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
My heart aches for all of you…The ones left to go on…May God wrap them up in His great big arms so they can feel His presence in a special way….God bless you all….
We are praying for your church at Quinton Baptist Church in Bronston, Ky. We pray for strength and comfort during this difficult time. So sorry for your loss. Much love and prayers to all.
Thank you, Tracie.
When one member of the Body of Christ is in pain – we all feel it. I realize that there are no words to take away the shock and heartbreak that your members and community are going through right now. What I do know is that our God is merciful and kind and that He will help us through what lies ahead. God is not to blame for this tragedy, but He will be the one that hears and answers our cries. My heart aches for my brothers and sisters in Sutherland and I pray that God will make himself known to each of you, guide you, hold you in His arms as you grieve and shower down the prayers of all of us who may be far away, but share your grief and sorrow. God is good all the time. All the time God is good
Yes!
Words cannot express emotions adequately for this senseless tragedy.. Anger, Fear, Heartache, Loss (so much loss), Lord please help!!!!
I pray for the peace that passes understanding to be with each member of the church as she strives to move threw this horrible storm.
The Lord promises to be with you.
He will not leave you nor forsake you.
The Lord hold you in the palm of his hand.
Amen
Amen.
Words cannot express the great sadness and profound grief and pain we feel for you all.
You all are in our prayers. May God hold each of you close and comfort the brokenhearted as only He can.
Thank you, Lisa.
Dear Friends,
I cry for you, I do not have words to express but I can only rely on our great God and Savior Jesus Christ to intercede for all of us at this time. We are dedicating our entire Wednesday night service to pray for you and cry out to God for you and your community. May He be forever praised for we know that only He can take your tragedy and turn it into something so much better to an extent that we will really never understand. I am already thankful that as I watched the press briefing this morning on FOX that the meeting was closed with prayer and the name of Jesus was spoken over this nation. Even so, come Lord Jesus!
So thankful.
Amen..
I hurt so badly for your congregation, our congregation as Christians, that I have to pray for HIS spirit to petition to the Lord for me, I just don’t know what to say. You all are loved, and one day HE will put all this right, and we’ll be with him together in glory. May you have the strength to keep doing HIS work.
Thank you so much, Ralph.
Thank you Lord, for hearing the groanings of our heart when words fail us to express the grief and pain felt over what Satan has wrought at First Baptist in Sutherland Springs. May they feel the comfort and peace only You can bring. Praying for all those affected from Collierville, TN.
Thank you, Lynn.
Thank you, Thom for this good article and we here at McDowell FBC are praying for our sister church in Texas.
Thank you, my friend.
I live in a big city but attend a small town church that lies within. Our numbers are not large but our love and belief in God is. When one hears of such tragedy you can not help but to imagine yourself in the place of those suffering. This is not the first shooting to take place against Gods people and likely will not be the last. Satan is trying to drive us from our place of worship using men with guns. He is attacking our church leaders through their children. We do not have to have a personal connection to feel pain for the ones directly affected. Yesterday lives were lost but Gods love and our nation’s ability to join together in prayer was not.
I do not know you but I do know your shattered hearts have had an affect on others including myself. We may not be able to identify with your exact pain but we do identify with your need for prayer and understanding. Your Christian family is praying for you with love and deep sympathy.
Thank you, Crystal.
Hello Thom,
Praise the Lord for your post and the wonderful replys – prayers – of so many. God is sovereign in His wisdom, love, care, & comfort. We, too, mentioned these dear folks last night in our evening service.
In the spirit of Prov. 22:3; & 27:12, what practical steps for protection / security would you suggest as we move forward being forewarned that, as you say, we are Sutherland Springs. Do you have websites, books, etc., that you would recomment? Thanks as we continue to pray.
We will shortly, Brian.