Statement by Sherri and Frank Pomeroy:
Broadcast or social media are not usually helpful in the aftermath of great tragedy. But anyone who can should see the press conference from earlier this afternoon with Pastor Frank and Sherri Pomeroy.
Beyond the unspeakable horror of losing a teenaged daughter to such inexplicable violence, their words and faces express the deep lament and pain of losing perhaps more than half of their congregation to violence.
The sorrow of losing even an elderly member of our fellowship to natural causes, or of anyone to an accident, or of a friend you have sat with (and joined in their struggles) to an overdose is shattering to the soul of a pastor.
But having 26 fellow believers, 26 people of all ages that are in your heart, no less or no more than your daughter? AND your daughter? How does one survive that?
Their sacred little beautiful space was also decimated and—according to the Pomeroy’s—irreparable. And how do you anyway go back to such a desecrated place and find joy and peace again?
These people were also a critical infrastructure of care within the marginalized and desperate peoples surrounding their small church. This act destroyed hands and feet and arms and hearts that served Sutherland Springs.
A culture that worships violence—and we do worship violence—must wake up to the costs of homage to false gods. And one of the ways we stop worshipping false gods is sorrowful repentance.
Guns in church are not the answer.
Listen to the Pomeroys and ponder what and whom you worship.
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