By Matt Welnack staff reporter In a time of mourning, about 600 people found a way to laugh. The Rev. Al Meredith, senior pastor of Wedgwood Baptist Church, brought smiles to faces and joy to grieving hearts Saturday at the funeral of Kim Jones, one of the seven people killed at Meredith's church Wednesday night. Friends who attended Jones' memorial service said Meredith helped lighten the mood.
DG President Meredith Huckabee said Jones had a smile and personality that made it easy for people to like her. "Kim touched so many lives," she said. "You couldn't help but smile when you talked to her." Jones used her outward personality and love for God to form a Bible study for DG members after her sophomore year, said Shalene Kelly, a sophomore marketing major. Starting with only a few members, the group now attracts between 15 and 20 women regularly. And despite the loss of the group's founder, Kelly said she is confident the Bible study will continue. "(The Bible study) can only grow stronger from this," she said. "I know it's going to keep growing, and it's all from Kim." Kelly said her life changed dramatically because of her relationship with Jones. "I got into Delta Gamma by the grace of God," Kelly said. "I was really torn on sororities, and obviously God wanted me here. As I look back, I know that he wanted me here because he wanted me to know Kim. "She was pretty much my inspiration to rededicate my life (to God), and because she made such an impact on my faith and in my life, I kind of feel like it was God's purpose for me to be put in contact with Kim." Kelly said before the Bible study was started, there were never any prayers or references made to God in the DG house. But after the death of Jones, members gathered to remember Jones in the way she had intended. "Three years ago, a prayer wouldn't even have been whispered in our chapter room," Kelly said. "Thursday night, as we gathered to remember her, we wept, read scripture and prayed together holding hands.
The Bible study will most likely be taken over by Kristy Harrick, a close friend of Jones' and the fraternity program coordinator for Kappa Alpha Theta and DG sororities, Kelly said. Kelly said Jones' unselfish nature and her way of applying what the Bible says to her own life were contagious to all of the Bible study members. "She was so excited about (the Bible) and so passionate about it," Kelly said. "You saw God all over her." Joelle Martin, a senior economics major and DG member, agreed, saying Jones greatly affected others and served as a role model to many. "She was a very special person, so happy with life and what she was doing," Martin said. "She was somebody for all of us to look up to." DG members and Lambda Chi Alpha members wore white ribbons Thursday in memory of Jones and will continue to wear them through Friday. Jones' brother, Tim Jones, a junior, is a Lambda Chi member. Anyone who wants to wear a ribbon can stop by the DG house or call Huckabee at 257-3431. "They are for whoever was affected by the tragedy," Huckabee said. "It's a way of supporting each other." Despite the loss of a good friend, Kelly said she is comforted knowing that Jones is in a place she has always wanted to be. "I've found peace in God in knowing that Kim is now sitting at his feet," Kelly said. "She is now in Heaven where she could not wait to be, and the Lord couldn't wait to bring her home."
Staff members Tara Pope and Justin Roche contributed to this report.
Matt Welnack
By Aimée Courtice senior reporter They came to show support for a city left without answers, but not without hope. Under a clear, blue sky and warm afternoon sun, nearly 15,000 people - some grieving for loved ones, others trying to empathize with strangers - came to Amon Carter Stadium Sunday for a citywide memorial service to honor the victims of the Wedgwood Baptist Church shooting. The service, organized by local religious leaders, was led by Travis Avenue Baptist Church Senior Pastor Michael Dean. Fort Worth Mayor Kenneth Barr, local church leaders, several high school students and Christian music singer Stephen Curtis Chapman sat on the flower-adorned stage. Each approached the podium offering words of benediction, encouragement and prayer. Brett Parker, a North Crowley High School senior, delivered the opening prayer. "Let us always remember what happened Sept. 15, but let us not dwell upon it," he said. "Let us pick up our feet and move on." Barr's address also urged Fort Worth citizens to not let the shooting overshadow Fort Worth. "One senseless act has forever changed the lives of 14 families," he said. "It is sad that it adds our name to a list of cities that has a heartbreaking thing in common. "We cannot, we will not, let one senseless act of violence define who we are as a city." With her voice quivering, Patti Cornelius, a senior at Southwest High School, then read the victims' names slowly. Each name was followed by the ringing of a bell. Don Browning, father of Sydney Browning, told the audience of his daughter's love of music. Trying to hold back his tears, Browning led the audience in singing one of his daughter's favorite songs, "This Little Light of Mine." After the final verse ended, Browning said, "We've gotta keep letting it shine." Leaders from Baptist, Catholic, Jewish and non-denominational Christian churches also spoke. "I encourage you not to blame God for this tragedy but to find faith that will see him on the other side of it," said Scott Colglazier, senior pastor of University Christian Church. Al Meredith, senior pastor at Wedgwood Baptist Church, raised his hands to the stadium crowd and then pounded them on the podium, urging faith in God. "Today my heart aches as I try to make sense of this," he said. "What can we do to save our children?" Meredith said pornography, drug dealers and the media aren't responsible for society's ills. "These are the symptoms, they are not the cause," he said. Meredith then led the singing of "Alleluia," and the crowd stood with their hands raised. Sam Potter, a cousin of Sydney Browning who attended the service, said he felt the service was a powerful way to remember those killed. "We're all excited," he said. "It gives people a chance to talk about Jesus and talk about Sydney. She would want people to know how important Christ was to her. The community and the church have been wonderful." Ed Marshall, 52, a member of Wedgwood Baptist Church, said the memorial service was important because it was a place for the Fort Worth community to begin the healing process. "In the future we must pray a lot," he said. "We will get together with other Christians and non-Christians to share and vocalize what our problems are." Marshall said people must not blame God for what has happened. "God doesn't do bad things, he allows it," he said. "Only Satan creates these types of problems."
