"We've lost a staff member," said Thornton. "Noel Sparks. She and her mom have been a part of Calvary since she was 15, and she has now stepped into the presence of the Lord. It has been heavy for us, there have been some tears shed, we've had some tough conversations."

Thornton added that a "number of our families have been directly affected" by the shooting that claimed the lives of some 12 people and injured several more.

"We want you to know we are praying," Thornton assured, saying that the church is holding prayer vigils and worship services over the next few days.

"We are actively seeking to minister to our community and to be here for them and for you."

Young Adults Pastor, Brian Howard, said that people should pray for those who survived the shooting, and ask that they would "have faith and hope," heeding the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians. Howard also urged people to pray that those affected by the shooting would know that "healing really does come through the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

"Finally, that they would have love," he said. "Love for one another and the hurting and the broken. That they would know the love of God in Christ for them in this moment."

Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here.

Click here to continue reading.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Experts Warn Parents AI Christmas Toys Put Kids at Risk: 'Trouble in Toyland' [Video]

Pete Hegseth to Bring Christmas Back to the Pentagon: Blaze Exclusive

Iryna's Law Needs to Be Replicated Around the Country

Navy Admiral Set to Testify on Capitol Hill About Drug Boat Strike in Caribbean That Killed Survivors

DOJ: University of Delaware Student Allegedly Plotted Attack on Campus Police; Illegal Weapons Recovered

'Unbelievable Revival': God Is Moving with Power in Transnistria Despite Russia's Heavy Hand [Video]

Putin Calls Witkoff's Ukraine Peace Talks 'Difficult', Consensus 'No Easy Feat'

J6 Pipe Bomber Identified and Arrested

Warning: Pfizer's mRNA Flu Shot Linked to Very Serious Side Effects, Especially in Seniors

Ex-Muslim Leads 100,000 to Jesus: 'There Is Hunger in the Muslim World to Hear About Christ'

UNCOVERED: Hamas' Strategy to Infiltrate, Control NGOs in Gaza

Secretary Hegseth Considers Breaking with Woke Scouts after Longtime Pentagon Partnership

Rep. Harris Introduces Bill to Stop Discrimination against Homeschoolers

Bessent Moves to Completely Cut Off Illegals from US Financial System

This Supreme Court Case Could Have a Major Effect on the 2026 Midterms

Matt Van Epps Wins Tennessee Congressional Race; GOP Edge in House Now 220-213

First Lady Melania's Christmas Display Revealed; 'Home Is Where the Heart Is' [Video]

New Bill Would Undo Biden's Abortion Travel Funding for 'Unaccompanied Alien Children'

The High-Stakes SCOTUS Case Targeting Pregnancy Centers, Explained

Religious Liberty on Trial: Charter Homeschool Families Demand the Ninth Circuit End Anti-Christian Discrimination