A Christmas Prayer. . .

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With great sadness and a heavy heart I share this unfortunate story:

I spent the Christmas holidays in Texas with Beatrice and her family. In the early hours of Sunday morning we received a phone call from her best friend that there had been a family tragedy. In fact, it was beyond tragedy. Beatrice's friend, who I shall call Emily, called to inform us that her mother-in-law, Betty Jo Frank, and Betty Jo's daughter, Keitha Frank Turner, had been viciously murdered that evening by Keitha's husband, Albert Turner.

Obviously, the shock of the murders have left an indelible mark on us, the Frank family and the community. I've met Betty Jo on a couple of occasions and she was an affable, likable and filled-to-the-brim, fine Christian woman. The first time Betty Jo and I met was last year when I was cooking dinner in Beatrice's kitchen and she hammered me (in a positive way) with a long list of culinary questions and the inevitable request for future culinary guidance. Unfortunately now, that will never come to pass.

I can't say I knew much about the Franks from my encounters with Betty Jo, but I, as everyone else, am learning more and more each day as the investigation goes on. The Franks, Betty Jo and her husband Gene, founded their own church in Rosenberg called the Church of the Living Waters and later, a Christian School called Living Water Christian School where daughter Keitha taught school.

This is not the forum to share the gritty details of the deaths, but I will say that the children were witness to an extremely violent scene of domestic violence perpetrated (allegedly!?) by their father. You can read all about it here, here, here and here if you wish.

Keitha leaves behind 4 children and a family stunned by the tremendous loss, including her father, Pastor Gene, a man with an empty and undoubtedly broken heart who was also injured during the assault. Tragically, Pastor Gene lost his son some months ago in a sad, but fatal accident that the Turner family was still reeling from.

It is hard to fathom why such a respected, well-rounded and Christian family would have to suffer such burdens, but the allegory of Job from the Old Testament explains:

Job 4:3-11

3 Think how you have instructed many,
how you have strengthened feeble hands.

4 Your words have supported those who stumbled;
you have strengthened faltering knees.

5 But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged;
it strikes you, and you are dismayed.

6 Should not your piety be your confidence
and your blameless ways your hope?

7 "Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?
Where were the upright ever destroyed?

8 As I have observed, those who plow evil
and those who sow trouble reap it.

9 At the breath of God they are destroyed;
at the blast of his anger they perish.

10 The lions may roar and growl,
yet the teeth of the great lions are broken.

11 The lion perishes for lack of prey,
and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

I can only hope that Pastor Gene and the rest of his family can find the strength of Job to overcome the emotional burden of these terrible events. As for Albert, I hope the God's breath destroys his hopes for living as a free man.

I have been informed that his car was discovered in Georgia and they now believe that Albert is on foot. One can only wish for a swift capture so that justice can be served, although no decision of law will ever be able to replace the loss suffered by the Frank family and the community of Rosenberg.

If anyone has seen this man, please inform the local authorities immediately. He should be considered armed and dangerous.


I ask that everyone please say a prayer for the Frank family and all those impacted by this senseless and unfortunate event. I will post more updates as I learn more. Thank you.

UPDATE: A report from Atlanta on the recovery of Albert Turner's car.
UPDATE: Houston Chronicle article about the car.
UPDATE: Memorial service information and guestbook for family and friends here.
UPDATE: Latest report from Atlanta.
UPDATE: A Fox News video report concerning the found automoblie.
UPDATE: Fort Bend Herald obituary for Keitha Frank Turner and Betty Jo Frank.