On Nov. 19 one of the members of our Verbo church in Villa Lobos, a Guatemala City suburb, was shot and killed while he attended customers in his butcher shop just three blocks from the church. One of the local gangs that terrorizes the area had been demanding more money to “protect” his business, but he refused. A young kid, probably no more than 14 years old shot him at point blank range in front of his terrified wife and two sons.

That night, as is the custom in this culture, we spent several hours at the funeral home with the family, grieving with them, singing and sharing God’s word together, and rejoicing that another saint is with the Saviour. And the next day were were at the graveside together to testify that death has no power over us because Christ lives.

We would wish that the family members could move on with their lives after the burial service, having suffered enough with the loss of one of their loved ones. Unfortunately, it doesn’t end there because the gangs won’t let it end there. What should this family do? Are they all in danger? Should they try to continue on with the butcher shop? Should they pay the extortion money? Or should they move to another part town and start all over again? What pastoral advice would you give them? How can our local church best support them? These are very difficult questions. Lord have mercy on us all.

When I think about the violence in Guatemala, I also think about what is probably one of the most rewarding things that has occurred in my 27 years as a missionary. Earlier this year, Hector, one of the members of our church, asked me to meet with a family that had asked him for help with their 13 year old son, Carlos (name changed). A year ago one of the gangs started pressuring him to get involved with them. Carlos didn’t want to but the gangs don’t let you say “No”. Eventually he had to drop out of school and was pretty much under their control, doing things that he didn’t want to do, pretty much at their mercy. If he tried to leave the gang they would probably kill him.

Hector had told Carlos’ family that I provided dental care at a local Christian drug rehab ministry called REMAR and that many of their staff were ex-gang members. Could I help them get Carlos away from the dangerous situation that he was in? I told them that I would try and that we should meet the following day at our church to then go to REMAR.