10.04.2006
“Helping through the horror”

	As many of us around the country have witnessed with horror the violence inflicted upon the peaceful community of Lancaster County Pennsylvania, our partners of the Lower Susquehana Lutheran Disaster Response Network (LS-LDRN) have been faithfully providing crucial emotional and spiritual support to the community.  Details are still emerging about what exactly happened as a gunman took the lives of five Amish girls in addition to his own. Five other girls are still hospitalized, four of them in critical condition. Many faith groups have responded to provide the counsel and support that will be needed to endure these difficult days.

	As a member of the Lancaster County Critical Incident Stress Management team, Tim Brown, Team Coordinator of the LS-LDRN, was called upon early to provide support to first responders.  Tim, a seasoned and experienced first responder writes; “This is the most horrible tragedy I have ever experienced in an adult lifetime of disaster, fire/rescue, law enforcement and EMS service.”

	Many other members of the Lower Susquehana Lutheran Disaster Response Network have been providing emotional and spiritual support in a variety of ways and places for several days now.  Many pastors such as Bob Wegehoft of St. Michael’s Strasburg have opened their churches to community expressions of prayer and memorial.  Leo Edgell, LS-LDRN’s Associate Coordinator of Operations and Pastor Kirk Griffin of Mt. Eden provided spiritual care to members of Lutheran congregations who live near the school and have personal connections with the children and their families.  Pastor Bill Snyder, LS-LDRN Coordinator has contacted churches requesting them to open their churches for prayer and to provide community prayer services.  Many pastors are responding and ministering to the emotional and spiritual needs of their communities.

Mennonite Disaster Service, a trusted Lutheran Disaster Response partner has a significant role in ministering to the spiritual and emotional needs of the survivors of this horrible tragedy.  Kevin King, the Mennonite Disaster Service Executive Director is working hard coordinating supportive ministry as well.

Tim Brown shares with us the following; “By the end of the week we will have a better picture of the needs here in Bart Township.  As needed we will ask partners in the LS-LDRN to provide counseling, spiritual and emotional care*Above all PRAY*for the children, for the family of the shooter, for the families of the children, for the community, for our emergency personnel and for our Network who will inevitably be asked to respond and “walk with.”  Pray for those of us working here now.  God walk with us in His work.”


Rev. Kevin Massey, BCC
Assistant Director, 
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
Lutheran Disaster Response
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
8765 W. Higgins Rd
Chicago, IL   60631-4101
office-773-380-2822
fax-773-380-2493