LAS VEGAS, NV (October 2, 2017) – Amistad Covenant Church held a prayer vigil tonight, and pastor Sandra Villela said the congregation will respond in multiple ways to help victims, their families, and others who have questions about where God was in midst of the deadliest shooting in modern US history.
“This city hosts the great boxing fights, but now it battles a spiritual fight against fear, rage, frustration, discouragement, and despair that the evil one may throw with this massacre,” she said, emphasizing, “We have the victory in Christ.”
“Today our city awoke from their indifference,” Villela said. “We have seen a city connecting in love for those fallen. There are large lines to donate blood, and many ask, ‘What can we do?’ and ‘How can we help our neighbor?’”
No one from Amistad was injured in the attack, but Villela said the church would organize support groups to meet to pray for families and talk with people who have spiritual questions. She added that members will visit hospitals to pray for victims as well as provide water, snacks, and food packages to families. “We will help parents talk with their children about what occurred so that the children can see how God’s love overcomes evil and is capable of transforming a tragedy into a moment of opportunity to help others, to make our hearts sensitive to the needs of others.”
Villela said she has received calls from around the country in the wake of the tragedy. “We are thankful for all our ECC family, who have sent since mourning messages of support, asking the condition of our church families. We thank you all for keeping prayer for our lives, for the church to unite in this calling of being light in the midst of this time.”
She asked that fellow Covenanters pray that the congregation live out the words of Matthew 9:36: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
