Don Browning, college and seminary classmate, even in his career in music ministry is known for his ability to tell funny stories and make us all laugh. But in this radio conversation he shares the serious and painful drama of his daughter’s becoming a martyr while in Wedgewood Baptist Church in Ft. Worth, TX. From the church website: Wedgwood Baptist Church is often remembered for the event that occurred on the evening of September 15, 1999. Just before 7:00 pm that evening a crazed gunman entered the building and interrupted a youth activity, a "Saw You at the Pole" prayer rally. He fired over 100 rounds from two different handguns, and exploded a homemade pipe bomb. Seven young persons were killed, and seven others were wounded before the gunman ended his own life. Syndey Browning was among the seven who died in that nightmare. (Learn more at www.wedgwoodbc.org, including how to obtain Don Crawford’s book of the story, A Night of Tragedy, A Dawning of Light.) Don also reflects upon the memorial service held in the Texas Christian University football stadium wherein he and others spoke comfort and witness as to the grace of God in the painful trial. Then Governor George W. Bush of Texas attended and ministered to Don and Diana. The service was aired by CNN and was seen around the world. The interview is additionally stirring as we hear Sydney Browning’s recorded voice sing about where she is right now: “O They Tell Me of a Land” and “I’ll Fly Away.” Don and Diana have been asked, “How can you go on after this?” They answer that “going on” in their ministry and Christian living is their way of affirming the Biblical truth and their solid assurance that Jesus is able to provide comfort and victory through everything that we face in life…and death. They rejoice in knowing that their beloved Sydney is in Heaven. They rest securely in the Scriptural promise that for the believer in Jesus “…to be absent in the flesh is to be present with the Lord.” (II Corinthians 5:8)
Part 1
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