Texas Pastor Preaches Forgiveness After Church Shooting
First Baptist Church Pastor Frank Pomeroy of Sutherland Springs, Texas, preached a message of forgiveness and said at the first Sunday service following last weekend’s mass slaughter that the victims are with Jesus Christ.
“I knew everybody who gave their life that day. Some of them were my best friends. And my daughter,” Pomeroy said during Sunday’s emotional service, referring to the 26 victims, including his 14-year-old daughter, Anabelle.
“I have no doubt they’re dancing with Jesus today.”
The Houston Chronicle noted that the pastor preached a message of forgiveness, as the small town community attempts to pull itself together after the worst mass shooting in the state’s history.
“We have the freedom to proclaim Christ. Folks, we have the freedom to choose, and rather than choose darkness as one young man did that day, I say we choose life,” the pastor said.
The 75-minute service did not mention the name of Devin Patrick Kelley, the gunman who stormed into the church on Nov. 5 and carried out the deadly shooting spree, eventually killing himself after fleeing.
Authorities have ruled out racial or religious motives for the shooting, and have been piecing together a character profile of Kelley.
