Los Angeles Pastor Describes Community Reaction to Monterey Park Mass Shooting

There’s little violent crime in Monterey Park, California, a community outside of Los Angeles with a large Asian American population. So when a gunman killed 11 people at a ballroom dance studio on Jan. 21, “it was very shocking,” said Rev. Keith Ko, English lead pastor of Chinese Bible Missions Church of L.A.

Many people in Monterey Park “work hard, they have decent jobs, and they just keep to themselves,” he said. Such a random act of violence—and during Lunar New Year celebrations—has rocked this city.

While Western culture may express lament and come together in community, Ko explained, Asian culture tends to cope with suffering through “silence, solitude, and detachment.”

Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) chaplains ministered in this community and shared the overwhelming love and peace of Jesus Christ.

Ko recently joined with the BG-RRT chaplains in praying for those hurting from tragedy.

“This is the opportunity for the Gospel to make a difference in people’s lives,” he said.

Please keep the people of Monterey Park in your prayers as they process grief and hear about our Lord and Comforter, Jesus Christ.