According to the latest reports, at least 26 people are dead, including the pastor’s 14-year-old daughter.
Many more are wounded.
Families are devastated. The small community is in shock.
My words are not adequate.
But these things I will do:
- I will pray. I will pray for the families of those killed and wounded. I will pray for the church. I will pray for the community. I will pray for Pastor Frank Pomeroy as he leads and comforts his congregation in the midst of his own grief. I will pray for the shooter’s family.
- I will trust God for His comfort, His promise, and His guidance for those affected.
- I will pray for the gospel of Jesus Christ to be magnified in this tragedy.
- And I will embrace in spirit the members of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. I will identify with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
We are First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs.
We are your brothers and sisters in Christ.
We pray for you. We care for you. We love you.
Please, readers, join me in sharing your own prayers and love for this church and all those impacted by this tragedy.
Posted on November 6, 2017
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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140 Comments
Prayers for our brothers and sisters in Christ at First Baptist Sutherland, Texas. I cannot fathom the pain and grief the families and friends of those killed and wounded are experiencing. And yet my heart weeps for my extended Christian family. Please know you are being prayed for by your larger Christian family.
New Colony Baptist in Billerica, Ma is praying for you.
Prayers for our brothers and sisters in Christ at First Baptist Sutherland, Texas. I cannot fathom the pain and grief the families and friends of those killed and wounded are experiencing. And yet my heart weeps for my extended Christian family. Please know you are being prayed for by your larger Christian family.
We are indeed one in Christ.
We all know that Satan loses in the end….
My heartfelt prayers for healing for Sutherland Springs and all who are effected by this senseless, evil act. May God comfort all who are hurting.
My thoughts, when I heard of this tragedy, were that at the time this madman was enacting his unbelievable murderous rampage, my Pastor was preaching on “Blessed are Those Who Struggle”, text Matthew 5:1-12. The Beatitudes. So, I say, blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. This is my prayer to you, brothers and sisters at Sutherland Springs… God’s comfort to you. Amen.
Words in a Comment pale in comparison to the grief in my heart for my brothers and sisters in Texas. Yet, it is the only way that I know how to express my grief, share my hope, and trust in the Father.
Know that my Community Group from Redemption Hill Church, Medford MA will be faithfully praying for each of you.
Thank you, John.
As I read this news yesterday my heart just sank. Know that there are people all over the world praying for you right now. My word to you is let others help you during this tragic time, you are not alone. God bless you all!
Well said, Madelyn.
Praying for faithfulness and hope even amid the tragedy that has come upon our brethren in Texas. Christ is our supply of comfort in times of grief, we pray God will grant them extra measures of compassion and grace as they deal with the pain and loss. Yet, we pray that this awful event emboldens believers to share the gospel all the more, having been made aware yet again of the importance of placing faith in Christ. We also pray that those who remain would embrace the hope we have in Christ a hope that does not disappoint but one that completes us in Him.
Your brothers and sisters in Christ from FBC Valparaiso in Valparaiso Florida.
Thank you, Jeremy.
So so sad for your loss…please have a few men be a look out while you have services, front and back, and any way up high…with binoculaurs and someone monitoring the internet for possible danger….History is repeating itself with a vengence….so very sorry prayers for the end of this madness….and that yourdeceased loved ones will help you as they watch over, to stop this and protect you all….
Well said, Joann.
Amen to all these prayers! And Lord I would pray for rhe family and close friends of rhe shooter – they are dealing with loss too and the loss their family member and friend caused. Lord God, I also pray for rhe hospital workers and their trauma and the first responders and neighbors of those Impacted by this evil and senseless act! Fill
Hearts with yourself Oh God and descend with your comfort and grace and peace , in Jesus’ powerful and compassionate name, Amen.
Great to remember, Bernie.
Isaiah 40:1-2
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended…
#nowordsbutHisWord
Thank you.
Father God, Thank you for breaking my heart today, so that You may heal it. It is broken for the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas, for all of them. They are broken, hurting at the loss of family, friends, and doubting about the young man who was the perpetrator of this evil. Heal them Lord, as only You are able to overcome such hurt. Help each person to draw closer to you, relying fully on You. Because the congregation of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs are your children, they are my brothers and sisters, and my heart breaks for them. We are all Your dearly loved children and we take shelter under your wings from this storm of violent and senseless loss of life. Knowing that You will never leave us or abandon us, we come to you trusting and confident that you will strengthen us, give us courage to face the days ahead, and will bring us through stronger and closer to each other and to you. We pray for forgiveness of the hate that caused this tragedy, for the healing that will show Your love and make each of us whole in your mercy and grace. We pray that you will grant us your peace which passes all understanding.
Thank you Almighty God, we pray in your name, through Jesus and in the power of the Holy Ghost, Amen.
Thank you, Wanda.
Lord,
I cannot begin to understand the pain and sorrow felt by this church. When people come together to worship you and evil walks right into the midst and is not restrained. I know that part of the reason I don’t understand this is because You have blessed our nation in the past to not have to deal with this. Many of our brothers and sisters around the world deal with this every time they meet. But You have shielded us from this reality for so long. This makes the horror even more horrible.
Would you be with the congregation of Sutherland Springs? Would you be with their pastor? I can’t imagine the ways the enemy will try to attack him. In addition, he has to process his own grief while the people of his congregation look to him for the answers to theirs. Would you give peace in the midst of this tempest? Would you hold them up? They have no strength of their own. Would you be that strength? Would you heal those who are wounded, both physically and emotionally? Would you heal all of those affected emotionally and spiritually? Would keep the enemy from using this to alienate any of them from You?
I want to pray for the law enforcement personnel affected as well. Not only those, but the first responders who had to come on the scene and witness the carnage. We often forget that they are people, too. They have children and fathers and mothers and grandparents. Would you allow them to process what they have seen? Would you use this to remind them that you are the God of comfort? Would you allow them to see Your hand at work, even in senseless tragedy?
Lord, I also pray for the gunman’s family. From everything we have been told, he was disturbed for quite some time and this latest episode must be hard for them to process. They have to be dealing with shame and guilt and horror that he could do such a thing. Would you comfort them as well? Would you draw them to Yourself so that they can accept Your love instead? Would you allow them to hear the criticisms and condemnations and hear You speak in midst of the uproar?
Lord, I have to admit that I don’t understand how this could happen. I don’t understand why You didn’t stop it. I don’t understand why hate is so rampant in our nation. I know that it is sin, but my heart cannot process the depths of depravity we are experiencing. Lead us back to You. Even in my confusion and questions, I still know that You are good. I still know that You are sovereign and worthy of our worship. Help us understand or to have faith even when we don’t.
Lord, we stand with Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church. If You want us to do anything more than pray, the answer is yes, if you will tell us that question.
In Jesus’ Glorious Name, which is not tarnished by even this tragedy, we pray, Amen.
Amen and amen!
Thank you so much, Jack.
May God’s grace reign over his people.
Yes.