Philip's pastor, Zach Chandler, traveled from Alaska to take part in the service. He described Philip as a passionate young man who, once he dedicated his life to Jesus, wanted everyone in the world to get what he had found. The overwhelming description of Tiffany was that she loved people. One of her YWAM friend’s said Tiffany was “patient and someone who loved to help others, persevering in difficult circumstances and full of laughter.” The members of Tiffany's family then took the stage to extend forgiveness to Matthew Murphy's family.

In return, at Murray’s funeral Dec. 14, his little brother Chris said, “Even though Satan attacked my brother, I truly feel God is going to save a whole generation of people through this.”

Community Rallies

Compassion International, located just up the road from New Life, has felt the impact of the shooting. Spokeswoman Julie Koshy said in a phone interview that a number of employees attend New Life Church. In addition, Compassion sometimes uses the New Life facility for special events. “As a ministry, we were obviously deeply saddened,” Koshy said. “Thankfully, none of the people affected by the shootings were Compassion employees or related to Compassion employees, although we have people who knew the victims.”

At the Compassion Christmas party Dec. 13, President and CEO Wess Stafford opened in prayer and mentioned New Life. “As an organization, we are remembering them as they go through this period of mourning,” Koshy said. “We were just devastated by what happened, but we’ve set aside time to pray for the church, the pastors, the congregation and the families who suffered loss. Prayer is how we are dealing with this ourselves.”

When Koshy first heard about the shootings, she was stunned. “It is a church. It's hard to accept that would happen. It's one of those situations where you are trying to make sense of it and ask God why. Then, I was thankful that Compassion employees were not hurt, but it still hits close to home because so many people from Compassion attend church there.”

Koshy added, “All you can hope for is that in the midst of this tragic event, people will really draw upon God's strength and upon each other as the body of Christ. That's where they will get their strength.

Focus on the Family, also headquartered in Colorado Springs, issued the following statement: "Focus on the Family was founded to help families and, during this time of crisis, we will continue to do that. We are working with area churches and pastors to provide counseling and support to those affected by the shootings."

In an e-mail to employees, Focus on the Family President Jim Daly said: We all share the “same mixed emotions in light of the tragic shootings this weekend, the joy of the Christmas season inextricably mingled with sadness and sorrow for the families who have lost loved ones, as well as disbelief over the depth of despair that must have led to such violent and desperate acts."

May we “continually hold out the hand of all hope, strength, and comfort to a fallen and hurting world.”

Shirley Dobson, chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, said: “This is a disturbing and painful reminder of the culture of violence in which we live. During this time of deep sorrow, may God's comforting and loving presence sustain the many whose lives have been forever changed by this heartrending tragedy.”

The Navigators, a mission group with offices in Colorado Springs, posted a statement on its website extending its deepest sympathies to those affected by the shootings at YWAM in Arvada and New Life Church in Colorado Springs. “We join the rest of the body of Christ in prayer. At a time like this, we take comfort in the promise that the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."