I hear it on the news,
on the internet,
in the neighborhoods,
in the schools,
and in the city streets.
It is ringing in my my ears,
the groaning is all around us.
The pain.
The cries.
The violence.
The sighs.
The sickness.
The screams.
The fear.
The grief.
The groaning is all around us.
I remember the violence
of a blood stained cross
so many witnesses
believing all was lost
in the neighborhoods,
in the schools,
and in the city streets.
I remember hearing
about an empty grave.
We need witnesses
to help us cling to faith
in the neighborhoods,
in the schools,
and in the city streets.
For some its hard to believe,
that there is a Savior that surrounds us.
His steadfast love.
His grace.
His mercy.
His holy face.
His compassion.
His faithfulness.
His sovereignty.
His holy justice.
There is a Savior that surrounds us.
He will deliver us
even from ourselves.
May His Kingdom come,
His will be done,
on the earth
to make us well.
———
Three of the worst mass shootings our nation has ever seen in the past five months. 18 shootings in our nation’s schools since January 1, 2018. This is my lament. This is my prayer.
May God be with the families who wake up this day with lives unimaginably different from what the experienced the day before yesterday. Lord, grant them peace and have mercy on us.
May we put our hands and feet to our prayers and do what we must to bring about change.
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About Fred
Fred came to serve greater Williamsburg and WCC as lead pastor in October of 2010 and is grateful to be a part of the family. He is a husband, father, certified trauma professional, S.T.A.R. (strategies for trauma awareness & resilience) practitioner, community organizer, TEDx alum, founder of 3e Restoration, Inc. and co-owner of Philoxenia Culture LLC. He received his B.S. in Ministry/Bible at Amridge University and his Master’s of Religious Education in Missional Leadership from Rochester University. Currently he is a candidate for a Doctorate of Ministry in Contextual Theology in at Northern Seminary in Chicago. Fred has also served as an adjunct professor for Rochester University and Regent University where taught courses in philosophy, ethics, leadership, pastoral care, intro to Christianity, and ethnography. He has also served as a guest lecturer on the subjects of racialized cultural systems, poverty, and missiology at various universities, such as William & Mary and Oklahoma Christian University. Fred has authored on book (Racialized Cultural Systems, Social Displacement and Christian Hospitality) and several curriculum offerings, including The FloorPlan: Living Toward Restoration & Resilience.
Fred enjoys hanging out with his family anytime, anywhere. He is deeply grateful for how God graciously works through the Church in all her various forms, despite our brokenness. He is passionate about seeing the last, least, and lonely of every neighborhood, city and nation experience God’s in-breaking kingdom, and come to know Jesus as King. Oh, and his favorite season is Advent and Christmas.
Fred is a founding member of the board of directors for Virginia Racial Healing Institute, a member of the leadership team for Williamsburg's local chapter of Coming to the Table, and a member of Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network's Racial Trauma Committee and Training Committee.
Long Way Here 
Bro,
I love stuff written from the heart, and you’ve got heart! Thanks for sharing!
daBreaux
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Thanks my brother. Glad to be joined in heart with you.
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