As Americans all over the country continue to react to the Texas school shooting on Tuesday — in which an apparent lone gunman took the lives of at least 19 elementary school children and two teachers — psychologists, faith leaders and others are sharing keen reminders about the importance of faith in God and a higher purpose in life.
In response to Tuesday’s tragedy, greg-abbott” target=”_blank”>Texas Gov. Greg Abbott<
Some families have been sharing desperate pleas online for help in finding their missing children.
Other families, meanwhile, are already in mourning for loved ones killed in the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, a seven-square-mile community.
People leave the Uvalde Civic Center following a shooting earlier in the day at Robb Elementary School, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
(William Luther/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)
Here are the latest thoughts and comments from a variety of concerned professionals about the need for faith today.
Must ‘bring the light of the gospel to a dark world’
Kathy Koch, an education psychologist in Fort Worth, Texas, and a faculty member with Summit Ministries (Summit.org), told Fox News Digital, “There is no adjective to put in front of ‘sad’ that is adequate to express what we are feeling in our hearts” right now.
“The number of dead shocks us — but one death would be too much.”
TEXAS SCHOOL SHOOTING EVOKES FAITH LEADERS’ REPLY: WE MUST ‘PUT PRAYERS INTO ACTION’
She added, “Every one of the lives was a life created by our intentional God, on purpose, with purpose.”
A woman is shown praying in church. We need to "bring the light of the gospel to a dark and evil world," said Dr. Kathy Koch of Fort Worth, Texas.
“We honor our God and those who have died by living our lives in a purposeful manner — comforting those who are grieving, helping those who are hurting and bringing religion to a dark and evil world.”
That is how we should ‘not be overcome by evil — but overcome evil with good’ (Rom. 12:21),” she said.
‘Have to come together to consider how we might change’
Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center in Northfield, Massachusetts, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday evening, “I cannot imagine the pain, rage and sadness I would feel if my kids were taken from me. I can only express my deepest sympathy for the families who lost their children in the Uvalde, Texas, shooting.”
“We need a renewed sense of cooperation and a commitment to order.”
He added, “My hope is that God’s people will visit these families during this time of affliction and provide the comfort, hope and peace that only Christ can offer.”
Further, he said, “While it’s easy to turn our outrage toward matters of policy and to call for swift, immediate action, I would humbly suggest that we take time to mourn with these families rather than politicizing their pain.”
FAITH LEADERS REACT TO SCHOOL SHOOTING: ‘ACT OF PURE EVIL’
“Protecting children from this sort of violence deserves more than polarizing political maneuvers,” Spencer added. “We need a renewed sense of cooperation and a commitment to order than our political leaders on either side of the aisle seem willing or able to provide.”
People react outside the Civic Center following a deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
(AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
“As citizens of the United States and, more importantly, as human beings,” he also said, “we have to come together to consider how we might change and sacrifice to make the sort of violence we have witnessed in Uvalde and elsewhere less likely.”
‘May God help, comfort and sustain’ the ‘devastated families … as only he can’
In a message shared on his Facebook page late yesterday and shared with Fox News Digital as well on Wednesday, franklin-graham” target=”_blank”>Rev. Franklin Graham, leader of Samaritan’s Purse<
“We are praying that God will be near in this time of pain and loss, that the church will rise up, and that amid tragedy, courageous men of faith will stand in the gap to love, serve and mentor a generation of hurting boys struggling to understand what it means to be a godly man,” added Hancock of Trail Life USA.
‘Bottom line is that all of us need God’
“It’s just truly important to remember that they’re with the Lord,” said Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in California and Hawaii, speaking to Shannon Bream on “Fox News @ Night” about the children and teachers killed on Tuesday in Uvalde, Texas, by the apparent lone gunman.
This March 2022 photo provided by Manny Renfro shows his grandson, Uziyah Garcia, while on spring break in San Angelo, Texas. The 8-year-old was among those killed in Tuesday’s shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.
(Manny Renfro via AP)
“The depth of your sorrow is an indication of the dept of your love,” Pastor Laurie also said, noting that too many people keep their emotions inside and bottled up.
“You need to let it out and cry out to God,” he said.
FAITH LEADERS REACT TO TEXAS SCHOOL SHOOTING: ‘ACT OF PURE EVIL’
He also said, “Christianity is not a crutch … The bottom line is that all of us need God.”
We need “a spiritual awakening,” Pastor Laurie said.
“We need to turn back to God again.”
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As someone who himself lost a son years ago and experienced the tragedy of deep and personal loss, he also advised everyone to “thank God for your families, your own children — and be thankful that they’re with you.”
Stephen Sorace of Fox News Digital contributed reporting to this article.
