Prayers for Pastor Killed

kayte

Well-Known Member
This is heartbreaking. Posting to offer support and prayers needed for the families,and the church congregation.
Please God.Help us Lord and have mercy.


Associated Press

MARYVILLE, Ill. -- A gunman walked down the aisle of a church during a Sunday service and killed the pastor, then stabbed himself and two others as parishioners wrestled him to the ground, authorities said.
The man walked into the sprawling brick First Baptist Church in Maryville shortly after 8 a.m. and briefly spoke with Pastor Fred Winters before pulling out a .45-caliber handgun and shooting Winters once, said Illinois State Trooper Master Trooper Ralph Timmins.

The gun jammed before the man could fire again, Mr. Timmins said. The attacker then pulled out a knife and injured himself before churchgoers subdued him. Two parishioners involved in the struggle also suffered knife wounds, Mr. Timmins said.

Mr. Timmins said officials don't know if Mr. Winters and the suspect knew each other.
"We don't know the relationship [between the gunman and pastor], why he's here or what the circumstances came about that caused him in the first place to be here," Mr. Timmins said.
Mr. Winters was pronounced dead at Anderson Hospital, said spokeswoman Natalie Head.


Two people who were wounded at the church were flown to another hospital, Ms. Head said. It was not immediately clear if the patients taken to Anderson included the gunman, but Mr. Timmins said the gunman had been taken to a local hospital before being flown another in St. Louis. His condition was not immediately known.


The Rev. Mark Jones, another pastor at First Baptist, said he briefly saw the gunman but did not recognize him by name or face.
"We have no idea what this guy's motives were," Mr. Jones said outside the church. "We don't know if we'll ever know that."
Mr. Winters, a father of two who had led First Baptist for nearly 22 years, was the former president of the Illinois Baptist State Association and an adjunct professor for Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, according to the church's Web site.

"Our great God is not surprised by this, or anything," Nate Adams, executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association, said in a statement. "That He allows evil and free will to have their way in tragedies like this is a mystery in many ways. But we know we can trust Him no matter what, and draw close to Him in any circumstances."
 
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Irresistible

New Member
wow , shockingly devastatingly sad!

The devil is always busy! But our God has all power to heal all things and set all things straight and make them right

Praying for his healing to touch those that need it and for the families. sigh.....sad
 

Shimmie

"God is the Only Truth -- Period"
Staff member
This just breaks my heart.... :nono:

Lord please comfort and surround this precious family with you love and care. The answers we may never know, but in our hearts, we know that you are still God and always will be no matter what.

For this we have our hope, in you who never fails us. Thank ;you for restoring joy into the hearts of this dear man's family, loved ones, and his congregation. Give them a new day with more joy than sorrow. Please keep them and all saints and Churches safe in your Covenant Blood; allow the enemy no entry to harm us.

In Jesus's Name ... thank you for who you are... 'Our All Mighty God'

Amen and Amen
 
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