Dear Mr. Linam, My brother was shot in his home on December 18, 2009. He died later that day during surgery. I know you understand what my family is going through since you have lived through a similar experience. Nothing has been normal for any of us since this tragedy. The killer(s) is yet to be caught. It is very difficult to live a normal life when something so brutal changes it. All the emotions we are experiencing are extremely difficult. I am continuing to count my many blessing but have so much anger, pain, and hurt hidden inside. I have prayed several times and God has led me to you. If there is anything you can do to help us to know where to turn, I would be forever grateful. I will continue to pray and have faith that justice will be served. I will get through the difficult days ahead by having faith in one of my favorite sayings:
 
"ALL THAT I HAVE SEEN
TEACHES ME TO TRUST IN THE CREATOR
FOR ALL THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN"

-C.P.

Brother Larry, I was 14 on June 22, 1980. I was attending church that day at the Methodist Church where you were during this time. I remember your wife running into the church and you falling to your knees when you heard the news about Gina. Just the Saturday before I had a chance to get to spend time with Gina at Crystal Springs while she played in the water. I adored her! I am going to make a point to get this book and I want to say thank you for writing it and God Bless you and your family.

-J.R.

Mr. Linam, I was six years old on June 22, 1980. I was sitting with my mom and brother in the First Baptist Church in Daingerfield on that day. My life has been shaped by this incident but God has always been faithful to use my experience for His glory. I read your book in one day because I had never really heard anyone outside of my family discuss the shooting. I have always had many questions about what I saw and of the events that happened that day. You answered so many of those for me and for that, I want to thank you. God bless you and thank you!

-G.R.

Brother Larry, I just wanted to let you know the difference you made in my life. Though you were only in my life for a short time you made an eternal impact. I was not raised in church, although I did go occasionally. What I remember the most was that you were the first preacher I had met that never tried to pretend he was perfect. Not only did you talk the talk you walked the walk. You showed an unconditional love that I had never experienced. You never looked down or judged anyone. You and your family moved away and I continued on with life. Soon I only saw church as a place to go where I would be criticized and told I was not good enough. I could get that at home. I was so empty and needed love so desperately I tried everything looking for happiness. I went down a horrible path. My early teen years were full of drugs, alcohol, sex; anything that might possibly make me feel better. All that accomplished was to drive me deeper into depression and several suicide attempts. In my misery I dropped out of high school in the ninth grade. I moved away and continued to live an empty life. I had been married three times by the time I was twenty-four. When I was twenty-seven I was expecting twins. I was put on bed-rest and eventually hospitalized for forty-seven days. With total confinement to the bed and no visitors or outside stimulation allowed, the Lord used that time to work on me. When you are flat on your back there is nowhere to look but up! God used little things to work on me. During Christmas a barbershop quartet came to sing for the patients. The nurses explained my situation to them and they came to my room just to sing for me, I could feel God's presence in that room so strong. They left and for the next three weeks I lay in that bed thinking about some things I had heard this preacher say when I was a kid; all of these flashbacks, just little bits of his words and actions. Remembering that God loved me so much He gave His only Son that if I would believe in Him, I would not perish but could live with Him forever. It was at that moment I cried out to God to save me and He did. Brother Larry that preacher was you! You were the first person I ever saw demonstrate the love of Jesus. You were His hands, His feet, His words, and His deeds. Without the seeds you planted so many years before I would not be who I am today. I still have little to do with my family, just too much pain. I live my life for the Lord and have raised three beautiful boys. I have thought of you so often over the years always with a deep love wanting to tell you how you impacted my life. May God continue to bless you in your ministry! Thank You

-N.C.

Larry, I enjoyed reading your book so much! I can honestly say that without GOD, none of us could even face another day. You will always be my friend, and may God bless you!

-C.R.

My husband purchased many of your books for his girls that were at the church when the devil came in that day, and we have many friends that live over there. You are a true child of Jesus and I believe that we will all see our loved ones before long but only god knows when that will be. God bless you and your book.

-P.H.

Mr. Linam, All of my family lives in Daingerfield and my family was in the service that day on June 22. My dad had been called out to work that Sunday and was not there. I just finished your book. I ordered it and received it yesterday and in less than 24 hours I finished it! I want to thank you for having the courage to publish this book. I was one of the youth in the choir loft and had a bird's eye view of what was going on. Your book answered many of my questions. It has been almost 30 years of putting a puzzle together. My family has had many conversations about what we saw and what we heard. This book actually answered a lot of the questions we had. As with everyone there that day, this event molded each of us into who we are today. Many years have passed but never have I forgotten the innocence that was taken away from all of us that day. No more can someone say, "that can never happen" we all know that it can anywhere and any place. Obviously, God has been active in your life. I teach high school in an inner city school in Waco, TX. I asked God for a long time why he allowed the shooting to be a part of my life. My favorite verse is Romans 8:28. God has taken that event and shaped me into someone that can look at the young kids I teach, and when they tell their horror stories I can actually tell them that I can relate. Thank you for being honest and showing that God can always be in control if we allow Him. I look forward to having my book signed. We all plan to be at church the day you speak this summer. Thank you again for opening up your personal tragedy for the world to see how God works.

- D.M.

I've been waiting for mom to get me a signed copy of your book but I couldn't wait. I ordered one from Barnes and Noble and it arrived today. I have never read a book in a day but I couldn't put it down until I was finished. Your words touched my heart and your forgiveness let me see what's holding me back in my life. I had a bad experience at a church when I was told basically I wasn't welcome because I remarried. I carried this with me and when I went to church I felt as if I didn't belong. I now go to a different church and really enjoy it with my husband. I realized reading your book what I'm missing is forgiveness for lots of things I've carried through my life. Maybe I didn't know how powerful God really is. Maybe I thought I wasn't worthy of His grace. I read this and it hit me! The problem is I need to forgive. May God bless you and your wife and if it can open my heart, I can only imagine what it can do for others. Thank you for writing this.

- D.M.

Hi Brother Linam, I went to church at where you were my pastor at the time. I was 11 or 12 then. I remember you, Cheryl, and Gina. I was at the car dealership yesterday for an oil change when I picked up a magazine to read. I came across a picture of this man standing beside a grave and your name was there. I read the article and looked at all the pictures. It brought back memories when I was a kid. I remember when Gina got killed, our whole church mourned for her and your family. I have often wondered how you and your family were doing after this tragedy, wondering, "how do you go on after something like this happens?" My biggest fear in life is to lose my son. I would like to know how could I get a copy of your book. I would really love to have one.

- S.C.

Dear Mr. Linam, I was so moved by the article in the DeKalb newspaper that I feel compelled to write to you. Tears filled my eyes as I began reading. Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss, but your ability to forgive and move on is what I admire most about you. "The Day The Angels Cried" is a book that I want to keep and read and to cherish and to pass on to my son-in-law, a minister who is currently out of the ministry, still struggling with past hurts from church members. Even though I do not know you, you have made such an impression on me, that I know I will not rest until I let you know how important this is to me. May God bless you and your wife as you continue to serve Him. I served two tours of duty in Viet Nam and the God that you and I serve, protected me there in the jungles of South East Asia and brought me safely home. I know that "HE" will always be there for his children like you and yours.

- C.D.