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


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

Greg Laurie Reveals the Most Significant Factor in This Week's Country Bar Shootings - and It's Why Americans Need to Pray

Jessilyn Justice : Nov 9, 2018  Charisma News

"Whenever these horrible shootings happen, we immediately pivot to issues like gun control and mental illness. Those discussions all have their place of course, but there is another factor at work." – Greg Laurie

(Thousand Oaks, CA) — [Charismanews.com] Marine veteran, Ian David Long, opened fire at Borderline Bar & Grill Wednesday night, killing at least a dozen. The 28-year-old assailant then killed himself. (Photo Credit: REUTERS/Mike Blake)

As victims and families grapple with their new reality, faith leaders have weighed in on the attack.

"Overall fitness, which is comprised of physical, psychological and spiritual components, is key to healing," says Lt. Col Damon Friedman, founder of SOF Missions. "We have made significant advancements in caring for our warriors with visible wounds, but we continue to lack in addressing the invisible wounds. In order to make advancements in overall fitness we must take a systematic and holistic approach. Spiritual fitness is key to addressing moral injury, reestablishing identity and helping the warrior along their path to wellness. The fact is, when it comes to spiritual fitness only God can heal certain wounds."

The shooting comes just weeks after Robert Bowers stormed into a Pittsburgh synagogue during Shabbat and killed 11.

Police are still determining a motive.

One day after the nation's divisive midterm elections, many people have turned to politics as an answer. But Christians know the violence runs much deeper than red or blue.

"Whenever these horrible shootings happen, we immediately pivot to issues like gun control and mental illness. Those discussions all have their place of course, but there is another factor at work, in fact the most significant factor of all—pure evil. According to the Bible, there really is a devil, there really is evil, and because of this people can be motivated to do unimaginable things, like a man walking into a bar and indiscriminately shooting people," says evangelist Greg Laurie.

"This is why America needs to pray. We need to pray for the protection of people wherever they are: synagogues, churches, malls, restaurants and wherever else they congregate. We must also acknowledge the courageous efforts of law enforcement and other first responders. Sgt. Ron Helus, a 29-year veteran of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department ran in when everyone else was running out. Tragically, he was shot and killed. Sgt. Helus was a true hero. Let's all continue to pray for the families of those who were killed. Their lives will be changed forever. They need to turn to the 'God of all comfort' in a time like [this]."

Here's what other major faith leaders are saying.

Jentezen Franklin, Senior Pastor of Free Chapel:

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those fighting for their lives and the families of the victims of the senseless violence that took place [Wednesday] night in Thousand Oaks, California. There aren't laws that can stop a person committed to hurting other people, but it does add a sense of urgency for reaching all people with the message of hope and life change found in Jesus Christ.

Please join me in praying for peace and safety in our nation and for these precious families who have lost so much in this tragedy.

Rev. Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference:

What truly horrific news to wake up to [Thursday] morning, that 12 young people were brutally murdered on a Wednesday evening that should have been fun, youthful and carefree. I'm heartbroken for my fellow Californians, for the families that have lost loved ones, including first responder and hero, Sgt. Ron Helus of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. May God comfort all those touched by yet another senseless tragedy.

Dr. Jamie Aten, founder and executive director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College (Illinois):

As a disaster psychologist, I see over and over again the significant mental, emotional and spiritual impact on the survivors—the loved ones, the community, the first responders—of mass shootings. Our research at Wheaton College's Humanitarian Disaster Institute shows that positive spiritual support from the Church not only helps survivors respond to and process their trauma, it also helps them recover better over the long haul. It is important for our churches to demonstrate God's love for the hurting by continuing to pray fervently for those impacted by gun violence and being present with them in their pain.

Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here.







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

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

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

ICYMI: Iranian People March in DC in Support of Op Epic Fury and Trump; 'We Will Reclaim Our Country'

Trump's FDA Indicates Move Away from Testing on Dogs, Bunnies, Chimpanzees

Chicago Bulls Dump Player after His Criticism of Pride Month

Finally Confirmed: Michigan Synagogue Car Ramming Was 'Hezbollah-Inspired' Terror Attack

SURPRISE! Zohran Mamdani's New 'Free' Childcare Program is Going to Cost $60,000 Per Child

Courtroom Bombshell: ATF Can't Link Bullet That Killed Charlie Kirk to Suspect's Rifle

FBI: Over 6,200 Missing Children Located, More Than 300 Human Traffickers and 1,700 Child Predators Arrested over Past Year

SCOTUS Rules on Colorado's Ban on 'Conversion Therapy' to Help Gender Dysphoric Individuals

President Trump Shares Letter on Palm Sunday, from Franklin Graham Discussing Salvation

HSLDA Lawyer Warns This Bill Would Create a 'Surveillance State' for Homeschooling Families

Major Airports Return to Normal as TSA Workers Get Paid

GROTESQUE: Barack Obama's Orwellian Push for Virginia Redistricting Is Something to Behold

Not 'Leaderless': the 'No Kings' Protests Are Well-Funded by These Notorious Billionaires

Ilhan Omar's Connection to Genocide in Somaliland, and Fraud in the US; Will She Be Deported?

Prayer Alert: Nigerian Christians Massacred on Palm Sunday

Iran's Exiled Crown Prince Receives Standing Ovation at CPAC from Huge Iranian-American Audience [Watch Full Speech]

Campus Awakening Continues: Baptisms in Pickup Trucks, Physical Healings Reported in UniteUS College Revival at Pitt

Explosive Intel Report: Ukraine War Aid May Have Been Funneled to Biden Campaign, DNC

Indicted Democrat Rep. Found Guilty of More Than 2 Dozen Ethics Violations; Faces Possible Expulsion from Congress

Congress Requests Documents after Reports on California Hospice Fraud



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



Subscribe to
Breaking Christian News


Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com