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CNN Live At Daybreak
Texas Children's Funeral: Minister Describes Upcoming Service
Aired June 27, 2001 - 08:17 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: About three hours from now, a Texas church will be filled with the memory of five young lives that ended so tragically. The children were killed last week, allegedly, by their mother, Andrea Yates.
Minister Byron Fike will conduct today's funeral for Mary, Luke, Paul, John, and Noah Yates. And he joins us this morning from Clear Lake Baptist Church (sic) in Houston.
Good morning, Minister Fike.
REV. BYRON FIKE, CLEAR LAKE CHURCH OF CHRIST: Good morning.
It's actually Clear Lake Church of Christ.
LIN: Oh, thank you very much for bringing us up to date there.
I'm just wondering: What is today's ceremony going to be like?
FIKE: Well, we're going to begin with a prayer. And I'm going to say a few words about the tragedy itself and some of the questions that are raised when things like this happen. Where is God at a time like this and why do things like this happen? We're going to talk a little bit about that.
And then the father, Mr. Yates, is going to stand. He's going to eulogize each one of his children and talk about them in a very personal way and some things -- memories that he has. He's going to talk a little bit about his faith after that. And then I'm going to introduce a song -- we're going to sing the song, "It is Well With My Soul" written by Horatio Spafford, who tragically lost five children in the 1800s, and wrote a song which talks -- speaks of his faith in God and his faith in the resurrection of the dead at the end.
After that, then I'm going to give some words of hope and encouragement. And we're basically going to move through this service with the theme of "From Tragedy to Triumph" because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. We believe these children will rise again as well. So this is not the end.
LIN: Yes. Minister Fike, I can't imagine any more or any greater challenge for a minister -- and certainly for this family. How are you going to be speaking of the mother, Andrea Yates?
FIKE: I haven't had any contact with Mrs. Yates. And so I won't be saying anything about her at this particular service.
LIN: What do you expect will be said about her at this service?
FIKE: If Mr. Yates chooses to say something, he may bring it up. And I have no idea what he might say. We really haven't spent much time talking about that. We've -- I've spent quite a bit of time with him in prayer and in the scriptures and in talking about the funeral itself. We have spent a lot of time planning out exactly how we want things to go.
So, as far as I know, he's not going to say anything about that.
LIN: How would you describe his mindset on this day, how he's feeling?
FIKE: I have no idea. I haven't seen him yet. As soon as I finish talking to the media, I'm going to go over to the funeral home where the family is and I'm going to spend some time with them there. And then we'll ride over here in limousines. We're going to arrive just as the service itself is starting. And then we're going to leave as soon as it's ended.
LIN: Mr. Fike ...
FIKE: So I haven't -- I haven't spoken with him yet.
LIN: I understand, too, that in addition to the family's participation and yours, that there's been a real outpouring from the community on this day. What role will they have in this ceremony?
FIKE: Well, we've just been overwhelmed with how the community has surrounded Mr. Yates with compassion and with tremendous gifts. So much has been donated for the funeral itself. And it's just been wonderful. There's been lots of food donated, and just a tremendous outpouring in a number of ways.
LIN: Have you been able to reconcile, in your own mind -- as you're trying to minister to your own flock, have you been able to reconcile in your own mind what happened and why it happened?
FIKE: Well, I think all I can say to that is, when God made the world, he said it was very good. But when sin entered the world through the first couple, things began to happen in our -- we live in a fallen world. There are some absolutely horrible things that happen in this world.
Our hope is in the resurrection of the dead. When Jesus returns, things will be very good once again.
LIN: All right, well thank you very much, Reverend Byron Fike. We will be carrying your remarks live in just a few minutes. I know you're going to be facing a lot of questions before today's service. Thanks for joining us early, though.
FIKE: Thank you.
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