LUTZ, Fla. – Inside Idlewild Baptist Church, it is quiet on a Wednesday morning – impossible to tell, that just 24 hours ago, hundreds of people gathered for Tampa Police Officer Jesse Madsen's funeral. 

“The Bible says that life is a vapor," Pastor Ken Whitten said. "That we are not assured of tomorrow, take no thought for tomorrow, Jesus said. And so we are not guaranteed tomorrow. We are only guaranteed today.”

In 56 days, the church held three law enforcement funerals. Pastor Whitten ministered all three. While each time is different, the feeling as he walks out in front of hundreds remains the same. 

“I walk up there with a lot of fear and trepidation, because I want to say it well," he said.

He wants to find the right words to provide comfort, healing and peace in a time of tragedy. He worked to find the right words for the family of Hillsborough Sergeant Brian LaVigne in January, for Piinellas Deputy Michael Magli's family in February, and on Tuesday, for Tampa Police Officer Jesse Madsen's family. 

Before this most recent funeral, the world and the way it is even weighed on the Pastor. 

“I went in my office, and I just cried. Because all I can think of, this is an interruption in our schedule, this is is a life altering encounter for the Madsen family, and the Magli family, and the LaVaigne family. Their life will never ever be the same," said Pastor Whitten,. 

The lives of so many are changed with each of their deaths. The constant through it is all has been Idlewild Church, providing a place to go each time that is safe and caring. 

“[Madsen] is the 32nd name to be placed on the memorial wall," Pastor Whitten said. "It seems like yesterday, Mayor, you will remember when you were the chief, when we were in this same room June 29th, when David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab.” 

Whitten has ministered to Tampa Bay for 32 years, and he said, while death is always a part of life, "the Bible says, though you are dead, you live.”

Sgt. LaVigne, Deputy Magli, and Officer Madsen are gone. But perhaps it is the community's job now to live for them, for their sacrifice. 

“Death is real, it happens. And it happens to young and it happens to old. The old must die, the young may die," Whitten said.