By Bob Allen
A Cooperative Baptist Fellowship pastor who ministers near Newtown, Conn., says one of the best things people can do to help right now is to pray for first responders coping with psychological trauma and clergy who are performing funerals and face months and years of pastoral counseling with parishioners.
Jason Coker, pastor of Wilton Baptist Church, about 15 miles from the site of the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, said in an e-mail to friends who have expressed a desire to help that he was in a meeting Dec. 20 with the Association of Religious Communities in Danbury, Conn., which serves a region that includes Newtown.
Coker said local ministers were told that all the immediate needs of victims’ families are being met, and what they most need now “is privacy and time.” He said because of the overwhelming global response, every need mentioned so far has been overwhelmed within hours.
“We were told that one way to make a difference was to perform acts of kindness and charity (whether financial contributions, volunteer hours, etc.), and send a note to the town or families in the next month to let them know what you did in the memory of their lost loved one or in honor of the first responders,” Coker said. “This gives them the space they need and also provides a level of comfort in the weeks and months to come.”
“Beyond that, we were told to be patient and let the global response fade,” he said. “When it does and there are no more distractions for the families, they will begin to hurt in other ways.”
Coker asked friends to “maintain your deep desire to help for the next several months, so that I can call on you in three, six, nine and/or 12 months from now.”
He said local agencies that can use donations right now include the Newtown Youth and Family Services and Healing Hearts, a child-bereavement center in Danbury.