Christian leaders all over the country spoke out about the importance of faith after a shooting at Santa Fe High School took the lives of eight students and two teachers on Friday.
Houston-area pastor Doug Stringer told Charisma News that police have requested that pastors be on standby for the community as more information is released.
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Stringer acknowledged that while everyone has different political and spiritual viewpoints, its up to “minsters of the gospels” to be “sensitive and careful” during these times.
“Our job is to be a plumbline of healing and hope, just be the balm of healing during this time,” he said.
Please continue to pray for all those tragically affected by the shootings at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas this morning. Santa Fe is next to Hitchcock, Tx… https://t.co/4v3c5j9ojo
— Doug Stringer (@dougstringer) May 18, 2018
Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, described the shooting as a “horrific act of violence,” adding that “Jesus once told us the devil was a murderer from the beginning.”
What a horrific act of violence in Texas. Jesus once told us the devil was “a murderer from the beginning” (Jn. 8:44). He still is.
Come, Lord Jesus.
— Russell Moore (@drmoore) May 18, 2018
Christian actor Caleb Castille wrote on Twitter that “young lives are being taken” as adults “argue & refuse to take action.”
Castille also admonished news outlets for placing more focus on the royal wedding that a tragedy closer to home.
While the “adults” argue & refuse to take action…
Young lives are being taken.
Innocence robbed.
Dreams cut short.My heart is with you Santi Fe High.❤️#SAVEOURYOUTH#santafestrong
— Caleb Castille (@CalebCastille) May 18, 2018
While news outlets still want to report about some wedding going on across the pond.
Kids left the safety of their homes this morning only to never return again.
But I guess the royal wedding is more important than young innocent lives being taken. #ThisIsAmerica
— Caleb Castille (@CalebCastille) May 18, 2018
The actor praised the first responders who attended to the scene and instructed those who know a high school student to “hug them, call them, love them today.”
If you know a high school student, hug them, call them, love them today. Let them know you’re there for them.
We MUST protect those who can’t protect themselves…#YWC— Caleb Castille (@CalebCastille) May 18, 2018
Lila Rose, president and founder of Live Action, wrote on Twitter that she was praying for the victims of the shooting and asked God to send “healing and peace down to all those hurting and grieving.”
Rose also touched on the “historic highs of suicides and outbursts of violence against others” in recent times, hypothesizing that it may have to do with families breaking down.
Praying for Texas, those killed, wounded and hurt. May God send His healing and peace down on all those hurting and grieving.
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) May 18, 2018
Our families are breaking down, as less people marry & stay true to marriage vows. More abortions, abuse, neglect, porn. Materialism exacerbates the pain. Many kids grow up, angry, hurt, attached to phones but isolated, addicted, without the experience of stable love. (2/2)
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) May 18, 2018
Our kids are the casualty of a society:
*afraid to teach right and wrong,
*that won’t sacrifice to give them loving, stable families with a mom and dad
*that aborts their siblings
*uses materialism, addiction and social media to dull the pain— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) May 18, 2018
The Brooklyn Tabernacle senior pastor Jim Cymbala asked for prayers for the victims and families of the shooting, saying, “We mourn the lives lost and pray for the Santa Fe community and for our nation as a whole.”
Please join us in prayer for the victims and those who lost loved ones in the shooting at Santa Fe High School, in Texas, a short time ago. We mourn the lives lost and pray for the Santa Fe community and for our nation as a whole. #MournWithThoseWhoMourn #Texas 1/2
— Pastor Jim Cymbala (@jimcymbala) May 18, 2018
President of the Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Franklin Graham also expressed prayers for “all those affected” by the tragedy.
Pray for all those affected by the tragic shooting that took place this morning in a high school in Santa Fe, Texas. https://t.co/qtqHXNu9mF
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) May 18, 2018
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference President Samuel Rodriguez also expressed his thoughts for the victims, writing, “Praying for Santa Fe” on Twitter.
Praying for Santa Fe. #SantaFeShooting
— Samuel Rodriguez (@nhclc) May 18, 2018
Ronnie Floyd, President of the National Day of Prayer, asked his Twitter followers to “stop whatever you are doing and pray right now” for the victims of the shooting.
Please stop whatever you are doing and pray right now for #SantaFeHighSchool. Pray for the injured, first responders and everyone involved. Pray for God to intervene miraculously and for his supernatural grace and mercy to reach all affected by this terrible shooting.
— Ronnie Floyd (@ronniefloyd) May 18, 2018
Heartbreaking! Pray for this school https://t.co/Rt37CBEGqR
— Ronnie Floyd (@ronniefloyd) May 18, 2018
(H/T: Christian Headlines)