The Rt. Rev. Martin Field, Bishop of West Missouri, writes in the diocese’s eSpirit newsletter:
Many of you (especially in the KC area) have very likely been informed that, on Wednesday morning, Officer Thomas Wagstaff of the Independence, MO, Police Department was shot while responding to a report of a robbery. What you may not know is this: Tom is a member of St. Matthew’s Raytown, as are his wife, Stacy, and his children, Jordan (age 16) and Alex (age 13). The Rector of St. Matthew’s, The Rev. Orin Cummings, has been ministering to the family, to Tom’s fellow officers, and to the others involved in Tom’s medical care. Tom is in critical condition with a severe head wound.
St. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians (chapter 5, verse 16) reminds us to “pray without ceasing.” This circumstance calls for just that. Therefore, I call upon the membership of the diocese to join the members of St. Matthew’s in unceasing prayer for the Wagstaff family. Pray also for the medical experts who are doing their utmost for Tom as well as the Rector and people of St. Matthew’s as they minister to the Wagstaff family and to one another in this sad, stressful, and trying circumstance. Lastly, pray for the perpetrators of this violent attack, that they may repent of their sins and turn to a better way.
While surrounding one another in unending prayer, we walk the way of Jesus.
Related: Donate to Officer Thomas Wagstaff’s Fund through GoFundMe
