We are not home yet

Every news story about death is sad, but there are certain stories that hit closer to home than others. I had to report on such a story today.

Two young women who were involved in Rockford's Master's Commission* program were killed in a traffic accident yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Katie Prosopio, 19, and Wendi Watson, 20.

My co-host, Darren Marlar, has blogged about this beautifully. Do take a moment to read Darren's post if you can.

A Master's Commission spokeswoman tells me the girls were both "wonderful people" who had missionary plans. She mentioned Wendi's "grit and determination" that kept her going despite financial obstacles. Wendi wanted to go on a missions trip to Sri Lanka, but couldn't afford it, so she put together a benefit concert to raise funds for the trip.

That concert was supposed to take place this Friday. Now, it's uncertain if the concert will go forward. It could possibly end up being a combination memorial service/worship service in Wendi's memory.

Katie was described as "the epitome of the fruits of the Spirit." She planned to go to India as a missionary, and start an orphanage.

In one of those strange twists of what some call fate and others call God's providence, the driver of the truck is also a Christian. Joy McCarnan tells me that William (Terrell) Goodwin is a faithful and well-loved member of Morning Star Baptist Church in Rockford. Although he was not at fault in the accident, he also needs our prayers as, in Joy's words, it's "emotionally painful to be involved in such a thing."

Joy writes, "We don't understand why God so clearly took these girls' lives, or why He so clearly spared Terrell, but we have to be awed at His sovereign ordaining of everything that happened yesterday morning."

We closed our morning show today with Steven Curtis Chapman's We Are Not Home Yet:

"From one who's seen the view
And dreamt of staying on the mountains high
And one who's cried like you
Wanting so much just to lay down and die
I offer this, we must remember this

We are not home yet
We are not home yet
Keep on looking ahead
Let your heart not forget
We are not home yet
Not home yet"

*Master's Commission is a program aimed at providing students with a nine-month opportunity to pursue God and follow his commission without distraction. Read more about the program's vision here.