Hope, faith unite community at service for slain professor

 











GOSHEN, Ind.--As Goshen police continue to search for the suspect who killed a Goshen College professor, and put his wife in the hospital, hope and faith united the community Wednesday night at a service at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church.


More than 300 people gathered to pray for Jim Miller’s wife, Linda, and their three children. Moments of silence brought some to tears, and many looked to the cross for answers.


“This is our way of showing our love and our support for the Miller family. At a time of coming together for prayer, for comfort, for healing, for peace, for direction,” said Terry Diener, Lead Pastor at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church.


While the man police say killed Jim Miller is still on the run, Diener said the family has been praying the suspect would come forward.


“The one thing I’ve heard the family say in their prayers for the person who did this, is that they would pray that he would come to the ability to turn himself in and that somehow in the process to find God in himself,” said Diener.


As for Miller’s children, a close family friend, Annetta Borntrager Good, said they are still trying to make sense of it all.


“Were obviously in a state of shock, but felt surrounded, and cared for by the people around them,” said Borntrager Good.


Family was not present at the service, since they were by Linda Miller’s hospital bedside, who is expected to be released Thursday.


Diener said on Wednesday, doctors removed a tube from her lungs and she released a statement, which was read by one of the Worship Leaders to the congregations:


Last Sunday I lose my best friend and partner in parenting. Whenever I think of Jim, I see him in heaven, standing without pain and smiling, his pain is over. I am so glad that he is in heaven with our Saviour. The kids and I will miss him terribly, but we know that God is with us and will see us through whatever to8ught times lie ahead. We will stand together with God trusting HIS promises. We want to continue to live our lives to reflect God’s love and mercy of everyone. My life verses apply in this situation as much as they did years ago


The rest of the statement contains verses from Rom 12:9-16.


The visitation for Jim Miller will be at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church Sunday from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m.


The Memorial service will also be at the church, on C.R. 35 in Goshen, at 6:30 p.m. Monday.


 


 

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