By Bishop David Huskins

Dear Believers, 

I know that we all feel the shock and pain of the events of yesterday and those that are still unfolding. This is by far the greatest tragedy of my lifetime, but also a great opportunity for the body of Christ to shine as a light in the midst of darkness. Priority one is to be a compassionate refuge for those in the world that are hurting and looking for peace. Remember, it is we who are a part of an Unshakable Kingdom and of the increase of His government and PEACE, there shall be no end. 

Our President is to be commended for his bold witness of faith and his desire to lead as a righteous ruler. His first act from Florida was to lead us in prayer, his next act from Louisiana was to call on us to pray, and in his national address last evening he comforted us with the scripture. He is correct - terrorism can shake our buildings, but will never shake our faith or resolve. 

I caution hyper prophets and prophetic wannabes to not utter foolishly and attribute blame to God. God does not hire atheist terrorist madmen to punish innocent people. This tragedy is NOT the judgment of God, but the bad judgment of a crazed mad man and his followers. Human tragedy is most often a component of several factors: human decisions, human failures, and the sovereignty of God. This is no exception. God did not enlist the terrorists to punish those of us who believe. It would make better sense for God to use us on them than for Him to use them on us. 

The end of the world is not coming; this is not the apocalypse. I plead for ministry to restrain from seeking to profit from this tragedy. It is arrogant for us Americans to assume the whole world revolves around us. Day before yesterday, an entire city was devastated by a war between Muslims and Radical Christians in Nigeria and nobody cared. Nobody cried, "The world is coming to an end". Yesterday, entire communities were ravished and properties stolen in South Africa by the ongoing internal war in that nation. Israel has not slept a peaceful night in years from war and bombs, yet the world goes on. Bosnia is still in unrest, but now that we get a taste of what the world sees everyday, in our arrogance, we cry, "The end of the world", because we are affected. If anything good comes out of all of this - perhaps it will be a thankfulness of how blessed we have been and an awareness to pray for our brothers and sisters all over the world who face this tragedy everyday, and perhaps we will again get a lump in our throat when we hear the Star Spangled Banner and see our flag fly high. 

We certainly should pray, but we should not assume that this is a result of our lack of prayer. Believers the world over, living in war torn countries, pray night and day; however, it still rains on the just and the unjust alike. Prayer is always necessary and always right; we have opened our sanctuary to the community and we held an organized prayer vigil last evening. We must be beckons of hope to the world that lacks direction and hope. There were saved and unsaved people killed yesterday - this is not a time for self-righteous words about the punishment of God on unbelievers. After all, the perpetrator and his followers are still alive (minus a few). 

IF our concept of God is that He is behind this, then it will be impossible to receive comfort from Him. God is not mad at His creation. He loves it and is not acting out in anger against us. This is the fruit and root of hatred, not love. It is the fruit and root of self-exalted man making himself to be god. I call on every minister of the gospel to abstain from accusing God in any way. God was not calling home thousands of people at one time yesterday through "acts of terrorism", but a loving Father yesterday RECEIVED home thousands who were believers in spite of what crazed people did. 

The mistake our enemies made was that the strength of our nation is not in our economic structure or our military structure or even in our political structure it is in our people and in their faith and ability to still proclaim "In God We Trust". We will recover. The Power of A Covenant Heart works in this country and I saw it work even with unbelievers. The entire Congress, both parties, was holding hands on the capital steps singing God Bless America. People were lining up in historical numbers to donate their own blood. People that were left stranded were sharing rooms in hotels and were strangers to each other yesterday but today they are family. There is no racism today in America - it is just the human race and we are all affected. 

Speaking of racism, let us not become quick to judge a nationality of people, a religion of people or a race of people. This is the work of a limited number of people whose views are not necessarily shared by their own nation, religion, or race. God loves the people of every race, nation, and religious persuasion. 

This is a time to love, pray, and heal. The nation will experience a renewal of patriotism that can be healthy and Revival Fires historically have spread from great times of pressure and difficulty. May this be one of those times. 

God Bless America and God Bless the Nations of the Earth. 

Sincerely, 
Bishop David Huskins 

David Huskins is Senior Pastor of Cedar Lake Christian Center. He is the presiding bishop of the Fellowship of Vineyard Harvester Churches. Bishop Huskins serves on the College of Bishops in the International Communion of Charismatic Churches. He has traveled extensively in this nation and in other nations, proclaiming the Kingdom of God and covenant relationships. His vision is for the Church to model and demonstrate the Kingdom of God through relationships. 

Cedar Lake Christian Center
1890 Rome Hwy 
Cedartown, GA 30125