For I bear your name, LORD God Almighty. Jeremiah 15:16b
Wedgewood Baptist Church (1999)
Gunned Down
“This is an opportunity to tell the world about Kim’s love of the Lord.” These remarkable words were spoken at the funeral of 23-year-old Susan Kimberly Jones by her grieving mother. The graduate from Texas Christian University was one of seven people killed by a gunman who burst into Wedgewood Baptist Church in Texas, USA, on 15 September 1999. Around 150 teenagers and young people were attending a Christian concert at the time.
Larry Gene Ashbrook entered the church sanctuary, began to shout mocking remarks about God, threw a crude pipe-bomb, and opened fire on the congregation. The other six people who died were Sunday school teacher Shawn C Brown (23), Cassandra Griffin (14), Joseph D Ennis (14), Justin M Ray (17), Kristi Beckel (14) and seminary graduate Sydney R Browning (36). Seven others were wounded in the incident. After committing this massacre the gunman turned the gun on himself at the back of the church.
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear:
It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.
John Newton (1725-1807)