Today’s blog post is from Rosetta Brown. She is a member of Vintage Church Downtown and was gracious enough to share her experience and thoughts in light of recent events..

Our land is in great need of healing.

On June 17, a man shot and killed nine women and men in a church in Charleston, South Carolina. Through this act of hate, a place of love and healing turned into a scene of tragedy and loss. My heart broke that day for the loss of innocent lives. I am in despair for the senseless crimes committed every day as well as for the nonchalant ways we as Christians address them.

The issues and problems that face our nation are ours to bear. We must not let such tragedy and suffering be an afterthought. The Word of God says, “…if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV) As God’s people, it is during the aftermath of tragedy we are called to humble ourselves, pray, and seek his face.

For such a time as this.

In the days following the shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, I felt sad, disappointed, and a little empty inside. Sitting in church the Sunday following that horrific tragedy, I realized just how few people I know here at Vintage, and how few people know me. How many of my church family members recognized the inner pain I felt as I sat there mourning silently for the loss of innocent lives? My home church felt like foreign territory. We stand shoulder to shoulder with strangers every Sunday. A wave or nod of the head is not enough. We need to, I need to make more of an effort to know those I labor among. Why? So that we are better prepared in the future to reach out to the church, our surrounding community, and the nation. We have all been brought to the Triangle “for such a time as this.” Why? Perhaps, like Esther in the face of racial persecution, to make a resounding difference in the world. “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 ESV)

My husband and I feel blessed to be members of Vintage Church. We know that God has placed us here and we refuse to remain silent. Perhaps we all were brought here to Vintage Church “for such a time as this.”