Written by Don Byrd
Once again, a gunman has terrorized a church congregation, this time killing 26 and wounding 20 who gathered for worship at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Sunday. My heart breaks for the families of victims, who ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years old.
Shortly after the attack, the BJC’s Amanda Tyler tweeted “Grieving and praying for this community attacked while they worshipped this morning.”
Tragically, this is only the latest such incident to target worshippers. Church shootings are becoming an all-too-regular occurrence, as Associated Press chronicles here. Of course, the impact on the targeted congregation and surrounding community is immeasurable. But church shootings affect all who seek to worship in peace, and now approach Sunday with a new trepidation. America’s promise of religious freedom is undermined when we are not all free to worship without fear. No person should face the threat of violence simply for entering a church on Sunday morning.
May God be with all those impacted by this cruel madness.
