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Pastor provides care after plane crash with 7-year-old survivor

Comments (15)
  1. Lani Walter, Parish Nurse says:

    Holding you all close to my heart and in my prayers. Hugs.

  2. Diane says:

    Praying for strength for this little girl and her remaining family. What a tragedy!! May God give them peace and strength!

  3. Ruth Stanley says:

    My prayers are with you in this very sad situation, praying for you, the family, little Sailor and the grandparent as well as your congregation.
    I attend Calvary Lutheran,Lincoln, NE. we all need to pray for each other no matter how many miles between us. Like you said God is in control
    And he will give you the words to say,
    Many Blessings to you

  4. nancy renth says:

    I have known Pastor Wietfeldt since he came to Nashville. Although he is not my pastor, he is the principal of Trinity-St. John school where my granddaughter is a student and my son a teacher. Pastor is a very kind person and very easy to talk to. I’m sure that he will do a wonderful job taking care of the family that has lost, for the congregation at Trinity, for the people of the town, but especially for you Sailor. She was such a brave little girl through the wreckage, finding her way through the dark, heavy terrain, with little clothing in the cold but still finding her way to the man’s house. What a special little 7 year old. I cannot help but believe that God was right there with her the whole time giving her the strength she needed to survive the crash, helping her through the wooded area and finding the house for help. I can only think that he certainly has a special plan for Sailor’s life. But this is only the beginning of her needing strength. She has to go through the funeral, going home to get all her things for wherever she goes to live and just going on without her parents, and especially her sister she was so close to. But I feel confident that Pastor will handle this also. I have seen him dealing with the preschool kids in bible study and he certainly can do the job well. We all need to ask the Good Lord to be with all of the Gutzler families, little Sailor, ourselves, but also especially for Pastor Wietfeldt that he can remain strong and help him say all that needs to be said. God bless you Pastor!

  5. Rev David Mommens says:

    Amen. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you.”

  6. Want to thank u so much for lifting ME up in ur time of shared sorrow & need; you’ve served well ur rolê as Pastor! Will pray for u and your Congregation – and your Mission! My family’s Home parish is Holy Trinity LCMS, Bloomington, IL Thank u again!

  7. Julie says:

    Don’t worry about the media Pastor, they only think they are in control of what we know or don’t know. God is in control of them too. The prayers of all our Christian brothers and sisters will continue to support you and your congregation through this tragic event and well into the future of your little survivor! Love and Blessings from Grace LCMS, Canton, MI. Thank you for being one of God’s Good Shepherds.

  8. Karen and Duane Franz says:

    Pastor Matt, our Aunt forwarded this story to us. For many years you have been in our family’s love and prayers in Monroeville, IN. We continue to pray for you, the congregation, Nashville, media, the families of those who died, and precious Sailor. God truly has a work for her to do. Karen and Duane

  9. Sandy Grussing says:

    I am a Lutheran Christian and a retired journalist. I understand Pastor Wiefeldt’s frustration over the media’s “sound bite” mentality, but remember this. God tells us that His word will not return to him void. Did the masses watching the 6 o’clock news hear the message? No, but the reporter did. The cameraman, photographer, and/or soundman did. The various curious onlookers did. The FB friends of all the many who shared this article did. Our job is to plant the seed and let God do the watering, nurturing, weeding and growing. What a relief that is. God will and already has blessed the Gospel seed you planted a thousand times a thousand times more than you will ever know. Lord, thank you for those you have called to minister to us. Provide comfort to all those who mourn with Sailor and her family. Amen.

    1. Eric Hollar, LCMS Pastor says:

      Sandy Grussing, well said! As a pastor who has gone through several tragic incidents in the past, I have seen this firsthand. Besides, as you say, it’s scriptural. One additional scripture reference to add, Pastor Wiefeldt, remember this: Our battle is not against flesh and blood (ie, media, persons in the crowd, etc) but against the spiritual forces of this dark world(Eph. 6). Don’t get frustrated with the folks in front of you for not wanting to “air” the Gospel. It’s Satan who is thwarting it. Besides, as Sandy said, “Our job is to plant the seed and let God do the watering, nurturing, weeding and growing.” Pastor and congregation of Trinity Lutheran, the people of Bethel Lutheran Church, Claremont, NC are praying for you.

  10. Rev.Harold Baldwin says:

    Psalm 46 “God is our refuge and strength,a Very PRESENT HELP IN Trouble and v.10 URGES US TO “BE STILL” and Know that HE IS GOD,and in control and nothing can separate us from the wonderful Love of God in all situations.
    Peace and many blessings to all who are serving our Lord in so many ways to this family.

  11. Jean Gray says:

    The cemetery or burial ground does not indicate a heap of the dead, but a field full of kernels, known as God’s kernels, which will verdantly blossom forth again and grow more beautifully than can be imagined. Martin Luther

    My prayers go out for Sailor and her remaining family, and also for Pastor Wietfeldt.

    “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” Jesus

  12. As odd as this might seem, I thank God for this well trained caring pastor, his congregation, and of all things FACEBOOK. – How many millions of people are wondering about Sailor’s welfare, knowing she must have the best possible care and a person she can trust to explain each grief as it rises to the top of her daily concerns. With Matt Harrison’s choice of media concerns, now many of us who were concerned, know there is a great explanation as to how Jesus steps forward with his people, to comfort and inform this nation. Each caring person who reads the information now multiply the prayers of care and concern.

  13. Brenda Haleyo says:

    Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with Sailor and her family. God will give you the strength you need in a time of sorrow as such. I don’t know you but have gone thru life sorrows. It doesns’t seem like days will get brighter but they will. Put your faith in God he will help you thru this.

  14. Dawn says:

    I am so so sorry what has happen to our community here in Nashville, IL but I thank God everyday for my family, friends and especially my church and Pastors at Trinity Lutheran Church. I will be praying for everyone. We don’t know why this happen but the Lord does and even thou we don’t understand the Lord Jesus is always with us and by ourside. With Jesus by our side who can be against us. Put your faith in God because God sent his only son Jesus to die for our sins. Thank you Lord for taking care of us even when we don’t know you are. Sailor will always have people who love and care for her but Jesus is always the one who will make sure Sailor is ok.