Lamentations 3:55-57
I called on your name, O Lord,
From the depths of the pit;
You heard my plea, ‘Do not close your ear
To my cry for help, but give me relief!’
You came near when I called on you,
You said, ‘Do not fear!’
As believers who treasure life and God’s love, we come with heavy hearts to be confronted again by the death of a Vietnamese brother, Shane Nguyen – brutally killed in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on April 25, 2021. The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community continues to be targeted and Nguyen’s death stokes further fear into the community.
Our congregations often ask, how do we respond to such racist hatred? I would like to propose the following, especially for our churches in Elkhart County.
BIPOC communities grow weary and live their lives in fear. My sisters and brothers, I too am weary and at times fearful. Remember God’s word, Do not fear!
Iris de León-Hartshorn
Associate Executive Director