Saturday, September 10th the Hebert's Pastor, Ron Rutley announced an early morning service would be held at the Sparwood Fellowship Baptist Church. "Lord willing, it will be to celebrate Kienan's safe return," said Pastor Rutley, and that it was. During the night Kienan was returned home by his abductor, safe and sound. At the service the church was full of happy tears, hugs and smiles. Sunday, September 11th was truly one of the most notable and celebrated days in the history of Sparwood. Pastor Ron Rutley allowed The Free Press to reprint some of the prayers, in hopes that they will provide comfort to the
community and all that were involved in the search for Kienan Hebert.
Opening By Pastor Ron Rutley
"There is a saying I’ve heard a couple times over the last few days. Maybe you have too. “Everything happens for a reason,” the saying goes. And while that saying is true as far as it goes, I don’t think it’s the best way to put things. Because what does the word “reason” mean in that saying. Does reason mean cause? Does everything has a cause? Of course everything does. But God did not cause Kienan’s kidnapper
to abduct him?
Or does “reason” mean result? Everything is working towards a goal. That’s a better understanding, but in that case, we are being sloppy with our words when we use the word reason. Because, from a Biblical perspective, it is better to say that everything happens for a purpose. There is a culmination, an end result toward which all of history is moving. And that ultimate goal of history, Scripture tells us, is the glory of God, as
displayed through His redeeming a people unto Himself.
So while God did not cause this, He is still sovereign over this. God can take something as horrific as Kienan’s abduction, something as terrible as every parents’ nightmare and sweep this awful event up into His own purpose so that good will come of it. But we might never know the reason why, this side of eternity. It might be that a generation yet to come will look back at the events of this past week and see the reason behind them. But we
can’t, we are too close to them.
So all we can do is trust in God’s purpose. Trust that the Great King will take
these awful circumstances and bend them to his good and gracious will."
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
"Father God, we thank you for the ways that you have watched over us this week. We thank you for those who gave of their time and talents to care for the Hebert family. We thank you for those who have worked hard preparing food for the searchers. We thank you for those who have endured the summer heat, whether Search and Rescue personnel or volunteers. We thank
you that we live in a society that is ruled by law.
We thank you for the police who have been so careful and thorough in their
investigation.
But most of all, we thank you for the answer to our prayers in Kienan’s return. Yet, Father God, we also ask that you would sustain us and strengthen us in the
days ahead.
Be with the police in their ongoing investigation. Give them clarity of
thought and as they gather evidence and build their case.
Be with Kienan and the Hebert family as they recover from this ordeal.
And Lord, work in each one of us, to accomplish your perfect and holy will. Take this horrific circumstance, that which was intended for evil, and
turn it for our good.
For Christ’s sake, we pray. Amen."
A Prayer of Confession
"And Father God, this morning we also remember Randall Hopley in our prayers. Forgive us the arrogance that says, “This one is not my neighbour.” Forgive us our pride that says, “This man, of all men, is not made in your image.” O Judge of All the Earth, lay your restraining hand upon Mr. Hopley. Sovereign Lord, thank you for bringing conviction to his heart,
that he has returned Kienan to his family.
O Redeemer God, show yourself mighty to save. May we remember that no one is beyond the reach of your outstretched hand. Not one of us is beyond the power of your grace. We all have sinned and the difference between us and
Hopley is only one of degree and not a difference of kind.
Take out Randall’s heart of stone, we pray, and give him a heart of flesh. But may that also be true in us as well. Amen."