Fort Wayne, IN- The Rescue Mission and the Fort Wayne Urban League are partnering together to host a Community Forgiveness and Reconciliation Symposium on October 16, 2013 at 6:00pm. The event will take place at the Urban League (2135 S Hanna St., Fort Wayne, IN 46803).
“We find ourselves grieving the loss of 33 members of our great city. The Urban League and The Rescue Mission are saddened by this loss along with many others,” says Rev. Donovan Coley, CEO/Senior Pastor at The Rescue Mission. “We are convinced that this is a community challenge that deserves a community response and solution,” says Jonathan Ray, President/CEO of theUrban League.
With that in mind, the Urban League and The Rescue Mission have partnered together to host an event to open this dialogue among major stakeholders in our city. The event has multiple purposes, including re-affirming what is good about our city, uniting the voices of key leaders on the issue of violence in our city, calling for healing, forgiveness and reconciliation among our citizens, and a call to prayer that would lead to action and finding a solution to the violence. Key government, religious, educational, law enforcement, and social service persons will be in attendance.
Aurora, Colorado theater shooting survivor, Pierce O’Farrill, will be speaking at the event, giving his testimony and discussing the need for community healing in the wake of violent events.
O’Farrill, 29, still has shotgun pellets in his chest and a bullet lodged in his arm. As a devout Christian — and an employee of the Denver Rescue Mission — he forgives the man charged in the shootings.
For more information, contact Rev. Donovan Coley at 260.426.7357 ext. 113 <tel:260.426.7357%20ext.%20113> , or via e-mail at donovan@therescuemission.net <mailto:donovan .
About The Rescue Mission
After 110 years of evolution and adaptation, The Rescue Mission remains steadfast in its mission to “provide, through the power of Jesus Christ, a home for the homeless, food for the hungry, and hope for their future.” In partnership with the caring businesses, agencies, churches and individuals in the Fort Wayne area, The Rescue Mission remains committed to serving the community and those in greatest need. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.therescuemission.net <http://www.therescuemission.net/> .
About the Urban League
For more than 90 years, the Fort Wayne Urban League has provided a wide variety of services to help thousands of diverse Fort Wayne residents reach their potential, and achieve self-sufficiency for themselves and their families. It has also served as a significant recruitment source for employers seeking to develop an inclusive workforce. Today the Fort Wayne Urban League continues to fulfill its mission through the delivery of programs that address contemporary needs, as we pursue our vision "to be the premier catalyst for positive change in the quality of life for African Americans and others in the greater Fort Wayne Community." For more information, visit www.fwurbanleague.org <http://www.fwurbanleague.org/> .
