Tom's Thoughts - Praise God No One Killed and Only One Hurt!

Last Friday evening around 11 PM, January 6th, a group of eight party crashers attempted to gain entry to an event at The Streams of Hope Ministry in Kentwood. This group of eight was asked to leave and admittance was not offered to them. It seems to me that the gift of discernment was present as what transpired certainly speaks to that. As this group began to leave, at least one of them pulled a firearm and began shooting. It is said that twenty five shots were fired. Normally one concealed firearm does not contain twenty five rounds of ammunition. I am going to suspect we may learn more about this aspect soon.

Praise God no one was killed. Praise God only one person was hurt, the youth leader and he is expected to fully recover.

It must have been sounding like a war zone there, twenty five rounds?

This article I attach is one that I agree with. This clearly demonstrates the need for community outreach.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/01/youth_center_shooting_demonstr.html

I believe this party crashing group stopped by in search of something. I believe they just don't know it is that something only God can fill. Places like Streams of Hope offer just that to others, hope and joy and peace and relationships with others and with God. That place stands against violence but yet the evil one does not want that to happen and has negatively influenced these young party crashers.

Please support Streams of Hope with your prayers, with your words of encouragement and with your finances as you are able to. The mission of this group is truly loving and caring.

Please pray for those young people traumatized by this event. Pray for the complete healing of the youth leader.

Pray too that the criminals that perpetrated this crime come to justice. Above all pray that they open hearts to God to be in their lives and revert from these types of behaviors.

Now, we all must check our risks and threats. We all in our ministries need to take actions to mitigate the risks we face. I believe God offers these situations to glean positive methods to lessen these incidents. Let's take time to analyze and be introspective. Please share your thoughts or give me a call. I have some ideas that are low budget in nature to help protect.

Be aware. Be prepared. Be protected.

Be Blessed and Thank You God.

Tom