USA (MNN) — Youth With a Mission continues to be in shock today after two of their young staff members were killed and two others wounded.
YWAM's Paul Filidis says Matthew Murray, 24 came to the YWAM training center dormitory shortly after midnight Sunday morning asking to stay there. That's when Tiffany Johnson, 26, from Minnesota was called. "She explained to him apparently that this was not an option — this was not a place where he could stay. And in response to that, he pulled out a gun and started shooting, killing her and one other person."
Philip Crouse, 24, from Alaska was also killed. Two others were wounded. One of those injured suffers from a gunshot wound to his neck.
Filidis says everyone has been evacuated and interviewed by police. He says the YWAM leadership team members are bringing in pastoral care to help the young people cope with the tragedy. They'll be undergoing grief and trauma counseling.
YWAM sends Christians around the world. Some are even going to places where persecution of Christians is common. Filidis says, "People are going to Afghanistan and places like that. And then, we realize that we are in a fallen world, and there is no guarantee of safety. We have to look to God for perspective on that."
Christians are being asked to pray for the victims and their families. And Filidis is also concerned about something else: "that people will not shy away from getting involved as God is calling people to get involved in ministry and missions. Pray that this would not detract them from what God may be asking them to get involved with. We hope that maybe more people will be interested in ministry, rather than shying away from it."
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