Our nation has been impacted by not one but multiple random and senseless shootings this past week. 

Although our family was not at the mall last week at the time of the mall shooting here, we live only 5 miles away and it is the place we often frequent to shop for school clothes, pick up a new book or do our Christmas shopping. As the afternoon unfolded and we listened to news updates and facebook updates from the boys friends about who had been at the mall, it wasn't until the next morning that Tyler learned that his fellow Rugby player had lost his dad. 

Alec Forsyth an 8th grader and his family said goodbye to their father Monday afternoon at a local church. We didn't know Mr. Forsyth well, however we had spent several Saturdays cheering and encouraging our boys on the Rugby pitch last spring together. 

Mr. Forsyth attended a local church here in West Linn and impacted many lives through his service in our community as a youth football coach, father and friend.

As a family, we have been reminded of our purpose and feel a new urgency to live an even more intentional missional life. Pray we will seek every opportunity to share and build relationships with team members, school friends, parents, acquaintances and the young men and women on our campuses so that we can share Christ's love with them.

Our hearts are burdened and troubled by the shooters, two young men,  the very age of the men and women our campus missionaries spend their lives trying to reach on the college campuses across the Northwest. A lost generation that so desperately needs to know Christ's love.

God has used the events of the past week in a life of a mom we have been working with. As she watched the events unfold and saw Christ's family pour out His love on the Forsyth family. she called to talk. She shared that she knows she needs to spend more time with our family and wants to start coming more regularly to our Sunday night Bible story time. These are big steps and we are excited to see what God will do in her life in 2013.