It is with heavy hearts we write this letter to you. Normally we are excited to share in all that is happening on campus and in our ministry, but currently, SFA and our ministry is in the midst of tragedy as 3 students were killed in a car accident Sat. May 4, and another remains in the hospital. Hunter Buck, Patrick Fagan, and Kamila Carrillo’s lives were tragically lost. These were more than just students to us, 2 of these students, Hunter and Patrick, were involved in Cru, and Vince has gotten the chance to have them in the TKE Bible study he has led over the past year. It was just such a shock, Vince was going to help Hunter fix his car soon, have lunch next week, and hang out this summer while he was in town. Patrick had come to our last Crusday a week earlier, and was excited about the influence he could have in his fraternity next year. It just seems surreal that they are gone. It is in moments like this that we pause and remember why it is that we are here- life is short, and eternity is at stake, and our hearts long for people to know the Lord.
Our hearts are broken over the loss of these students, and we are still mourning along with the TKE Fraternity and the University as a whole. We are grateful for the chance we have had to have an influence in these student’s lives.
Hunter was the life of the party, a former president of his fraternity, and known and loved by many on campus. He was easy to be around, and honest. Vince first met Hunter when a different tragic accident took the life of another fraternity brother a few years ago on campus. This year, they reconnected, and God had been really stirring his heart. Vince has gotten the chance to invest in him spiritually over the last year, in Bible Study, and one on one as they meet together to talk about life and how to grow spiritually. Hunter had an amazing impact on his fraternity in spiritual ways, and often brought other guys to Bible study or to meet with Vince. In conversations with his fraternity brothers since the accident, a few guys have expressed a desire to come check out Bible study and make time to talk with Vince about spiritual things. Hunter was always asking them to come to Bible study and always talked about how much he liked talking about his faith with Vince. Vince always knew Hunter had the potential to reach his fraternity for the Lord, and we are praying that amidst the tragedy, the Lord will still use him to do so.
Patrick was a Freshman at SFA, and had just pledged TKE. He was a quiet guy, but well loved by his pledge brothers, and known by them as a man of character. He was a guy who cared about others, late night conversations, and opened up the more you knew him. He was really looking forward to having an impact on his fraternity.
Students and the community gathered Monday night for a candle-light service to remember those lost, and Vince was asked by the fraternity to be part of the service. Hundreds of students came to honor the three students, and the “spirit rock” was painted in memorial. As we looked around, we saw a university united by pain and loss, but also desperate for something to cling to, and we know that is only found in Jesus Christ.
Please pray for this pivotal time. Pray for spiritual openness in the TKE fraternity. Honestly in times like these, people tend to have one of two reactions, to be softened to Christ, or allow their hearts to be hardened. We are praying fervently that God will soften hearts! We are already encouraged by the response of some of the fraternity brothers, wanting to keep Vince in the loop, and some that he hardly knows texting him at 3:00am when they just need someone to share with about where they are at. Please pray that we would have His wisdom to know how we can love and serve the TKE fraternity through this tragedy. There is never a good time for something like this to happen, but days before finals and summer break make this extra hard. We long to have a long term investment with these guys, and are needing the Lord’s guidance for how to love and serve well. Please pray also for the student who is still recovering from the accident, the hard journey ahead of him, and the investigation that continues.
Please pray for the families and loved ones!
Thanks for your prayers!
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