Call to Prayer for NIU

A little over 6 hours ago there was a deadly shooting on Northern Illinois University's campus in Dekalb, IL. So far six people have died, including the gunman. It is hard to come up with the right words for this moment to express how deeply these students need the God of all comfort that we read about in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."

When I actually stop and think about what has taken place on this campus in Illinois it hurts me to think that we have fallen away from the great and awesome God and things like this are even possible. Some may ask if God is unjust for allowing this shooting to take place. All I want to say is that it is a miracle of mercy that any of us are even allowed to breathe right now, we are not owed anything. It pains the heart of God even more than it pains us to see our fellow students in this mess.

Tonight I want to call our community group to prayer for the entire campus of Northern Illinois University. Pray for the students, the parents, the faculty and staff, and the town of Dekalb. Please join in leaning in towards them in the Spirit tonight and in the coming days. May they see the mercy of a God who brings comfort in distress and good from evil. This is our God.

Grace and peace to NIU

-Kyle