by John Carlton Young

Recent church fires have created mixed feelings within the East Texas community

Wow. What a day. Today was a day like none other. I didn't even know how to respond. What to say what not to say. Who to tell. Who can I tell? Who will listen and care?

Today I found out that two guys, Daniel McAllister and Jason Bourque, were arrested and taken to the Smith County jail which is around where we live in Tyler. They were charged with arson against Dover Baptist Church near Lindale and are said to be responsible for all of the other burned down churches. 9 in total. They also broke into three other churches and stole some things. How do I react to that? Besides prayer and calmness, what else do I do? Should I hate them, despise them, reject them, or wish for God to bring judgment upon them for what they've done? Heck no.

I found Jason's facebook page online earlier today, and do you know what I did? I wrote him a message. And this is all that I said. "I forgive you Jason." That was it. Was that right? I don't know. But I don't think it could hurt, but I could be wrong. Jason has not had an easy life and neither has Daniel. Both of these guys have suffered in their life. Daniel's mom, Wanda, passed away three years ago. She used to watch the children in our Nursery. I remember that sometimes Ethan, Ryan, and I would go in there to see her and hang out in there. And sometimes Daniel and Jason would be in there. We'd all laugh and joke about random things going on. Those were the good ole days.

This day had been emotionally wearing me down. I really don't know if I should pretend to the guys around me on the floor that nothing is wrong with what's going on with me or should I be honest and spill the beans. I've been doing both.

(The next day)

Trying to go to sleep last night was hard. I'm sure it was for a lot of people. And for even more others probably a lot easier. I'm glad that it was for them. But as for me, my mind could not sit still. Memories of Jason and Daniel swarming around in my head. I hurt for them. I remember spending the night with Jason at his grandparents house. I remember riding with him on their four-wheeler in the pastures back behind their house when they used to live in Ben Wheeler area. I remember going to Daniel's house when he used to live in Ben Wheeler when we were about 10, and going out behind his house and just messing around. Trying to make a fort, or throwing rocks at birds in the trees, you know, little boy stuff. I also remember going camping with both of these guys and with all the other guys in the youth group and our youth minister Matt. I remember getting up in the morning dew after camping and finding Daniel already stoking the fire and getting it going. I remember sitting next to him waiting for breakfast staring at the fire and talking about anything and everything. Talking about crazy things we could do to prank someone else. We'd talk about the negative and positive. I could go on with the memories.

John Carlton Young with his father, Pastor Carlton Young

These guys need our prayers, whether they want them or not. I just saw on the internet that Jason had a Lawyer but Daniel can't afford one. I have also found out that Daniel admitted to all the burnings, but Jason won't say a word. I have no idea what to think. I promise to whoever reads this note that I will go back home and see these guys. I support them. I do not support what they did, that is not what I'm saying, but I love these guys and I am here for them no matter what. They are my brothers, maybe not in Christ, but they are human beings that I know very well. However, not as much as I want to know them. But I still love them, with the love of Christ.

My dad (Carlton Young, these guy's pastor) has been getting calls left and right from the media. CNN, New York Times, and Dallas news stations went out to him. I just got through talking to him. I know that he is already pretty worn out.

But to all of you "Christians" who have said online or have thought or said that these guys will get what they deserve or that God will bring Judgment on them, or even that they will pay for what they've done in Hell... how dare you talk like that! No sin is greater than the other to God. We will all be judged in the end. Jason and Daniel burning 10 churches down is no greater a sin than you saying those very words. Or you lying to a police officer about speeding. Or you lying to the IRS. Or any other sin that you have committed. There is no room in God's divine plan for our opinions and views. Revenge and Justice are God's. God is a just God, but He is also a Loving, Forgiving, and merciful God. You have no idea if these guys will go to Hell or not. Prove to me that if you burn a church BUILDING down that you are automatically going to Hell no matter what. Is Jesus not able to save you from ALL of our sins??? OF COURSE!! Daniel and Jason do claim to be Christians and believers in God, which I know is sad for everyone to hear because of what they've done, but we are surrounded with many other "Christians" in our Churches who say the very same thing, but yet are still slaves to sin. Jason and Daniel both know the motions and the right answers. I was in youth council with Jason back in Junior High. He used to talk about how the Book of Acts was his favorite. My dad would get all kinds of interesting questions from him that most lay people and deacons never asked. Daniel went to church most Sundays and Wednesday nights with the youth group. I go to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and even up here we occasionally get people who know all the right answers and even fool us. There is a very devote Atheist today who graduated from Moody Bible Institute but while he was here was convinced that he was a Christian, but really wasn't. Christianity is not all about works and doing what is right...like going to Church, reading the Bible, praying to God, sharing the Gospel, singing to God, encouraging other in the Lord, and even standing at the pulpit and preaching the Word of God. Those things are done and can only bring Glory to God when done through the Salvation that you have in Christ.

So where do we go from here? What to do now? Well,... seek ye first the Kingdom of God. Worship God! Praise Him that only 10 Churches were burned down. Thank Him for the growth in community that resulted in these burnings. Thank Him for using these burnings to bring us together. Thank Him for showing some of us that it's not the building that's the church but the people.

"The times when the Church has flourished the most is under persecution." So should we pray for more persecution?? Think about it.

May the peace of God be on all who read this. May He grant you hope, faith, and most importantly love.

Jeremiah 11:29

John Carlton Young is a childhood friend of Jason Robert Bourque and Daniel George McAllister.