River Point Community Church Pastor Kevin Mangum on Sunday addressed a congregation still reeling from the emotional impact of a wreck that injured members of the church youth group and left a 15-year-old clinging to life.
During the June 30 worship service livestreamed to hundreds of viewers, Mangum updated worshipers on the tragedy that happened Saturday when one of their church vans was struck by another vehicle. Troopers charged that driver with DUI, but Mangum reserved his comments for the injured students and their families.
“Yesterday was a tragic day in the life of our church,” he said, recounting the tragic details of the crash. Two teens remain hospitalized in Atlanta; one is on life support and, according to the pastor, “has no brain activity.”
“His body is being kept alive by life support,” Mangum said.
The pastor of the non-denominational congregation in Demorest then told congregants Sunday’s worship service was neither a press release nor a memorial service.
“It’s a worship service where we come to get hope from a living God who can still do miracles.”
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‘Praying for a miracle’
As Mangum spoke, he searched for hope to share from the scriptures.
“My Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, one day healed a man named Lazarus who had no brain activity or body activity for at least three days, and God rose him up, and we’re praying for a miracle for these families,” he said.
Youth group members riding in a van behind the one that was hit witnessed the accident.
“All of our students that witnessed that event and others that were driving by at the time are traumatized and went through a very serious, difficult time,” the pastor said.
One of the adults in the wrecked van was a first responder and helped with the initial emergency response.
At the top of Sunday’s service, Mangum said he was told by other first responders on the scene that “a few inches could have made a difference in a number of lives. So, starting out,” he said, “we need to thank the Lord for what didn’t happen.”
The pastor then asked for prayers for everyone involved, particularly the two students who remain hospitalized in Atlanta.
Trinity students among injured
Four students involved in the wreck attend Trinity Classical School in Mt. Airy. The head of the private Christian School, Susan Ramsey, told Now Habersham the wreck has significantly impacted their tight-knit community.
“These were kids who had just spent a weekend serving their community. That makes me both immensely proud of them and equally saddened that this is the way their weekend ended,” she said.
Ramsey said school staff and families have been “in constant prayer” since the accident and have been moved by the outpouring of community support.
“To see the outpouring of love and prayer from even those in the community who are not familiar with these students has been beautiful to see, and I am sure that all of those involved would agree,” she said.
Long-lasting impact
Both Ramsey and Mangum expressed the tragedy will have long-lasting impacts. Trauma counselors were on-site during Sunday’s church service at River Point. Both Ramsey and Mangum said continued prayers are needed.
“Christ has called us to bear one another’s burdens. Our goal is to do just that through prayer and support for the families of Trinity and River Point Community Church,” said Ramsey.
Mangum thanked the first responders and law enforcement officers who responded to the scene. He also publicly thanked the medical staff who treated the students at various hospitals following the crash. As of late Saturday, all but the two in Atlanta had been released from the hospital.
The pastor asked the congregation to “continue to pray for all of them.”
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