CMCL grieves member killed in Afghanastan

Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster (CMCL) is the home congregation of Glen Lapp, who was killed last week in Afghanistan while serving an assignment with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).  Glen was a long-standing and much-loved part of CMCL, and had several family members and close friends among the congregation.

CMCL is extremely proud of the work that Glen was doing in Afghanistan, providing medical and eye care to those in need.  CMCL continues to wholeheartedly support the work of MCC.  Glen's caring, friendly presence was characteristic of the way CMCL wishes to be represented in Afghanistan and around the world.  Although aware of the risks of work in a war-torn country, CMCL is still stunned by the news, and joins his family in grieving his untimely death.  

Glen is remembered as a warm, thoughtful man who had a real heart for people in need and a gift for languages; he loved music, biking and hiking, meeting people and making friends.  This led him to volunteer his services in many ways even before heading to Afghanistan, in relief for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, helping out local homeless shelters, and participating in bike rides for charity.  He is remembered as someone whose Christian faith informed his desire for service, but his goal was not conversion, simply to serve those in need and treat all people he met with love and respect.  He cared deeply about the people of Afghanistan and his work there, and he died living with his whole being.

In the Sunday service where members became aware of Glen’s death, the hymn O Healing River was sung in his memory.

O healing river, send down your waters
Send down your waters upon this land
O healing river, send down your waters
And wash the blood from off the sand.

This land is parching, this land is burning
No seed is growing in the barren grounds
O healing river, send down your waters
O healing river, send  your waters down.

Let the seed of freedom awake and flourish
Let the deep roots nourish, let the tall stalks rise
O healing river, send down your waters
O healing river, from out of the skies.