Reflections on Keyham Shooting

On Monday the city of Plymouth came together for a minute silence to remember those tragically lost on last Thursday’s mass killing in Keyham the BBC reported.

The chairman of Keyham’s Neighbourhood Watch, Kevin Sproston, spoke eloquently about the community pulling together. He said people wished for the respect of national media in terms of going forward and allowing the community to grieve.

Mr Sproston said there would be dark days in the future but, hopefully, the city would come out the other side. Speaking afterwards, Kevin Sproston, from Keyham Neighbourhood Watch, said: “At the moment Keyham is grieving. We grieve because we love. Grief is love. We are in shock, feel guilty and angry about the events surrounding the deaths of our beloved community members, because we love. And it is that love and energy that we can now use to bring about change. As a community we look to rebuild and restore together. Collectively we will support each other and with help bring back a community that we want our children to inherit.”

These profound, wise and eloquent words are important as we understand Jesus’ words in John 16 verse 33. “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world.”

Currently, in Afghanistan, many Christians are facing the reality of Jesus’ word. In fact there are over 350 million Christians suffering worldwide under authoritarian regimes which do not allow freedom of speech or religious conscience.

The Christian faith includes the reality of suffering and we see this expressed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the cross, but this suffering also provides hope for this life and the next. The 2.4 billon strong Christian community worldwide has access to this hope if they take their faith seriously.

Let’s pray for Plymouth that what was written over St Andrews Church during the bombing of the Second World War; ‘resurgem’ is a prophetic reality for Keyham and the city as a whole. 💚