09/03/2026
But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Luke 18:16
As a Pastor, I have received all kinds of phone calls requesting prayer. Prayers for healing after an unexpected medical diagnosis. Prayers for comfort over the loss of a loved one. Yesterday's call was a first. There was an active shooter incident at her grandsons school . I prayed with my friend and asked our church family to lift them up in prayer as well.
This situation could have been so much worse and I thank God for his protection over these students and faculty. I continue to lift them up in prayer as they process these events. But I know that many lives changed forever after Yesterday's events.
Jesus spoke often about child like faith. Our children wake up in the morning and go to school believing that they will be safe and protected. They believe they will come home to loving parents, a warm meal and their needs being met. They don't question it. They just have faith that it will happen.
This incident is a reminder that we don't live in a perfect world. Evil lurks just around the corner. The staff at this school and the first responders are to be commended for keeping these students safe and maintaining a sense of calm in unimaginable situation.
We should never become so callous over all of the negative news that we hear daily that we no longer feel compassion for those who are hurting and those who need to be protected.
Continue to keep not only this school in Waynesboro VA in your prayers, but all of our schools that all who enter their halls can do so with the assurance that they will be safe.