Prayers Tonight

LEO LOD Deaths

By: Chaplain Jeff Fuller

As of 2100 hours December 16, 2014 there have been 110 Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) who have died in the Line Of Duty (LOD) deaths nationwide.

The most recent being Deputy Sheriff John Street of George County Sheriff’s Office in Mississippi.  Here is the official statement from Officer Down Memorial page (www.odmp.org):

Deputy Sheriff John Street was killed in a single vehicle crash on Highway 57 while responding to an accident at approximately 2:00 am.

His patrol car left the roadway and struck a tree during his response. Other deputies were dispatched to locate him after he failed to respond to radio traffic.

Deputy Street had served as a part-time deputy with the George County Sheriff's Office for four years and also served as a full time police officer with the Lucedale Police Department. He is survived by his wife and two young children.

We have seen a 17% increase in LOD deaths this year.  In Alabama we have had a total of 4; 2 who died of heart attacks and 3 in vehicle accidents.  This is an increase of 5 more compared to 2013.  It is also noteworthy that Alabama had one K9 Officer death this year as a result of gunfire.  These are real numbers, related to real officers who have real family and friends left to mourn the loss of a loved one.

While we celebrate this Christmas season, going about our present purchases and jumping from party to party, we have those who are mourning and hurting.  As we drive through neighborhoods shining with Christmas cheer, some are not so cheerful.  Not wanting to dampen the spirits of those reading, but the facts are 110 officers died this year leaving others to attempt to piece together life again.  I do wish to remind you that there is real pain among our brothers and sisters who pin the badge to their chest and do not know if they will see their family again.

Across the nation there is talk of rights and senseless death.  We are seeing notable leaders taking aim at cultural warfare.  A protest turns into a riot.  People are struggling to be heard in ways that are confounding to the rational mind.  But here are 110 officers who are dead, dying while doing their job to protect and serve.  Really puts things into prospective, right?

Let us pray tonight for these families, agencies and towns, communities and counties which are suffering through the most unimaginable pain and sorrow.  It is not easy.  It takes time.  Yet with the help of God and the people of this nation surrounding them with pray and encouragement, we can assist them in their time of need.    

In regards to Deputy Street, please contact the following agency to send condolences or to obtain funeral arrangements:

Sheriff Dean Howell
George County Sheriff's Office
355 Cox Street
Suite B
Lucedale, MS 39452

Phone: (601) 947-4811

Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/22308-deputy-sheriff-john-robert-street#ixzz3M7bagqZT

Three Dead and Many Devastated

Baptist

Three Dead; Families Devastated

By: Jeff Fuller

As I decorate the porch of our house with Christmas lights, wreaths and tinsel, my sweet daughter of twelve works beside me, my mind is preoccupied with the ongoing struggle of others during such a joyful time.

 

Within the state of Alabama, we have seen various accidents which have claimed the lives of others, here at the beginning of the holidays.  On one day, two died in automobile accidents in our own county and a total of seven in the same twenty-four hour period.  In the adjoining county a deputy and three teenagers died as a result of a horrific crash the following Sunday evening.

Accidents aside, the obituaries of the surrounding areas list name after name of folks who have died due to illness or age.  

Whether individuals die from an accident and unexpectedly or from a prolonged illness, the results are the same.  There will be family members who suffer, friends and family will mourn, and each will struggle the process of death.

Yet, there seems to be more grief and more sorrow when such happens at a holiday time.  There seems to be something of a true devastating pain at times like this.

My heart, mind, prayers are for those families in Florida.  It is reported that a man ran up to his pastor and shot him four times in the courtyard of the church facility.  Yet, while the deputies were headed to the church to investigate the possible murder, they were notified that two other individuals with direct ties to the church were found dead.

Forty-eight hours later the individual who shot and killed the pastor was taken into custody not far from the church facility without incident.  Witnesses saw him murder the pastor and he will be questioned in the death of the other two found dead at the time he was leaving his pastor to die.

The other two individuals were identified as the shooters wife and a family friend.  His wife was a staff member of the church.  Such a sad story out of Bradenton this week.

