IN FOCUS: Response to God: ‘Here am I. Send me’

Randel Everett

image_pdfimage_print

Our nation was stunned by the news of the shootings at Fort Hood that took the lives of 13 soldiers and wounded many others. The soldiers died within the security of the world’s largest military base, where they should have felt safe. Even school children were in lockdown on the base for hours while officials sought to evaluate the situation. Families waited to learn the fate of their loved ones.

Soldiers at Fort Hood are familiar with combat. Hundreds of troops previously stationed there already have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet this murderous rampage was not by an enemy on a foreign battlefield. The perpetrator was one of their own.

Randell Everett

Millions watched the memorial service at Fort Hood when President Obama paid tribute to these fallen heroes. Gen. George Casey, the Army chief of staff, quoted Isaiah 6:8: “Here am I. Send me,” reminding us that all who serve our country through the military do so as volunteers. These brave men and women risk lives, spend time away from families and face untold challenges because they choose to protect the rest of us.

Col. Mike Lembke, chief of chaplains at Fort Hood, read Isaiah 40:31: “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” These words of comfort will be needed by all who mourn during the weeks, months and even years ahead.

God’s words were very appropriate to all who were affected by these recent events. Yet the context of these verses is for those who serve the Lord. We are reminded that we, too, are involved in conflict. Just as soldiers are asked to pay a high price for service, Christ-followers also must be willing to give our lives.

Soldiers and family members were greeting one another as they milled around waiting for the memorial service to begin. Yet when the service started, the mood was serious and somber.

Folks will gather in Houston this week for our annual meeting. We will have times of fellowship, worship and reports. There will be plenty of laughter, stories and meals. However, at some point, we need to be reminded that we, too, have a mission.

We are to make disciples of all the nations. Almost 12 million Texans claim no church affiliation. Millions more give no evidence of knowing Christ.

Someone must share the hope of Christ with them.


Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays


We must go into the inner cities, the prisons, the apartments, the suburbs, the barrios and the colonias sharing the hope of Christ. We must go to the gangs and the CEOs, men and women, adults and children, folks of all races and ethnic heritage and let them know of the love and forgiveness of Christ.

Obedience to this commission may be costly. Folks in Texas and throughout the world do not know Christ.

God continues to call and waits to hear our reply: “Here am I. Send me.”

Randel Everett is executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board.

 

 


We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.

Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.

More from Baptist Standard