I still struggle to understand what kind of twisted worldview allows for the casual killing of so many innocent people for any reason. Ironically, on Tuesday, just as these attacks were occurring, I was making my final report for the President’s Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships in Washington, D.C., to administration officials. In describing the NGO community I noted that “not insignificant is the reality that each year, our community of aid workers loses staff members to violence”—something very few other non-profits ever face. The next day, after the tragedy became public, President Barack Obama has also passed along his condolences to us through his senior staffers.
I returned to Seattle Wednesday and immediately walked into our weekly chapel, which had been quickly re-purposed as a prayer meeting for our staff in Pakistan and the families of our fallen coworkers. Words do not express the shock and horror of what happened. We live in perilous times, and yet all of us at World Vision believe that our work offers a powerful alternative to violence and hatred. Jesus’ simple command to “love our neighbors as ourselves,” continues to motivate us. In the end, love will win more battles than violence, and so we continue our work to love our neighbors—even those who choose to hate us.
Montana: Thank you for your question. Here is an article about the incident:
http://www.worldvision.org/#/home/world-vision-news/world-vision-staff-attacked-in-pakistan/2/1132
Thank you for these profound thoughts. In a world where the truth is far from the preached or practiced, your words ring out the truth.
it is impossible (without Christ) but we need to love those who hate…not necessarily hate us but hate in general and commit acts mercilessly that may not affect us directly.
God strengthen your heart. God bless you and World Vision.
In our prayers everyday. Keep your faith up, God has the fallen members of WV in his presence and He’ll take care of their families.
I cannot wait to get retired to volunteer full time with World Vision.
In Jesus,
Evelyn
Thank you for all you do — but more importantly for who you are. Thank you for being a voice and presence for God’s love in the world. Thank you and all your staff for having the courage to take a stand each and every day — to put your lives on the line, although not always so dramatically. I pledge my continued support to the faithful ministry you live out around the world. I join you as I do my part — teaching adult basic literacy in a small Appalachian community. May God bless you richly!
My heart and prayers are with all of you.
Love *will* win more battles than violence. Thank you for the reminder, and for your continued work.
When I heard this news, my heart hurt for us. May the Lord surround you and all WV staff with His peace and love. You are doing an awesome work serving our Savior. Blessings to you.
Anything you do the smallest among us you doing it to me…..God will thank you greatly for helping others. God is great that is His name HE will always show you his wonders
I continue to be grateful to WV for the work that is being done throughout the world even and especially in areas that are fraught with danger. I will hold the families and friends of those who have fallen and the injured survivors close to my heart in my prayers. May good yet come out of this most devastating tragedy!
i have been involved with training teachers through the Pres. Ed. Board in Pakistan. they are wonderful, loving people who only want good for the children of their country.
i pray for the families of the WV workers.
Richard, Thank you and your staff for your strong leadership in seeking to actually plug that Hole in Our Gospel. Our hearts go out to your staff that gave of their lives in serving a needy world.
Press on. Your labor is NOT in vain.
Brian Ricci
Seattle Area Director
Campus Crusade for Christ
Please know that we are praying for the families and loved ones of those who perished. Our hearts are breaking, too. We must remember, that God is in control, even in situations like this, and I pray that he will give a second chance to those who did not truly beleive in him yet, a second chance to receive his eternal blessings, because they gave their lives to help others and live as he would have us all live!
I pray that each of them is now at his right side, blessed by our Lord. Many tears for you and your fallen staff. Please God, receive them in heaven!
Bless you all, for what you do…
Susan Jackson
This article give no reference to the event. What happened?!
Immediately the Waorani Indians and Steve Saint came to mind. I am proud of the families who came in after the death of those men. Today we see the eternal fruit of their deaths. The tribe and even the men responsible for their tragic death have become Christian. These lives were not lost in vain.
Our prayers go out to you and your staff and their families! My Bible Study group (about 16 of us) are reading your book and I can honestly say it has changed my life! My eyes have been opened! Thank you for writing it and thank you for all that World Vision has done and will continue to do!
Right on!
Rich and WV friends – May God hold you in the palm of His hand during this time of violence and grief. One of the reasons that my family and I choose to support WV and have for years, is the commitment to enable God’s work in the places that most of the world would like to or has already given up on. I pray for our world that as believers, we will give people a reason to choose peace over violence and love over hate. May God bless all of you in OUR work in His name.
I am so heart broken by hearing this news. My prayer is for comfort & healing for the family members and the organization.
I pray for those families who have lost loved ones, especially while carrying out God’s work. It is possibly the greatest leap of faith to love and pray for those who have wronged us by taking our loved ones. But only in love and forgiveness there is healing. Praying for the miracle of God to change the hearts of these Pakistani neighbors is the only chance we have at world peace. For this, all of us must pray daily. May God please send us a builder of bridges between the Christian and Muslim extremist world. And may we continue to do Christ’s work even knowing the potential consequences of doing so. Satan often sends us trials when we are so close to doing great things in Jesus name. Be aware this trial has just occurred. We must be very close.
Blessings,
Brenda Goldstein
My deepest condolences to you and especially your staff in Pakistan and their families. Yeshua (Jesus) said that there would be persecution but for the life of me I do not understand such hatred towards those that are attempting to help them and their people.