I can't believe that some people would stoop so low to do such a thing.  

My husband, Bruce, is in the hospital, in poor condition because some punk kids decided it would be fun to beat him up prior to church tonight.  This happened around two this afternoon, just as my husband was entering the church to work on his sermon that he was supposed to have preached tonight.

I am still at the hospital now as I write this.  I am so angry and so shaking-scared I can hardly see (let alone, think) straight.  I am waiting for the doctor to talk to me some more about what happened to Bruce and also the police, who will no doubt ask questions.  Many, many questions.

There will be no church services tonight.  Any and all services for tonight have been cancelled until this matter is dealt with.  The police is currently combing the general vicinity, to see if they can get any leads on who did this to my husband and why, and if anybody happened to see the attack.

There will probably be an emergency meeting sometime Friday or Saturday at the church, so congregants can voice their opionions about what happened and to see if anything can be done to beef up security for the staff and all who come to worship/visit here.  Meanwhile,. my husband is nursing a bruised back, kidneys, internal bleeding, a concussion, several broken ribs, a broken arm and shoulder (from when he landed), and a sprained neck.  It is a miracle that he isn't in a coma or paralyzed.  

We were going to spend the Fourth of July at the annual Red, White, and BOOM! Festival, which is held annually here in downtown Nashville, but now it looks like our holiday plans are cancelled.  Instead of watching fireworks, listening to patriotic music, eating hot dogs or hamburgers, or enjoying the Fourth of July parade, I will be spending it here at Nashville Memorial Hospital, by my injured husband's side, and trying to make sense of the attacks.  

I have no clue what provoked the attacks on Bruce, but one thing is clear: the people who did this to him obviously were not believers or if they were, they were angry or upset about something he might have preached about in the past.  All I can do is pray for them, that they come to the realization that what they'd done to him (and my family) was wrong and that God convicts them of their wrongdoing and they end up repenting for their sin.  I have forgiven them, as any good Christian should, but right now I find it hard to see any good in this.

It's a wonder Bruce wasn't mortally injured or even killed.

I will keep you up to date in the coming days or weeks as Bruce recovers; hopefully he won't be in the hospital for long.  Maybe a week or two ought to do it.  Then he will continue his recovery at home.  In the meantime, please, please keep us in your prayers; we could really use a miraculous touch from God!  Also pray for the kids/teens who attacked my husband and pray that God softens their hearts and leads them to repentance!  I would greatly appreciate it, and I know Bruce would too!  Thanks in advance!

~Toni Bilkey, Pastor Bruce's wife.  :(

~End of part one.~