As we move into a new week of the year, our hearts, thoughts, prayers, and actions still rest with Antioch High School and the entire district of Metro Nashville Public Schools. We want to say a special thank you to the many churches and volunteers who have served in numerous ways since last Wednesday to surround our students, families, school staff, and community members with love and support.  
 
As our community mourns this recent tragedy, we are faced with all too familiar feelings that can come from such a time as this: pain, anger, sadness, grief, and most importantly, love. It is these emotions and postures that have prompted such thoughtful responses and fueled all of us to love our neighbor.  
 
This said, in the weeks and months to come, we must consider that while our immediate responses to tragedy are needed, we should not lose heart in remaining supportive, thoughtful, and intentional with those most impacted.  

As time moves forward, our students, families, school staff and communities will still need support. They will still need our diligence. They will still need our prayers of boldness. They will still need volunteers who actively engage at the forefront. They will still need a community who meets their time of mourning with mutual and reciprocal partnership. They will still need us because there is no timeline for healing. Only by the grace of God, will we see this through, together, united in a hope that is bigger than any one of us. May God get the glory and strengthen our hands.  
 
Psalm 34:17-18 
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” 

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Written by Dr. Mike Hidalgo, United4Hope Program Manager