Sutherland Springs, Texas | The sanctuary in the small-town Baptist church was painted white from floor to ceiling. White chairs marked the places where 26 worshipers sat, each with a rose and the name of the victim. There was a pink rose for an unborn baby killed there. But there was none of the carnage of the largest church shooting in U.S. history.
A week after the Nov. 5 shooting, the pristine sanctuary was opened as a memorial. Recordings of some victims reading Scripture and praying played on speakers.
Earlier in the day, members of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs gathered for worship in a tent on a nearby baseball field. The pastor of the church, Frank Pomeroy, had stood in front of news cameras after the killings and said his church’s tragedy will exalt Christ.
“Christ is the one who’s going to be lifted up,” said Pomeroy, who was out of town at the time of the shooting. “That’s what I’m telling everybody. You lean into what you don’t understand. You lean into the Lord…Whatever life brings to you, lean on the Lord rather than your own understanding.”
Pomeroy’s 14-year-old daughter was one of those murdered. “I don’t understand, but I know my God does,” he said. “And that’s where I’ll leave that.”
Peace in the storm
Immediately after the Sunday morning massacre, Southern Baptist leaders and churches rallied to support the small congregation. Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines had been slated to speak at the IBSA Annual Meeting and Pastors’ Conference, but traveled instead to Sutherland Springs to minister to the church and community. He was joined by SBC Executive Committee President Frank Page, himself a former Texas pastor, at a Wednesday evening prayer service hosted by the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.
An estimated 2,500 or more area residents attended the service, which also included Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Ted Cruz, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and several congressmen.
Page quoted from John 10:10, telling the crowd, “Three days ago you saw the work of the evil one to steal and to kill and to destroy, but in a moment you’re going to hear about life,” referring to the gospel invitation to be led by Gaines. “As the nation is watching, may they hear words of life and life abundant,” Page prayed. “We know it is found through Jesus Christ.”
Gaines preached extemporaneously from the Sermon on the Mount. “Jesus was telling these precious people he dearly loved that storms are going to come, the rain is going to fall,” he said. “Storms come. Winds blow. They slam against your life,” he said, adding, “That’s exactly what happened at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs—a storm slammed against their church.”
Offering further comfort, he added, “I don’t know what last thing those people saw, but I do know the moment their spirit and soul left their body they saw the face of the Lord Jesus Christ. They won’t be able to come back to us, but you can go to them….
“How can this tragedy in any way lead to anything good?” Gaines asked. “What if you gave your heart to Jesus Christ?” in offering a gospel invitation to which several came forward in professions of faith and others for prayer and counseling.
Not in vain
Despite media reports to the contrary, First Baptist has yet to make an official decision about what to do with its building going forward, said Mike Ebert, a North American Mission Board employee who attended the church’s Nov. 12 worship service. He noted Pomeroy had raised the possibility of tearing down the facility at some point in the future, but that was a personal reflection, not a statement of the church body’s decision. Worship and Sunday school will be held on the church property in a temporary structure, the church has announced.
The North American Mission Board conveyed to all 26 victims’ families Southern Baptists’ offer to cover funeral expenses. The precise combination of funding sources that will pay for each funeral is being determined by the families amid a plethora of government and private assistance offers, NAMB told Baptist Press. Yet, on behalf of Southern Baptists, NAMB is prepared to cover the full cost for each victim whose loved ones desire the gift.
Pomeroy told the Southern Baptist Texan that the 26 parishioners killed did not die in vain because their testimonies are shining the light to a dark world in need of Christ. “I know everyone who lost their life that day, some of which were my best friends, and my daughter,” Pomeroy said. “And I guarantee without any shadow of a doubt they are dancing with Jesus today. God gets the glory.”