This tragedy is one that brings great shock, soberness and sadness to me as well as to many others.

My name is Gabriel Raveney, I’m 21 years old, I live in the USA and am a fulltime member and disciple in the Family International.

While I haven’t always felt this way, I have made a decision and commitment to give my life to God and the spreading of His Gospel, to this extent I have chosen the Family as that place to live and serve Him.

These deaths (the murder of Angela Smith and the suicide of Ricky Rodriguez) are events that have shocked me in that within the Family we are not accustomed nor used to this type of hateful violence. Perhaps we live a charmed life, but it’s one of love, giving and understanding, a life I love and wouldn’t trade for any other.

To see someone who I’ve felt I known, (through the many “letters” and missives I’ve read throughout my life) someone who was given and had so much given to him, both physically and spiritually, to turn so far away from his upbringing and parents, to reject and hate and even to kill in the false reasoning of “justice”, shocks and sickens me to a level I’ve rarely been to.

I’ve had many friends and family leave the group, including three of my siblings, and each one of these were able for the most part to move on with their lives. I love each of them and am proud of those that have chosen respectable professions and careers. But for those who have decided to oppose my way of life my choice in career, my very Faith in God, to them I say: You can’t stop our rain or change my mind and outlook on life. I’m so convinced of the Bible and the calling of a Missionary in the Family that I believe this is a cause and vocation worth living and dying for. Jesus gave His life for me, can I give any less?

In conclusion, to whom much is given, of him shall much be required (Luke 12:48) Ricky was a responsible adult, he knew what he was doing, as many other apostates. I’ve made the choice to be in the Family of my own volition and reasons, a decision I made after seeing the other side of life and what it had, or rather didn’t have to offer me in terms of happiness, love, spiritual understanding, knowledge and peace, all of which (and more) I’ve found in the Family. The Family is a society given to the ideals of Christianity, of love, service, devotion and dedication to Jesus Christ our Lord who suffered and died for us, and I in turn give my life back to Him. It is a sacred and privileged calling, a Spartan life where mush is sacrificed and given up in the hope and promise of eternal rewards in the life to come. Those who have chosen otherwise I ask to respect my decisions as I respect yours. Finally to those that hate and oppose the Family I caution them with the verse: “But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” (Acts 6:39)

Gabriel Raveney is a second generation member of the Family International.