July 2022 Monthly Letter
Dear Reconcilers,
I would like to thank Pastor High and Pastor Albert Vander Meer for sharing their experience of reconciliation and unity that brought their congregations together. I’m sure they had many challengers but they did not quit. They even set up a six-week seminar on reconciliation, meeting one evening a week for two hours. The end results of all their work brought lasting change for their congregations and others.
Today it seems that tragedy surrounds us. It has almost become the new normal. Here are just a few examples:
- The pandemic turned our lives and economies upside down, and we still have people dying every day from the coronavirus.
- Suicide among our young people is pervasive. Teenagers and young adults have the highest rate of suicide compared to all other ages.
- Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine is disheartening. Men, women, and children are being killed, and it’s been estimated that nearly 12.8 million people have been displaced from their homes.
- Mass shootings are rampant. People are randomly shot while shopping in grocery stores, attending a church service, going to a concert, or seeking help at a hospital. Even little children going to school are not exempt from this epidemic of anger and violence.
We are told that in order to change the direction of our country, we all need to do our part. That’s what North Las Vegas police officer Nicholas Quintana decided to do. He made a life-changing decision by welcoming five new members into his household in January.
Quintana was having lunch on January 14 when he received a report of a homicide case. Even though enough officers were on duty, he still felt a strong desire to respond to the call. Forty-year-old Emily Ezra had been arrested for allegedly shooting and killing her ex-husband while their five children ages 6-17 were in the house. The children had no family to take them in. Quintana said this situation hit too close to home for him. His father was murdered by a relative when he was a kid.
After his shift, he went home to tell his wife he wanted to bring all five of these children home. His wife Amanda thought she was dreaming. Officer Quintana felt that God placed on his heart to take care of these kids. The Quintana’s days are now filled morning to night with preparing a lot more meals, getting children to and from school, and therapy appointments. The past months have been a major adjustment for everyone. They are taking classes in being foster parents and hope to eventually adopt the children. Officer Quintana said, “I’m a regular guy who God called me to their incident.” You can read the whole story at https://people.com/human-interest/las-vegas-police-officer-takes-in-five-children-father-fatally-shot/
Officer Quintana and his wife Amanda are doing their part. Many of us would not adopt five children but there are other things we can do. Little things can mean a lot when people are hurting.
We can call others to make sure they are okay. We can make a meal or buy one for someone who is ill. We can go shopping for the home bound. We can send a card to let people know we are thinking about them and praying for them. We can take out a neighbor’s garbage and bring their trash can back in. I’m sure many of you are already doing some of these things and much more.
Matthew 7:12 (ESV) says, “Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”
Thank you all for your support and kind words about this ministry. Let’s continue to do our part in helping to make this a better country.
