We will be partnering with a pastor friend in Danbury, CT to make sure these funds go directly to the families of Newtown. We are also putting together a letter in brochure form that will include the first initial and last name of every person who has donated to this fund, so that these families can again be reminded that there are many who are praying for them, and that they are not alone.
No parent should have to bury their child! Yet, over the Christmas holiday, twenty families buried their kindergarten and elementary age children, and six families buried their beloved educator heroes. Like everyone else, my wife and I were horrified at the brutality of this attack and mourned the loss for days.

Somehow, as we prepared for the Christmas holiday, we didn’t feel entirely free to celebrate. Buying presents for our own children, one a five-year-old, had a bittersweet feel as we thought of those who were experiencing such inconceivable loss just two hours away from our home. As my wife and I mourned the suffering of these families, we wanted to do something. In her words, “How can we be free to celebrate Christmas when Newtown is burying their loved ones?”

We considered what they must be going through; the conversations they were having at those moments with funeral directors and ministers. Some of these families would have life insurance to cover the funeral costs, but most do not. Having four children, I can tell you that buying insurance to cover their funeral expenses seems fatalistic.

Debbie had the idea of raising money to help cover each family’s funeral expenses. She immediately contacted a respected charity, National Service Charity, in Atlanta, GA to arrange a website and online donation portal. National Service Charity partners with churches to raise money for local and personal projects.

As soon as the idea came and was implemented, the black cloud that hung over us seemed to lift. While we continued to mourn with those who are suffering, we felt more free to celebrate Christmas and the lives of our own children. It has reinforced the truth to us that healing comes when we seek to serve and live outside ourselves, rather than with an inward focus.

As we have continued to promote this effort, it has been exciting to feel that we are having a part to support and care for these hurting families.

We know that many people are raising money for the survivors of this tragedy in Newtown, but this opportunity allows the church of Jesus Christ to take action and represent Christ in this tragic situation.

Debbie wants these families to experience the love of God. It is her desire to help ease the pain of the hurting families in CT, and provide an opportunity for the Church to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

We will be partnering with a pastor friend in Danbury, CT to make sure these funds go directly to the families of Newtown. We are also putting together a letter in brochure form that will include the first initial and last name of every person who has donated to this fund, so that these families can again be reminded that there are many who are praying for them, and that they are not alone.

Thanks for partnering with us to minister to these families. It is our prayer that God will take this “loaves and fishes” effort and do what only He can.

Tim Locke
Pastor, Grace Community Church
Bridgewater, NJ

Tim Locke is Pastor of Grace Community Church, Bridgewater, NJ. He and his wife Debbie are helping to coordinate the effort to pay the funeral costs for the families of Newtown, CT.