Life and Death

Ten years ago a man walked into Wedgwood Baptist church with the intention of killing as many people as possible. He had over 200 rounds of ammunition and a couple of pipe bombs. He came in looking for the adult prayer meeting, but found a room full of teenagers celebrating and worshipping at a See You at the Pole concert. He opened fire, killing 7 and himself and wounding many others. I remember hearing about that event 10 years ago and honestly, it totally shook me to my core. One young college girl who died was my age at the time.
Now, ten years later, the Lord has brought us to that very church. It was on my "list" of churches to visit, but honestly, the shooting hadn't even crossed my mind...I had forgotten about it. Our neighbors told us about it the week we were first going to attend. I could feel my anxiety start to rise and thought...I don't think I will feel comfortable going to a place where something like that happened. We went though and as soon as I walked through the doors, that thought was a distant memory. Worship was so real, so heartfelt, it was like the whole place really had one heart to worship the Lord. We've been to churches with good music, good preaching, etc., but to be where people are really engaged in worship with one heart is something that can't be manufactured, even by the best of programs or performances.
We've gone back on three different Sundays now, and tried different service times, but the attitude of worship and the Lord's presence is there like nothing I've ever experienced before. Last night we attended the service of remembrance for the 10th anniversary of the shooting. The place was packed with officers, city officials, church members and other churches who helped out in the time of need...most importantly though, the Lord was there. He is the one who brings healing and victory. Pastor Al has said that Wedgwood has become a healing church, where the wounded and brokenhearted have come for healing and ministry. It is not the church that heals necessarily, but the work of the Lord through the church. When life and death is set before you everything else becomes trivial.