Baptist church honors Terri’s parents as they wait

PINELLAS PARK (FBW)—Just two miles from where their disabled daughter went without food or water for the second day as a result of a judge’s order, Bob and Mary Schindler sat patiently Saturday (Mar. 19) through a dinner and service at Bible Baptist Church while Congress took an unprecedented step of pledging bi-partisan commitment for a measure that could save Terri’s life.

Robert “Bob” Schindler Sr., a devout Catholic, after the service told Florida Baptist Witness he values the support he has received from evangelicals and pro-family faith groups—and now politicians—who have come together in favor of preserving Terri’s life.

“I think one of the miracles is that it has united people of different faiths. I am just thankful to God to have their support,” Schindler said. “They’ve all kind of cast aside any differences and they’ve rallied under one flag—and that’s a miracle. And we’ve seen it happen not only with religion, but we’ve seen it happen politically and in politics where they are forever enemies and yet when they see something that they feel in their hearts is good for the American people then they cast aside their political differences.”

Schindler said after a “disappointing” day Friday, his hope Saturday was renewed and he believes people are taking seriously his daughter’s plight.

“I got up this morning and I just had that feeling in my stomach that everything’s going to be OK,” Schindler said. “You can call that grace.”

Earlier, Schindler and his wife, Mary, were honored by members of the independent Baptist church in Pinellas Park, including David Gibbs III, the lead attorney in their legal case against Michael Schiavo, Terri’s husband and legal guardian.

“We are so grateful for your support,” Schindler told those gathered in the small worship center. Stopping for a moment to compose himself after receiving a standing ovation, the Pennsylvania native acknowledged his inability to check is emotions in trying times.

“But God has been with us and we praise God for David and his patience and his wisdom,” Schindler said. “I want [people] to pray for Terri, but I also want to send the message that prayers are important.”

Outside later, Mary Schindler told the Witness she needed to return to Terri as quickly as possible.

“I got to go to see Terri,” Mary said, anxious about how her daughter was holding up. “She’s very sleepy right now.”

Admitting the going was rough, Mary said she appreciated the attention focused on her daughter by people who might help.

“I am just pleading for my daughter’s life, that’s all,” Mary said.

Bob Schindler agreed, getting into a car to ride back to the hospice.

“We’ve go to get Terri some food in her belly, that’s what our greatest hope is,” said Bob. “Removing her feeding tube, but also ordering her not to be fed is tantamount to someone being taken off a respirator and then they put a pillow over her face, cutting off her oxygen supply.”

The church’s pre-planned steak dinner and service came at an opportune time.

“I wanted them to be around Christian people who love them,” Gibbs said. “Food and fellowship and being around the Gospel message, that’s wonderful for anyone. So we are just thrilled to have them here and give them a little break away and get a little work done while we’re together.”

And despite the fact he labors as an attorney in a firm with nearly 12 others, Gibbs said there is a higher calling to consider in this case.

“This is a ministry, this is a passion,” said Gibbs. “When God calls you to do something, He gives you the divine enablement to get it done.”

Describing various levels of ministry applied to different cases his firm handles, Gibbs said the Bible is clear about “helping the least of these,” using Terri and her family as an example.

“Terri is sitting there not being able to speak and you look at all the people around the world who say, ‘We value Terri, we love Terri and we want to see Terri live,’” Gibbs illustrated. “We are not out of the woods yet, but we’re still praying.”

And if Terri’s life is spared “however God chooses to do it,” said Gibbs, “all the glory truly belongs to Him.”

Telling the truth and providing honest representation which has been supported by hundreds of other good attorneys who have worked on the case—including Pat Campbell and Pat Anderson—former lead attorneys for the Schindlers, gave Gibbs the foundation he stands on, he said.

And the sincerity shown by people of faith has also had an impact on him and on the case, Gibbs said, singling out Florida Baptists.

“Southern Baptists across Florida have shown tremendous conviction, tremendous courage,” Gibb said. “No matter how dark our culture gets, we are going to let the light of Jesus Christ and the light of the Word of God shine—and reaching out to Terri Schiavo is evidence of that.”

Ultimately, Gibbs said, he believes there is a larger purpose to what has happened in the ongoing, long-term Terri Schiavo case.

“This is a work of God to save [Terri] and probably to convict the nation,” Gibbs said. “I think Terri’s life has been used to force people of faith, people of no faith, to ask some real questions about life and dying and eternity—and I think these are the questions that are going to have lasting impact of ministry across the nation.

“But our first and foremost goal is to save Terri,” he said.

For more articles related to the case go to www.FloridaBaptistWitness.com.