The decision to "do something" came easy to Pastor Bob Ball. It was two days after 26 people, including 20 first graders, were senselessly killed in Newtown, Connecticut.
"Who knows why the 20 year old kid decided to do what he did," Pastor Ball said. "We can't just stand by and let them die in vain. We just can't do that."
So, the Rossford United Methodist Church pastor came up with a plan. To meet with the congregation and the community and start the conversation about school violence.
"Its an attempt to try and become better acquainted and then say how can we help," he said.
Wednesday night, Bill Ivoska spoke to the crowd about drug and alcohol use in Wood County youth. A step he calls mental first aid.
"A lot of the problems and at risk behaviors aren't necessarily signs of school age violence, but it can contribute to it," Ivoska told 13abc.
He says tackling the complex issue of school violence starts with education. The hope is to keep the issue in the forefront, and pay tribute to the lives lost at Sandy Hook.
"I'm not naive enough to think we can stop it all, I'd like to, but I know we can't," Pastor Ball said. "But we can at least try to do something other than go on our merry way."
Every Wednesday during Lent at 7 p.m. there will be a different speaker. It is held at Rossford United Methodist Church. The community is encouraged to attend.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:12 PM EDT2013-05-22 21:12:14 GMT
A North Baltimore woman who faked having cancer pleaded guilty to theft charges Wednesday. Kimberlie Gustwiler faces up to three years in jail. She is currently out on bond. The single mother claimed
A North Baltimore woman who faked having cancer pleaded guilty to theft charges Wednesday. Kimberlie Gustwiler faces up to three years in jail. She is currently out on bond.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:08 PM EDT2013-05-22 21:08:32 GMT
Tornado safety is on the minds of people living in our area after Monday's tragedy in Moore, Oklahoma. 13abc's Kristian Brown spent the day at the local emergency management agency to see just how prepared Lucas
13abc's Kristian Brown spent the day at the local emergency management agency to see just how prepared Lucas County is for a disaster.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:07 PM EDT2013-05-22 21:07:58 GMT
A grandma in Fostoria fights off a man who tried to kidnap her grandson. 13 ABC's Christine Long spoke with the grandmother who battled for the boy kicking and screaming. Anyone you talk to in town
"I'm grateful that God gave me the strength to fight the man off," says Paulette Barchus who kicked and screamed on Wednesday to protect her grandson.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 4:45 PM EDT2013-05-22 20:45:11 GMT
A Lucas County sheriff's deputy was in court Wednesday morning. Deputy Paul Little is accused of giving a firearm to a convicted felon and filing a false report that the gun was stolen. The 15-year veteran
A Lucas County sheriff's deputy was in court Wednesday morning. Deputy Paul Little is accused of giving a firearm to a convicted felon and filing a false report that the gun was stolen.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 4:02 PM EDT2013-05-22 20:02:03 GMT
The Toledo mayor's race may be a crowded affair but so far no viable Republicans. All seven announced candidates have to first file petitions and be certified by the Lucas County Board of Elections.
Toledo Mayor Mike Bell has the financial backing of Republicans and the Independent could get the party's endorsement.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:07 PM EDT2013-05-22 21:07:58 GMT
A grandma in Fostoria fights off a man who tried to kidnap her grandson. 13 ABC's Christine Long spoke with the grandmother who battled for the boy kicking and screaming. Anyone you talk to in town
"I'm grateful that God gave me the strength to fight the man off," says Paulette Barchus who kicked and screamed on Wednesday to protect her grandson.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:12 PM EDT2013-05-22 21:12:14 GMT
A North Baltimore woman who faked having cancer pleaded guilty to theft charges Wednesday. Kimberlie Gustwiler faces up to three years in jail. She is currently out on bond. The single mother claimed
A North Baltimore woman who faked having cancer pleaded guilty to theft charges Wednesday. Kimberlie Gustwiler faces up to three years in jail. She is currently out on bond.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:08 PM EDT2013-05-22 21:08:32 GMT
Tornado safety is on the minds of people living in our area after Monday's tragedy in Moore, Oklahoma. 13abc's Kristian Brown spent the day at the local emergency management agency to see just how prepared Lucas
13abc's Kristian Brown spent the day at the local emergency management agency to see just how prepared Lucas County is for a disaster.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 4:45 PM EDT2013-05-22 20:45:11 GMT
A Lucas County sheriff's deputy was in court Wednesday morning. Deputy Paul Little is accused of giving a firearm to a convicted felon and filing a false report that the gun was stolen. The 15-year veteran
A Lucas County sheriff's deputy was in court Wednesday morning. Deputy Paul Little is accused of giving a firearm to a convicted felon and filing a false report that the gun was stolen.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 4:16 PM EDT2013-05-22 20:16:21 GMT
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Internal Revenue Service official at the center of the storm over the agency's targeting of conservative groups told Congress on Wednesday that she had done nothing wrong in the episode,
The Internal Revenue Service official at the center of the storm over the agency's targeting of conservative groups told Congress on Wednesday that she had done nothing wrong in the episode, and then invoked her constitutional right to refuse to answer lawmakers' questions.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 4:02 PM EDT2013-05-22 20:02:03 GMT
The Toledo mayor's race may be a crowded affair but so far no viable Republicans. All seven announced candidates have to first file petitions and be certified by the Lucas County Board of Elections.
Toledo Mayor Mike Bell has the financial backing of Republicans and the Independent could get the party's endorsement.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 3:53 PM EDT2013-05-22 19:53:47 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio state lawmakers moved boldly Tuesday against storefront sweepstakes parlors they have come to view as illegal gambling operations, advancing separate bills effectively banning
An effective ban on Internet cafes targeted as illegal gambling operations has cleared the Ohio Legislature after more than two years of wrangling.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 3:32 PM EDT2013-05-22 19:32:41 GMT
Sylvania Township Police are investigating a Missing Person case. 25-year-old Jennifer Webster was last seen Monday in Sylvania Township.Jennifer is 5'1", 150 lbs., with brown hair and blue eyes. She was
Sylvania Township Police are investigating a Missing Person case. 25-year-old Jennifer Webster was last seen Monday in Sylvania Township.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 3:32 PM EDT2013-05-22 19:32:32 GMT
MOORE, Okla. (AP) - An Oklahoma emergency management official says authorities still are working to find six adults who haven't been accounted for since the devastating tornado that tore through the Oklahoma
An Oklahoma emergency management official says authorities still are working to find six adults who haven't been accounted for since the devastating tornado that tore through the Oklahoma City area earlier this week.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 3:08 PM EDT2013-05-22 19:08:55 GMT
A section of a busy Toledo street was shut down Wednesday afternoon after a driver hit a telephone pole. It happened on East Broadway near Varland. Police say the driver apparently glanced behind him
A section of a busy Toledo street was shut down Wednesday afternoon after a driver hit a telephone pole. It happened on East Broadway near Varland.
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