasting and heart searching (Monday the 20th). The service was >broadcast live in its entirety on WBAP 820 which is a news station that >covers most of north Texas. This same news station has replayed our pastor's >first press conference due to people calling in and requesting to hear his >comforting words again. >CNN also broadcasted the memorial service live. Amazingly, because one of >the victim's families lives and works in Saudi Arabia, that country allowed >the service to be broadcast there as well. In Saudi Arabia it is illegal to >say the name of Jesus on the street. >Because of that same CNN broadcast, 35 people in Japan gave their lives to >Christ. >When President Clinton finally got through to him, Brother Al ended their >conversation by praying, after gaining permission, for the Clinton family. >At several schools, students met around their flagpoles the next day. At >one school 25 students accepted Christ, and 110 at another. >A teacher led 22 students to Christ in her classroom. >Christian teachers all over North Texas have been able to share with their >classes because the students are asking questions about their teachers' >faith. >In Burleson, prayers and Scripture are being said over the intercom. >On the east coast, where "See You at the Pole" was delayed because of the >hurricane, record numbers of kids showed up to pray. >Governor Bush and the Fort Worth mayor quietly came to our pastor's home >while the staff were meeting and praying and joined in the prayer meeting. >This was not political! Only those who are close to staff members heard >about this; the media never knew. >Governor Bush has visited with our pastor several times, and Brother Al has >had an impact on him. Just think of the influence our pastor could have if >Governor Bush is the next president! >A caller to an area Christian radio station said that he didn't know what >those people had but he wanted it. The DJ proceeded to lead him to Christ. >Many notes left in front of the church contain the same sentiment. Those who >don't know Jesus want what we have! >The church has received so many e-mails asking us how we are able to have >hope and continue on. There are teams of church member volunteers responding >to these e-mails. >My friend Jodi has been praying for her husband for years. She and their >4-yr-old daughter were at the church that night. Three days ago Scott gave >his life to Christ. >We have had over 70,000 hits on our web page which displays the plan of >salvation in multiple languages. >Many members at Wedgwood Baptist are healing broken relationships within the >body and experiencing spiritual renewal. >These are just a few of the miracles that are happening. God's grace is >almost overwhelming. Every time the gunman fired a bullet, he intended to >take a life. Yet God turned that around and saved several lives for each >bullet fired. The faith of those who died has been multiplied many times >over. >"I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith >is being reported all over the world." Romans 1:8 >________________________________________________________________ Get free >e-mail you don't need Web access to use-Or get full, reliable Internet >access from Juno Web! Download your free software today: >http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagh <http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagh> . > > Click HERE to return to the edited story Click HERE to create a banner that links to this story! Your e-mail address will be kept private!
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