Pastor of tornado-stricken church speaks at memorial service

Rev. Aaron Brown of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, was badly damaged in last Sunday's tornado, brought a message of hope to those at the tornado memorial service at Missouri Southern State University. He talked of having to tell Will Norton's family that Will had died.

Brown spoke of the comfort that the survivors can have. "God is saying to you, 'Death doesn't get the last word. Death doesn't win ever."

At that point, Brown was interrupted by applause.

"Life wins; life wins."

"I know this, God's grace is wider than we could ever imagine. Heaven is real. This life is not the only life we will see."

Brown said "Jesus never promised to protect us from the storms of life."

"What he did promise was simple and powerful- to be with us through the storm. The challenge is- will we let him?"

"God didn't do this to punish Joplin. Read the book. Jesus took our punishment for us. Life is unpredictable, it's chaotic."

"God loves you and God loves Joplin and He is walking with us through this tragedy today."

Brown urged those attending the service and the hundreds of thousands watching worldwide to "Keep living."