Christian Forums

1 Dead, 4 Shot at First Baptist Church in Illinois

Breaking FoxNews (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,506820,00.html)

An Illinois pastor used the Bible he was reading out of to shield himself from bullets being pumped at him from an unknown gunman who opened fire during Sunday services at the First Baptist Church in Maryville, Ill.

Senior Pastor Fred Winters was preaching during the 8 a.m. service when a man entered the church, walked down the isle and started shooting, injuring five people, before being stabbed by a parishioner.

The suspect is in police custody.

Winters was shot three times, police said. He died at Anderson Hospital, a spokeswoman told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Five other people were taken to local hospitals.

The church has an average attendance of more than 1,200 and was officially organized on March 4, 1945, according to their Web site.

There now is more  updated news and video on this .

the pastor was a dad and  two children now have lost their  dad.

So is this a "hate" crime? Or are Christians not worthy of that designation?

This is a terrible tragedy, and I will be praying for the pastor's family, as well as the church and the community. In saying that, I will also say that for the Christian, it is a great blessing to die as a martyr, especially while preaching the word of God.

He's in a better place, lets pray for his family & sheep. I wonder if the gunman was a former attendee?

Actually, the Pastor was the only one shot, the gunman tried to kill himself with a knife when his gun jammed after pumping 4 bullets at the Pastor, hitting his Bible once, and the pastor 3 times.  The pastor died. He seriously wounded himself, and two men were wounded, but are fine, after trying to stop him when he pulled out the knife.

He survived the surgery and is now charge with the death of the pastor.  It was the first service of the Baptist church in Maryville, Ill. about 15 minutes east of down town St. Louis. 

It happened at the early service, the church has 2 each sunday.   No one in the congregation knew him or recognised him, but... those there said it appeared that the pastor recognized him and spoke to him just before he started shooting.  They are still looking for a motive. 

Bubba don't like 'em with bandages. Hope they patched him up real good.

Unfortunately, he gets a private room at the hospital with a 24 hour guard. Then when he gets out, he'll be put on suicide watch at the jail which also means a private cell with cameras 24/7. After that, he will probably be sent to a psychiatric institution for evaluation where he will also get a private cell with cameras on him 24/7. It could take months for him to be processed through the system and he may be deemed unfit to stand trial and remain at the institution indefinitely. In a few more days, he will disappear from the news and we will likely never hear of him again.

They found his day planner...  On yesterday's date he had written.. "Death Day".... 

And the BRILLIANT reporter stated that he may have had "mental health issues"... 

Ya think?

Mind boggling, isn't it?    ::doh::

No, Christians are not worthy of that. Had he been a "homosexual" pastor, the story would have played on the "fact" that he was shot because of that.

Sorry to hear that. It would have saved the taxpayers a lot of money had he not survived. I think all people prone to kill others senselessly should kill themselves (preferably BEFORE they kill anyone) and save the taxpayers a lot of money. The prisons would be a lot less full. Don't expect me to have any sympathy for murderers.

He did try to kill himself. Some idiot stopped him.

At some point...suicide after murder was deemed "a coward's death" in the context of "He just killed my friend...he doesn't deserve to die by his own hand...but he does deserve to siphon my taxes for the rest of my life so I can remember the agonizing trauma...yeah, that will teach him."

I heard he had enough ammo to kill 30 people. (ABC news this morning)

31 rounds then? since he planned himself as well?

Interestingly enough, I was speaking with my wife today about what could have possibly been the motive in this case. I suggested to her that, if the shooter were a homosexual, and this had been his responce to the preacher's (and/or the church's) stance against homosexuality, it probably would not be reported by the mainstream media. After all, the homosexuals are painted out by them as the persecuted, and not as the persecutors... And those who stand for the Bible's prohibition and condemnation against homosexuality are painted out as the intolerant ones...

If the story still leaked out...News would have spun that to say something like "Gay man defends freedom from persecution". They'd cut to a scene of the guy crying saying something along the lines of the pastor threatening his soul and he was scared so he shot everyone in self defense.

There is no indication that this guy is anything but a run-of-the-mill psycho off of his meds. Besides, Christians are the most loving, accepting, understanding and tolerent people in the country and that's why everyone loves them.

http://www.gracecentered.com/christian_forums/index.php/topic,33572.0.html

Even more loving, accepting, understanding and tolerant are those gun-toting, knife-wielding, "death day" in their day planner, cold blooded, premeditated murderers.

Prepare to hate me...

I say let us not hate the killer.  JESUS said we are to love our enemies.  HE did not come for the saved, HE came for the lost, so in otherwords.  Let us redirect our anger into prayers for this mans salvation.  Remember Saul also was a killer of CHRISTians before he became Paul.

Actually, that's a very astute observation. The entire country is watching the news report on this right now. It may be a great time for the Church to hold a prayer vigil for the perpetrator as well as the victims as a way of showing the world they actually practice what they preach.

Good point. However, it's easy for those of us who are not involved to make such suggestions. We can look at what they should do, and how they should feel, without having to experience what they are actually feeling. Along with praying for the perpetrator, prayers for the church in this regard would be in order. May the Lord be glorified in this, and in all things.

I remember when the Amish school shooting occured.  The family's of the victems and the survivors acted in what I personally believe to be the CHRISTian responce.  They did not hold anything against the guys family.  I think they even offered them food.  I know that I am not always the best person, but it is times like this I thnk what would JESUS do?

Great analogy to people who actually live their beliefs. You're on a roll today.  ::smile::

when my church burnt down the strangest thing happened.  We prayed for help as we knew the insurance would not cover it all.  And all of a suddon people from all over the world (as far as China) donated money to help us rebuild.  And we had ex members (moved to other states) buy our Hymnals and Bibles,and the contractor and archatech (sic) were all CHRISTians the church was designed free, and the construction group helped on cost so that it could be rebuilt.  Praise GOD we are now in a church that not only fit's our small cong.  It also is a huge testamony to the love that Believers and non-belivers have for one another.  Loving your neighbor like yourself.