We All Need to Pray

for the Stauffer family of Edson, Alberta, who have lost a beloved daughter and sister. From Terry Stauffer’s blog:

Last night at about 4:45 our precious 14 year-old daughter Emily was attacked and killed as she was out for a walk. We don’t know a lot of details, but we know that two young men came upon the scene right away, but it was too late for Emily.

Terry Stauffer is pastor of the Edson Baptist Church. Both Terry and his wife Juanita have commented here and posted Sunday hymns on their own blogs, and Juanita has contributed recipes to the Recipe Round Ups. So I feel like I know them, at least a little.

According to CBC News, here’s the statement the Stauffer family gave to the media :

The family of Emily Stauffer wish to thank the public for their sympathy and concern. We are mourning the death of our daughter, but we are comforted by knowing she is with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our daughter was a vibrant young woman who loved Jesus and her life.

Let’s pray

• that our heavenly Father comfort them and give them his peace
• that he uphold them minute by minute over the next days, weeks and months.
  
• that he surround them with family and friends to care for them.
  
• that he bring his justice in this horrid, horrid, horrid crime.
• that he use these circumstance to show (quoting Terry Stauffer) “the value of good, Gospel theology.”
• that he use the witness of the Stauffers to bring people to himself.
• that he give the Stauffers their desire that Emily’s funeral be “be Gospel-saturated and glorifying to Christ our Redeemer.”

Read more from Canada.com.

Update on Monday, September 29, 2008 at 9:17AM by rebecca

In the comments, Kim from Hiraeth suggests that we pray for the boys who witnessed the attack on Emily and went for help.  I can think of at least two requests:

• That God protect them from being severly traumatized by what they saw.
  
• That he help them remember what they saw clearly enough that the killer can be identified and caught and brought to justice.
  

Comments

[ellen b]

Oh my. I am praying for this family...

[Kim from Hiraeth]

Yes, I am praying that the peace of God will guard their hearts and minds. As I read the account of what happened, I realize that those two boys on the bikes who saw what was happening and reported it will need our prayers as well. The whole community has been shaken; I pray that God will be glorified in countless ways as He comforts and sustains this family and the community.

[Kim in On]

Neil and I met Terry last year when he was in the area for a conference. We so enjoyed our time with him, and were looking forward to getting out there to meet the rest of his family. Their testimony in this time of crisis is just absolutely humbling.

[rosemary]

Praying...