Tragedy in Maryville

Just after the start of an 8:15 worship service, an armed man walked into the sanctuary of First Baptist church of Maryville, IL, and shot the pastor. The Rev. Dr. Fred Winters died of his wounds.

The church's website asks for prayers for the Winters family, for the two parishioners injured when they tackled and subdued the shooter, for all members of First Baptist of Maryville, and for the shooter and his family.

Over the past few years we have seen several incidents of people attacking churches and worshipers, assuming them to be soft targets. An attack on a UUA fellowship in the Nashville area left two dead last summer. Attacks on Youth with a Mission and New Life Church in Colorado left four dead and several wounded in December 2007. Unfortunately, the list could go on.

My prayers go out today especially for the Winters family as they mourn the loss (dare we say martyrdom) of someone who was more than just a pastor, but was also a husband and father.