‘Senseless’ Violence Strikes Faith Communities
12/12/2007
Colorado Springs, Colo.—Four days after the shootings at an Omaha mall, a gunman killed four people at two Colorado religious facilities.
Police say Matthew Murray, 24, killed two young adults at a Youth With a Mission training center in Arvada early Sunday morning. Twelve hours later and 70 miles south, he opened fire at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, killing two teenage sisters.
Jeanne Assam, a volunteer security guard at New Life, shot and killed Murray, who entered the church with a thousand rounds of ammunition. Brady Boyd, senior pastor at the 10,000-member mega-church, hailed Assam as a hero who “probably saved over a hundred lives” during Sunday’s “senseless” attack.
Assam, who has a law-enforcement background, credited God for her calm response to the chaos. “I just knew that I was given the assignment to end this before it got too much worse,” she said.
During a press conference, Assam spoke openly about “how awesome and powerful God is.” She said she was weak from a three-day spiritual fast but that God made her strong. “And I’m honored that God chose me,” she added.
Mental-health issues apparently led to Murray’s dismissal from YWAM, an interdenominational Christian mission organization. He had sent the group hate mail and posted anti-Christian statements online, often echoing the Columbine killers. Members of a Web forum tried to help Murray, who came from a deeply religious family.
Survivors at YWAM and New Life expressed forgiveness for Murray’s actions while mourning the loss of young Christian servants.
Churches are now questioning how they can welcome strangers but stay safe. Using armed security guards might be unpopular, said former FBI agent Peter Klismet, but “it just reflects the times that we seem to be living in right now.”
Michael Briggs, president of a Colorado Springs security firm, said armed guards are “the last thing” you want to see at church. “If we get to that point, we’re failing as a society,” he said.
Sources: Denver Post, CNN.com, Gazette.com
Discussion Questions:
What’s your reaction to yet more shootings? Do they seem any more disturbing because of the settings? Why or why not?
How do you think the situation at New Life would have turned out if the church hadn’t had an armed guard? Is Assam a hero, in your opinion? Explain. Do you think God “chose” her to be in that position Sunday, or was it all just a coincidence? Explain.
How does it feel to hear Assam give God all the credit? Can God help steady our nerves during times of crisis? help someone end another person’s life? Explain.
Have you ever fasted to seek God’s will? If so, explain. Do you think Assam got the answers she was seeking? Why or why not?
Did you think churches were immune to this kind of violence? Why or why not? Do all churches need a security plan? Should they have guards? Should those guards be armed? Explain.
Should churches maintain an open-door policy, or should they be cautious and suspicious of strangers? Explain. How might the presence of security guards affect people’s worship experience? a church’s outreach efforts? Explain. Is using guards a sign that society is failing or a sign that churches care about worshippers? Explain.
Do you feel safe at church? Why or why not? Would you want an armed guard there? Why or why not?
Why do you suppose Murray hated Christians so much? Do you think he was rebelling against his upbringing or was merely unstable? Explain. Did YWAM do the right thing by kicking out Murray? Why or why not? Could anything have prevented his killing sprees? Explain.
Is there such a thing as “senseless” violence? Do you think God used this tragedy to display his power? Why or why not? How might this affect people’s views of Christians? of God?
If you knew the victims, would you be able to extend forgiveness toward Murray and his family? Why or why not? Would you be able to take comfort in knowing that the young people were now in heaven? Explain.
Scripture links: Deuteronomy 10:17-21; Psalm 91; Matthew 6:14-18; John 9:1-5; Romans 8:5-17; and 3 John 5-8.
Police say Matthew Murray, 24, killed two young adults at a Youth With a Mission training center in Arvada early Sunday morning. Twelve hours later and 70 miles south, he opened fire at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, killing two teenage sisters.
Jeanne Assam, a volunteer security guard at New Life, shot and killed Murray, who entered the church with a thousand rounds of ammunition. Brady Boyd, senior pastor at the 10,000-member mega-church, hailed Assam as a hero who “probably saved over a hundred lives” during Sunday’s “senseless” attack.
Assam, who has a law-enforcement background, credited God for her calm response to the chaos. “I just knew that I was given the assignment to end this before it got too much worse,” she said.
During a press conference, Assam spoke openly about “how awesome and powerful God is.” She said she was weak from a three-day spiritual fast but that God made her strong. “And I’m honored that God chose me,” she added.
Mental-health issues apparently led to Murray’s dismissal from YWAM, an interdenominational Christian mission organization. He had sent the group hate mail and posted anti-Christian statements online, often echoing the Columbine killers. Members of a Web forum tried to help Murray, who came from a deeply religious family.
Survivors at YWAM and New Life expressed forgiveness for Murray’s actions while mourning the loss of young Christian servants.
Churches are now questioning how they can welcome strangers but stay safe. Using armed security guards might be unpopular, said former FBI agent Peter Klismet, but “it just reflects the times that we seem to be living in right now.”
Michael Briggs, president of a Colorado Springs security firm, said armed guards are “the last thing” you want to see at church. “If we get to that point, we’re failing as a society,” he said.
Sources: Denver Post, CNN.com, Gazette.com
Discussion Questions:
What’s your reaction to yet more shootings? Do they seem any more disturbing because of the settings? Why or why not?
How do you think the situation at New Life would have turned out if the church hadn’t had an armed guard? Is Assam a hero, in your opinion? Explain. Do you think God “chose” her to be in that position Sunday, or was it all just a coincidence? Explain.
How does it feel to hear Assam give God all the credit? Can God help steady our nerves during times of crisis? help someone end another person’s life? Explain.
Have you ever fasted to seek God’s will? If so, explain. Do you think Assam got the answers she was seeking? Why or why not?
Did you think churches were immune to this kind of violence? Why or why not? Do all churches need a security plan? Should they have guards? Should those guards be armed? Explain.
Should churches maintain an open-door policy, or should they be cautious and suspicious of strangers? Explain. How might the presence of security guards affect people’s worship experience? a church’s outreach efforts? Explain. Is using guards a sign that society is failing or a sign that churches care about worshippers? Explain.
Do you feel safe at church? Why or why not? Would you want an armed guard there? Why or why not?
Why do you suppose Murray hated Christians so much? Do you think he was rebelling against his upbringing or was merely unstable? Explain. Did YWAM do the right thing by kicking out Murray? Why or why not? Could anything have prevented his killing sprees? Explain.
Is there such a thing as “senseless” violence? Do you think God used this tragedy to display his power? Why or why not? How might this affect people’s views of Christians? of God?
If you knew the victims, would you be able to extend forgiveness toward Murray and his family? Why or why not? Would you be able to take comfort in knowing that the young people were now in heaven? Explain.
Scripture links: Deuteronomy 10:17-21; Psalm 91; Matthew 6:14-18; John 9:1-5; Romans 8:5-17; and 3 John 5-8.
Youth Ministry “Don'ts”
Youth Ministry “Don'ts”
Youth Ministry “Don'ts”