Southern Baptist Convention Offers to Pay for Funerals of Church Shooting Victims
- Updated Nov 09, 2017
The North American Mission Board has offered to pay for the funeral costs for the families of the 26 people killed in a church shooting in Texas.
The North American Mission Board is the domestic missions agency of the Southern Baptist Convention.
SBC President Steve Gaines said he and SBC Executive Committee President Frank S. Page visited with the Sutherland Springs pastor and his wife.
The family lost their daughter when Devin Kelley opened fire this past weekend in the Texas town during a worship service.
"I discussed it with Frank Page and Jim Richards, and we all agreed to go and help any way we possibly can. Our Southern Baptist family grieves with this beloved church and the community it serves. Our prayers are ascending steadily to God's throne of grace. May God bring healing and hope to these that are hurting," he said.
According to police, Kelley fired about 450 rounds of ammunition on the congregation. He also killed himself.
"I hear firecrackers popping. Ta-ta-ta," said Roseanne Solis, a survivor of the shooting.
"Everybody started screaming, yelling. Everyone got down, crawling under wherever they could hide," Solis said. "It was so scary. He was shooting hard."
About half of those killed were children.
Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: November 9, 2017