Craig Nason, 18, a senior at Columbine High School, said in an interview after the service that their group from West Bowles Community Church flew to Texas Thursday without any plans or connections in Fort Worth. "We didn't try to come down with a lot of answers," he said. "We just tried to come down to comfort and support these people. Through our presence, we wanted to show them that there is hope, and they are going to make it." Danny Dukes, a senior history major, said he went to the memorial service because he hasn't been able to attend any other vigils or memorials for the shooting victims. "I wasn't directly affected," he said. "But it did hit close to home." Scott Gastorf, a freshman premajor, said he came to show support to the victims' families. "I just wanted to honor those who were killed or wounded physically, emotionally or spiritually," he said. Although originally scheduled to speak, Gov. George W. Bush decided not to address the audience. Cliff Wright, a sophomore information systems major, said he thought Gov. Bush's decision not to speak at the event was appropriate. "I thought it was good," he said. "It showed he wasn't higher than any of the rest of us and that he's just another person when it comes to something like this. I thought it was really respectful." Despite the peaceful intention of the event, there was a strong emphasis on security, said Fort Worth Police Sgt. Kevin Morton. Nearly 100 officers were at the service to help with traffic control and security. "You have to be prepared for anything," he said. "You don't know who will use this type of event to further their own agenda."
Staff reporters Steven Baker and Stephen Suffron contributed to this report.
Aimée Courtice
By Tealy Dippel and Lori Eshelman staff reporters Worshippers gathered Sunday at area churches and embraced a message of hope and healing in an effort to bring peace to their churches and Fort Worth after the shootings at Wedgwood Baptist Church Wednesday. The banner outside Wedgwood Baptist Church read, "Let the Healing Begin," and was used as a symbol by pastor Al Meredith to convey his message to the congregation Sunday. "God, if you are sending us signs through disasters and evil, let us heed them," Meredith said. "The ups and downs - that's what life is all about." Some church members dressed in bright clothing and embraced one another with teary smiles in an effort to recapture the spirit of their church. Using simple terms, Meredith tried to explain what happened Wednesday. He used the children's nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty" to help the children understand what happened and to calm their fears. "We've had a big fall this week," he said. "Someone came into our church and started shooting people. But now we put the pieces together again." Sunday's message at University Christian Church, titled "Service of Hope and Healing," echoed Meredith's message to Wedgwood. "Don't blame God for tragedy," Senior Minister Scott Colglazier said. "Let's see God in it. Find God wherever love is found." Colglazier recognized Fort Worth Mayor Kenneth Barr and former Speaker of the House Jim Wright, who were sitting in the middle pews, in order to emphasize the need for community healing. "In due time, our city will pick itself up and go on with love," Colglazier said. "God weeps with our city, but God inspires and creates strength to go on." University Baptist Church Pastor Mark Woods said it was both ironic and appropriate that his sermon for Sunday was about finding peace in a world that has become chaotic beyond comprehension. He compared the Wedgwood tragedy to a hurricane and told the congregation that even in the midst of all the destruction on Wednesday night, they must seek God's serenity in the eye of the storm. "This world is going to have its storms, and there is going to be the absence of peace," Woods said. "There are going to be those disturbers of peace that come into your lives in small ways and into our communities in big ways, but God's peace that surpasses all understanding is like an eye of a storm. Within it we find peace no matter how much destruction or wind may blow." Woods said community members have found strength in knowing that those who lost their lives had peace with God, but they have also seen what can happen with the absence of inner peace. "In our communities, forgiveness has got to be part of the mix," he said. "We are tied to God and to each other, and it is only his forgiveness and his peace that allow us to have forgiveness and peace with one another." The service concluded with a prayer for the many families whose lives were changed forever Wednesday night. "May good come in the form of strength, maturity, growth and greater appreciation of the importance of each other," Woods said. "May great victory come through their suffering." At the close of Wedgwood's service, Meredith encouraged church members to look to one another for strength and guidance and to support one another in the wake of Wednesday's tragedy. "Churches love and welcome," he said. "You cannot be a Christian by yourself."
Tealy Dippel Lori Eshelman
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"He was so wonderful," said Natalie Franks, director
of public relations for Delta Gamma, the sorority in which Jones was an
active member until her graduation in December 1998. "He made it funny
enough, so it wasn't too somber."
"Something like that would have never happened if it
hadn't been for Kim, if it hadn't been for the faith and the love she had
for the chapter."
Some students from Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo.,
who had spent Thursday and Friday consoling students at Brewer High School,
also spoke.| The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |