My brothers and sisters, we’re living in a time when headlines hurt, violence is too common, and hearts are breaking in real time. You don’t have to watch the news long to know: our communities are wounded. However, we may be hurting, but we are not hopeless. In Romans 12:15 (NIV), the Apostle Paul reminds us: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” That’s not just poetic language; it’s a blueprint for community. When one family grieves, we all have a responsibility to lean in, not pull away.
Let me share a story with you. Last year, a family in a distant town lost their teenaged son to a tragic shooting, caught in the crossfire on his way home from football practice. That moment shattered their world. His mother, once the loudest voice at every game, was suddenly silent. His father, a quiet man of faith, began asking God questions he never imagined he would have to ask. At first, the support poured in—flowers, casseroles, and tears. Consequently, as the weeks passed, the silence grew louder, and that’s when the church stepped in. They did it not just on Sundays, but also on weekdays; not just with prayers, but with presence.
One member showed up every Wednesday to cut their grass. Another offered to tutor their youngest daughter who was struggling in school. A group of youth from the church created a scholarship in the deceased son’s name for student-athletes. What started as grief turned into a movement of love! Slowly, the family began to smile again. It was not because the pain was gone, but it was because they weren’t alone in their grief. That’s community unity. Further, that’s the church being the church.
Psalm 133:1 (NIV) affirms, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.” Unity doesn’t mean we all wear the same T-shirt or vote the same way. It means we show up, speak love, and stay when it’s easier to step away. Violence may try to destroy us, but love unites us. Fear may try to divide us, but hope brings us together.
So the question is: Will you be a neighbor, or just a bystander? Will you be part of the crowd, or part of the community? When we show up for each other, we don’t just fight back against violence; we build something stronger than fear: faith, hope, and love. Let’s be the light that never flickers. Let’s be the community that refuses to give up. Then let’s show up on Monday, June 23, 2025, 6:00 p.m., at the Colleton County Civic Center for the Community Meeting! Always abound in the faith, and never leave home without Him!
