In the wake of a deadly shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on Dec. 16, BG-RRT chaplains deployed to offer emotional and spiritual support to those who were grieving.
The close-knit community was shocked and heartbroken after a 15-year-old student at the school opened fire, killing a teacher and a student. The shooter also died.
“[Chaplains] were there right away,” said Tom Flaherty, pastor of City Church, which is connected with the school. “They let people talk. They just made a safe place.”
Three weeks after the shooting, City Church invited BG-RRT to host Sharing Hope in Crisis, a course that equips believers to offer the love of Jesus Christ after traumatic situations.
“We recognized the need of the school and the parents so we invited [BG-RRT] back to continue what they have done for our parents and the community,” said Flaherty.
On Jan. 11, 150 school, church, and community members gathered for the training.
“It starts right here,” said Kevin Williams, encouraging attendees to first focus on their own emotional and spiritual healing so that they are prepared to share hope with those around them.
“Stay faithful, stay trustworthy under Heaven, and let God lead this,” added Williams, training and community engagement manager for BG-RRT. “He’s going to show you stuff that you never could have imagined. God is at work.”
Pastor Flaherty couldn’t agree more.
“I believe God is raising up—in the midst of the fear, darkness, and grief—a fearless generation that will walk with Him,” he said. “The only thing that heals us is the comfort of God; everything else numbs us. They [chaplains] are facilitating healing.”
One attendee, Brenda*—who came with her sister, nephew, and 20-year-old son—remembers how she felt when a BG-RRT chaplain prayed with her just days after the incident.
Brenda’s 16-year-old daughter, Abigale,* was with Erin West—a teacher killed in the shooting—only an hour before it happened. Abigale was in a room close by as the tragedy unfolded.
“She’s having a hard time,” Brenda explained.
Days after the horrific event, Brenda was on her way back from the school after collecting Abigale’s things when a chaplain met her and prayed with her.
“It was freezing cold, and she got close to me and the prayer was beautiful,” Brenda said. “I don’t remember what she said but I do remember that it touched my heart.”
Brenda shared that she is grateful her son, Devin*—who’s in college to become a music teacher—came to the Sharing Hope in Crisis training as well.
“Besides the fact that his little sister is hurting, I told him to come because he is going to be a teacher and he will have students with trauma,” she said.
“The way that the Gospel was presented in the middle of [the training] and the focus on God [is a] beautiful way of bringing the Gospel to everything.”
City Church is striving to point others to God’s love along the road to healing—and beyond.
“We’ve been praying for revival for years,” said Flaherty. “There is a feeling that God is doing something, and it’s much bigger than this church.”
How can you compassionately and appropriately show the love of Christ in difficult times? Find a free, upcoming Sharing Hope in Crisis seminar near you.
*Names changed to protect privacy
