{"id":5506,"date":"2018-02-27T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-02-27T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/2018\/02\/27\/commentary-testimonials-item-8971-niu-shooting-survivor-spreads-hope-to-parkland-community\/"},"modified":"2023-09-08T10:41:44","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T08:41:44","slug":"commentary-testimonials-item-8971-niu-shooting-survivor-spreads-hope-to-parkland-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/commentary-testimonials-item-8971-niu-shooting-survivor-spreads-hope-to-parkland-community\/","title":{"rendered":"NIU Shooting Survivor Spreads Hope to Parkland Community"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On February 13, 2008, I prayed for one of the first times in my life. I prayed that God would wake me up because I felt dead inside. I felt that there had to be more to life than just worldly measures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next day on Thursday, February 14, 2008, my life was altered forever. As I was sitting in a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University, a gunman burst in and started firing bullets everywhere. I quickly threw my laptop so I could get up from my seat and dove into the aisle. Once I was in the aisle I was trampled by classmates trying to escape. I was about 15 feet away from the gunman, so I thought that I had no chance of surviving. Right when I was ready to lay down and surrender, paralyzed in fear, I looked up and saw light shining in from a door 30 feet in front of me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I decided at that moment that I had to at least die trying. I got up and started running for the door. Out of the corners of my eyes, I saw my classmates being shot, falling down and bleeding. By the grace of God, I made it to the glass door, pushed it with all my might, and started running. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I made it out of the classroom that day. However, five others weren\u2019t so lucky. One of the victims was Gayle Dubowski, a disciple and member of the Chicago Church. I knew Gayle growing up. Her dad, Joe, was my soccer coach. But unfortunately, we lost contact after middle school. Just when I thought all hope was lost, God wasn\u2019t finished yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He worked through the Dubowskis, who reached out and loved up on me for five years. On April 27, 2013, I made Jesus Lord of my life<\/a> (in the Dubowski\u2019s backyard). Ten years later, God is still producing hope and healing. <\/p>\n\n\n

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My heart was very heavy that night as the death toll kept rising. I couldn\u2019t sleep. I couldn\u2019t eat. All I could do was pray. Pray and write. In my anguish, I penned a letter to the Parkland shooting survivors and other mass shooting survivors. I wanted them to know that the world can be a dark place, but there is always hope. There is always healing. Convicted by the Holy Spirit, I decided to send my penned letter to the Daily Herald <\/em> (a large local newspaper in the suburbs of Chicago). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They contacted me about eight hours later notifying me that they would like to publish the article in the paper and online. I was flattered and agreed. They also sent a photographer to my house to get a picture for the story. The photographer asked me what I wanted to have in the picture, and the only thing I could think of was my \u201cLove One Another\u201d sign I made. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next morning I went to pick up the paper and my mouth dropped when I looked at the front page. The Daily Herald <\/em> put my letter and picture<\/a> on the front page, above the fold! I was blown away! The representative from the Daily Herald <\/em>contacted me again and told me if there is anything I need or any community event I needed help with, to give her a call. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I sat and prayed and asked God, “Do YOU want me to host a community event?” The answer was very clear, “Yes.” I asked God what kind of event I could possibly hold, and the answer was even more clear \u2013 a candlelight vigil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a day and a half, I planned and organized a candlelight vigil for the Parkland students. I had so many people volunteer to help. The Daily Herald published another article highlighting the vigil. One of the news stations even broadcasted an announcement about it! Once again, I was blown away. <\/p>\n\n\n

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After we prayed we noticed one news station van pulled up. Then a second. Then a third. Then a fourth. Then a fifth. The first speaker was Curt, who prayed an incredible heartfelt prayer. The next speaker was Joe Dubowski, who gave a moving speech about moving forward with one another. Next, Laurel Dubowski and I read the 17 victims’ names Then I spoke. It was so hard, but God was speaking through me! My message was one of hope, resiliency, and kindness. I challenged everyone there to promise that they would do acts of kindness to help make the world a better place. As Morgan Freeman says in Evan Almighty<\/em>, \u201cYou change the world with one small act of kindness at a time.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five local news channels reported on our vigil. Numerous articles were published with our church name and location, and there are even a few people studying the Bible already! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I say all this to say that God is faithful. I am beyond grateful that he is using my suffering to illuminate his purpose. So, brothers and sisters, I encourage you to, \u201c Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer <\/em> \u201d \u2013 Romans 12:12. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You never know how God can use your pain and suffering. All glory goes to God. See more: <\/p>\n\n\n\n