These two articles give some of the media’s take on the deaths and arrest of the perpetrator.

 

Pastor, Church Employee Among 3 Killed in Florida

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say a man killed his wife and another woman and then headed to the Bradenton, Florida, church where his wife worked and fatally shot the pastor.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office says 33-year-old Adres "Andy" Avalos fatally shot Pastor James "Tripp" Battle at the Bayshore Baptist Church on Thursday afternoon. While at that scene, deputies learned about the other two victims from a witness to the shooting.

They went to the house and found the bodies of Amber Avalos and another woman whose name hasn't been released. Amber Avalos worked at the church as its nursery and children's director. The Avaloses have six children.

Detectives say Andy Avalos was last seen near the church driving a gold Chevrolet Suburban.

Bradenton is about 35 miles south of Tampa along Florida's Gulf coast.

The Associated Press; December 5, 2014 2:23 am;http://www.wtxl.com/news

 

Florida triple-murder suspect caught near church of slain pastor

Andres Avalos, 33, has been captured by Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at a mobile home park in Bradenton, Florida near Bayshore Baptist Church where its pastor, James Battle, was found dead. Avalos is also suspected of killing his wife, Amber Avalos, and neighbor, Denise Potter.

Triple murder suspect Andres “Andy” Avalos has been caught in Florida after allegedly killing his wife, pastor and neighbor Thursday.

Deputies found the 33-year-old hiding out at the Pine Haven Mobile Home Park which is only two blocks from the Bayshore Baptist Church where Avalos allegedly killed Pastor James Battle, the Bradenton Herald reported.

The suspect spent two days on the run after Manatee County Sheriff’s Office found the bodies of his wife, Amber Avalos, and neighbor, Denise Potter.

His wife’s relative is not surprised by Avalos’ suspected crimes.

He’s crazy, he’s psychotic,” his sister-in-law told the Bradenton Herald.

The killings may have been motivated by domestic situation and were not random, Sheriff’s spokesman Dave Bristow said.

“The pastor saw this coming," Sheriff Brad Steube said of Battle’s death. Avalos reportedly shot the 31-year-old down during a face-to-face confrontation outside the church.

His death sent deputies to his Bradenton home where they found both his wife’s and Potter’s bodies.

The couple had been married for 15 years, records show. Avalos’ wife, Amber, had also been the church’s nursery and children’s director.

The search for Avalos spurred a $15,000 reward by the Gold Star Club of Manatee County for his arrest.

Authorities also locked down several schools where the couple’s six children attended.

Nicole Hensley; NEW YORK DAILY NEWS; December 6, 2014; http://www.nydailynews.com

 

Tonight, there are eight children, a mother and wife, grandparents and many others who have been deeply affected by the decision of one person.  A decision made at a moment and time we yet have all of the information on, so I will leave the speculation to someone else.  But in the midst of the decision there are others who are suffering, others who will always have a chill at this time of the year.

That is not all…There is also a church which has shown remarkable growth in the past few years.  One report I found was that the church has grown from 30 to 100, becoming a loving, caring body of believers.  With that in mind there are a large group of people who are trying to find their way through this tragic time.  A minister who was a former member of the church will fly in to preside over services tomorrow, attempting to give comfort and hope from the Word of God.

Such a sad thing…

These are the things which have come to mind and all of it seemed to roll into three reminders for me.

One is that this is also my family.  As Baptist we are all a part of each other.  The Bible says that when one mourns, all mourns.  Even though Bayshore and the town of Bradenton is far from Rockford, we are still family.  We are in this together.

Secondly, prayers and support is what the church needs at this time.  Bayshore does not need speculation and condemnation; they need the family of Baptist and the entire Christian community to rally around them, pray for them and hold them in the hands of a loving, almighty, caring, kind, compassionate Father.

Thirdly, as believers we need to be aware that there are always those around us who are contemplating drastic measures.  We must be on the lookout for those who are going through problems, struggles, financial difficulties, and the like so we might be able to intercede before an incident takes place which would shake and shackle us in the aftermath.

My prayers are with these families and I ask that you join me as we seek the solace and strength of God on their behalf.